Every chemical reaction within the body cells is carried out with the help of enzymes. In a sense they represent the cell’s “life force”. If enzymes are in short supply or are weakened, they won’t be able to carry out their duties fully and the cell’s health would be compromised as would the health of the body as a whole.

Dr. Edward Howell - Enzyme Pioneer

Dr Edward Howell who died in 1988 at the age of 90 spent his life studying enzymes. His research suggested that at birth we have an enzyme potential. If allowed to become deficient, we are at risk of degenerative diseases. This enzyme potential must be preserved at all costs and not wasted by forcing the metabolic enzymes that carry out the chemical reactions in our bodies, to be diverted into the task of digestion, because of poor choices of foods that contain no digestive enzymes.

The Fatal Process

Howell used this term to describe cooking. All enzymes are killed off at high temperatures so most cooking methods would kill off the enzymes.

Fasting and Raw Foods

Raw food therapies have a long tradition in some parts of Europe where they are used as a therapeutic tool to overcome health problems. Raw foods contain enzymes, preserving the enzyme potential as does fasting to an even greater extent. Metabolic enzymes are now able to focus on the job of healing the body.

Howell did not advocate an all raw diet. He didn’t think this would be palatable for many people. He suggested the use of digestive enzyme supplements with cooked foods.

I would suggest the following to ease the burden on the digestive system and indeed on the rest of the body which has to assimilate and detoxify what has been eaten:

Don’t overeat. This is about the worst dietary offence you can commit. Aim to eat just enough to satisfy you and no more.

Increase raw fruit and vegetable consumption. Decrease cooked, refined and adulterated foods, especially high calorie sugary/fatty foods.

Cut out those foods which you may enjoy eating but you are well aware that they don’t agree with you.

Consider combining your foods so that concentrated starches and proteins don’t mix at the same meal. This takes away much of the effort of digestion.

Drink plenty of water. Ideally drink half a pint of water about half and hour before meals. Water is important in the digestive process and helps metabolic enzymes function more efficiently.

All these measures will help to preserve the food enzymes, take some of the burden off of the digestive organs and help every cell in the body.