|
To most
people, the word 'diet' means restricting the amount or
types of foods eaten in order to lose weight. But, the
term 'diet' actually holds a much more important meaning.
'Diet' not only corresponds to the foods you ingest, but
also represents the nutrition and fuel you provide your
body. In other words, choosing to eat foods that are void
of essential nutrients means that your body will be devoid
of those same nutrients; and eating nutrient-rich, healthy
foods should mean that your body receives these important
nutrients.
But, providing your body with nutrient rich foods is only
one part of true nutrition. The true definition of
nutrition is to nourish the cells of the body - cellular
nutrition. To accomplish cellular nutrition, nature
designed several steps to get the nutrients from the food
to the cells of the body.
These processes can be simplified into the "Seven Steps
of Nutrition":
1. Ingestion
2. Digestion
3. Absorption
4. Circulation
5. Assimilation
6. Metabolism
7. Detoxification
The function of each of these steps depends on the
effectiveness of the other steps. The first step,
ingestion, involves human choice. Healthy food choices
supply the nutrients required for the optimum functioning
of each subsequent step.
Poor choices, however, result in
poor function of these steps and ultimately poor
metabolism.
Once you have made your choices for ingestion, the next
two steps are key to cellular nutrition. First, digestion,
"the process of converting food into molecules that can be
absorbed through the intestine into the blood", must occur
optimally.
Improper or incomplete digestion will result in
incomplete or improper absorption. In other words, you
cannot absorb what you cannot digest and if you don't
absorb the nutrients, they cannot be delivered to or used
by the cells of the body.
Successful, long-term weight loss is dependent on
providing the cells of the body with the nutrients they
need to function optimally.
In order for these cells to
receive all the nutrients they need, digestion must occur
optimally. Optimal digestion is dependent on having a
healthy digestive system and adequate enzyme supply.
One of the most important factors in digestion is enzymes.
Enzymes are complex proteins, which regulate all aspects
of body function, and are found in the cells of every
living creature.
Enzymes can be divided into three
categories: digestive enzymes, metabolic enzymes, and food
enzymes.
Digestive enzymes are the driving force in the digestive
process. Without those enzymes the nutritional value of
food would be lost. The salivary glands, the pancreas, and
the mucosal cells that line the intestine all produce
enzymes that are designed to break down the specific
components in food. For example, protease enzymes break
down protein into peptides, and peptidase then breaks the
peptides into usable amino acids that can be absorbed by
the mucosal cells of the intestine.
In addition to the digestive enzymes produced by the body,
food enzymes can aid in the breakdown of food. Food
enzymes are the enzymes found naturally in food. The
enzyme composition of a food matches with its nutrient
composition.
In other words, foods high in carbohydrate
contain high amounts of amylase and foods high in protein
contain protease. Food enzymes naturally assist the body
in digestion and relieve some of the burden of digestion.
Unfortunately, cooking and processing methods destroy the
enzymes in food leaving the entire burden of digestion on
the body, which uses up your enzyme supply.
In essence,
eating processed foods 'robs' the body of the energy it
needs for growth, maintenance and repair of its tissues
and organ systems. Only raw foods contain enzymes vital to
health and longevity.
The busy lifestyle lead by the majority of people makes it
difficult to eat enough raw foods to supply adequate
amounts of enzymes, but there are other alternatives. To
overcome the effects of processing and cooking,
supplemental enzymes can be used to assist the body with
digestion. Supplemental enzymes can also be used to help
those whose digestive systems are not working optimally.
For example, the enzyme lactase, is often added to
specialized milk products designed for individuals who are
lactose intolerant.
Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down
the milk sugar, lactose into its individual sugars to be
used by the body. Individuals who are lactose intolerant
are deficient in the enzyme lactase.
Using an enzyme supplement can also aid in digestion,
increase the utilization of nutrients in foods and
supplements and ensure that these nutrients are available
to the cells of the body.
This means that the cells of
your body have more nutrients available for energy
production, improved immunity and rebuilding and repairing
tissues.
By using enzymes to help completely break down
foods into their nutrient components and aid in digestion,
the body has more energy for other functions and you may
experience less bloating, constipation, heartburn and
other symptoms of indigestion. Completely digesting food
also reduces food allergies and food intolerances and
reduces the stress on the immune system.
In addition to enzymes, probiotics or 'friendly' bacteria
are important for a healthy digestive system. Human health
depends on the presence of some bacteria, such as
Lactobacillus acidophilus, in the digestive tract.
There
are at least 400 kinds of bacteria found in the digestive
tract, and a healthy balance of the bacteria is essential
to the proper functioning of all systems of the body,
especially the immune system.
Unfortunately, the friendly flora of the intestine are
destroyed by common factors such as carbonated drinks,
laxatives, birth control pills, coffee, alcohol, aging,
stress and antibiotics.
Maintaining and promoting the
growth of helpful bacteria while destroying the harmful
strains is vital to health. If harmful bacteria grow in
too great a proportion, serious consequences can arise.
Scientists believe that a number of diseases such as
colitis, diabetes, meningitis, thyroid disease and bowel
cancer are related to altered intestinal bacteria.
Our very lives depend upon friendly bacteria. The level of
health and well-being we enjoy is affected by how well we
maintain a wholesome environment in which these
microorganisms can live and flourish.
Many health
professionals believe that the regular inclusion of
supplemental flora is vital to ensuring that healthy
growth of needed bacteria is maintained.
Proper digestion is key to ensuring that the body receives
the nutrients it needs to support metabolism and weight
loss. The Enzyme Diet(tm) was designed with both
metabolism and digestion in mind.
The Enzyme Diet(tm) not
only includes all of the necessary nutrients to support
the body's metabolic enzymes, but also provides the
digestive enzymes necessary to ensure that these nutrients
are absorbed and delivered to the cells with maximum
efficiency. The Enzyme Diet(tm) also includes a unique
fiber source, called inulin. Researchers have found that
inulin contains fructooligosaccharides, which promote
healthy digestion, growth of friendly intestinal bacteria
and may improve nutrient absorption.
Infinity2's low-fat The Enzyme Diet(tm) shake provides
minerals, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates, protein,
fatty acids, fiber, phytonutrients and natural vitamins.
The result is safe and efficient weight-loss, increased
energy and overall improved health - with no drugs,
stimulants or synthetic ingredients. For more information
on The Enzyme Diet(TM) visit the Infinity2 website and
take the tour.
Discover the power of enzymes with
weight loss products!
Liquid supplements - vitamins and minerals | 