Enzymes

13-minute read

Enzymes are used in a variety of ways in the body to maintain overall health. This read is a bit technical but I really want to foundation your Mental Plane self-talk to help your Physical Plane make sense of why you want to make changes to be healthier and happier in your NOW. Lean into this, read with thought, and it will all make sense by the time you reach the end! I promise!

The important aspects of looking into enzymes are: 

• The role of chronic inflammation in the body
• The thickening of the blood
• The formation of fibrous tissues
• The weakening of the immune system

The first 2 can contribute to heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. The third is related to fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis, and other structural disorders of the musculoskeletal system as we age. The fourth affects our ability to ward off diseases, such as colds and flu, or more serious conditions such as diabetes and even cancer. When we’re younger, we produce many enzymes, which stimulate and regulate processes such as:

• Metabolism, burning the food we eat as fuel
• Healing, such as cell regeneration and repair
• Cleansing, with the enzymes consuming or flushing out toxins in our bodies
• Balancing and organization, with the enzymes acting as on and off switches in some cases, and boosting power in others, to keep all systems running at peak efficiency.

As we age, our enzyme production decreases at an average rate of about 10% per year, which means that by the time we are 75, our enzyme production is a fraction of what it once was. This can result in poor digestion and poor absorption of essential nutrients.

We can take enzyme supplements, of course, but we can also care for our Physical Plane bodies and lower the wear and tear on them on purpose. LIVING IN THE NOW is our ability to choose to be well, to stay well. Remember, it is easier to stay well than it is to get well again when things go wrong.

Oxidative stress, or oxidation, is the result of the activity of what is known as free radicals in the body. Antioxidants can help combat free radicals to keep you youthful and balanced, no matter what your chronological age.

Free radicals are all around us and are not just by-products of cellular processes. They can be introduced into our bodies from a variety of sources, including:

• cigarette or cigar smoke, and the 400 or so chemicals you are exposed to if you smoke tobacco
• radiation
• drinking alcohol
• air pollution
• water pollution
• eating artificial products such as colorings, flavorings, sweeteners, and/or preservatives.

Certain gases and even sunlight can affect the free radical levels in our bodies.

Scientists have investigated the idea that free radicals are responsible for many diseases in the body that affect us as we get older. Conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis have been shown to originate at least in part as a result of free radical damage. 

The hottest health trends these days are trying to cure cancer and trying to develop anti-aging regimens. Taming the effects of free radicals on the body could lead to an end to the diseases we commonly accept as a natural part of growing old. Incredible!

Combating oxidative stress

Cellular damage is repaired by the body in several ways. If a person has a healthy lifestyle and does not expose their body to too many health stressors, then the body can maintain a state of balance and well-being.

Most of the repair will be performed on the body in the nighttime hours when a person normally sleeps. Sleep is therefore essential for overall health.

Leading a natural lifestyle by not exposing yourself to a lot of harsh chemicals, such as in toiletries, or pesticides in your food (go organic) can also help. Making smart food choices is the best way to combat free radicals. The best foods are the ones rich in antioxidants.

As the name suggests, antioxidants combat oxidative stress. If you’ve ever wondered why some people age better than others, chances are it is because they are not smoking and drinking, sun-worshipping, and above all, they’re eating a better diet.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body. They are molecules that have an extra electron or two in their outer ring, which they can share with the roaming free radicals without being damaged or weakened in any significant way.  

The free radicals are lured by the ‘easy pickings’ of the antioxidants and stop wandering once they steal the extra electron they are looking for. Everything goes back to being stable and in balance. This means your enzymes, DNA, RNA and cells are all a great deal safer and can remain so if you don’t expose yourself to a lot of free radicals.

Antioxidants help the internal environment of our bodies to stay in great working order on the metabolic level. You can change the outside of your Physical Plane with surgery and chemicals, but if the inside is not functioning well, disease will set in and affect both your appearance and longevity. The right vitamins will preserve your immune system and help you fight disease.

So, what should you eat to add antioxidants to your diet? 

• Phytochemicals
• Anthocyanins
• Carotenoids and Vitamin A Trace minerals. 

The first 2 are present in plants. Anthocyanins are present in blue and purple foods such as blueberries and grapes. Carotenoids and Vitamin A are found in orange and red foods and leafy green vegetables.  Two of note are lutein, linked with eye health, and lycopene, linked with prostate health in men.

What’s the best diet to follow?

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables with small amounts of healthy protein such as tofu, nuts and fish is ideal.  If you don’t have time to spend ages planning menus, here are a couple of shortcuts.

Eat a rainbow every day.  Try to eat a variety of differently colored foods to get as many types of antioxidants as possible. 

In terms of trace elements, eating a Mediterranean diet with high-quality fish and olive oil can help you preserve your health and vitality long into your senior years and is protective against heart disease.

Add a couple of cups of decaffeinated green tea to your daily routine. It offers a range of health benefits, including improving your dental health!

Since we are what we eat, it makes sense that the food we consume has a major role to play in maintaining our health and youthfulness. There are some foods, however, that researchers have labeled as healthy, anti-aging foods.  Here are the top 7:

• Leafy Greens
• Broccoli
• Berries
• Olive oil
• Nuts
• Sweet potatoes
• Garlic

Allow me to briefly discuss each of these food options to give your self-talk a positive perspective. 

1-Leafy Greens

Spinach is considered a super-food because it is so packed with health benefits. Consider also adding kale, collard greens, Romaine lettuce and arugula to your diet as well. 

2-Broccoli

Broccoli is full of nutrients and balances blood sugar, making it an ideal food for anyone with pre-diabetes or diabetes.

3-Berries, such as blueberries

All berries are rich in antioxidants. The darker blue and purple berries have a different range of antioxidants, so aim for a mixture. Tart cherry is also good for both its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, especially if you have arthritis.

4-Olive oil

Olive oil lowers cholesterol naturally and keeps skin smooth and supple when used both internally and externally. If you’re worried about your heart health, switch from butter and polyunsaturated oils to monounsaturated olive oil.

5-Nuts

Nuts may be high in fat, but they are also high in fiber and offer a range of health benefits, including Omega-3 fatty acids and many vitamins and minerals. The fat and fiber will help you feel full. The fat in the nuts also will nourish your skin. Eating just 10 almonds a day has been shown to lower cholesterol by 4%. As few as 8 walnuts per day will produce similar results.

6-Sweet potatoes (orange and purple)

The Okinawan diet is primarily made up of orange or purple sweet potatoes, both rich in antioxidants and Vitamin A for a healthy immune system. They are filling, tasty, full of fiber, and very versatile in a range of dishes.  

7-Garlic

Garlic may not smell great after you have eaten it, but it is tasty and full of disease-fighting phytochemicals protective against cancer. It stimulates circulation and has anti-bacterial properties, which can help keep your digestive tract healthy.

Now that you know the top 7 foods to eat each day to help maintain a healthy and youthful body, you can come up with a range of recipes that incorporate them. A stir-fry is ideal for all the healthy veggies listed. A Berry Crumble with oats (also great for lowering cholesterol) and some chopped nuts on top is the perfect healthy dessert. 

More great eating ideas for healthy options will be addressed in future blogs so stay with me and maintain a healthy NOW on purpose. Your Mental and Physical Planes will thank you and change as you change. I promise you, that consistent choices made to maintain overall health will give you your life back in ways that will astound you and make you a true champion, LIVING IN THE NOW on purpose! The woman pictured in this writing is my mom. She is living in her own home in Florida and flying through her 96th year of LIVING IN THE NOW on purpose! Her mother, my grandmother, lived to be 103 years young. You have the power to choose. Learning why makes making wise choices easier. Glad you are here!