Enzymes

Enzymes are the sparks that start the essential chemical reactions our
bodies must have to live. They are necessary for digesting food, for
stimulating the brain, for providing cellular energy, and for repairing all
tissues, organs, and cells.

There are three types of enzymes: metabolic enzymes, digestive enzymes,
and food enzymes. Metabolic enzymes catalyze, or spark, the reactions
within the cells. The body's organs, tissues, and cells are run by
metabolic enzymes. Without them, our bodies would not work. Among their
chores are helping to turn phosphorus into bone, attaching iron to our red
blood cells, healing wounds, and seeing that our hearts beat.

Digestive enzymes are secreted by the pancreas and break down foods,
allowing their nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream and used in
body functions. They ensure that we get the greatest possible nutritional
value from foods. Digestive enzymes include protease, which digests
protein; amylase, which digests carbohydrates, lipase, which digests fats
and oils; and maltase, which digests malt sugars and grains.

Food enzymes are enzymes supplied to us through the foods we eat. They
include digestive enzymes, but also enzymes unique to particular foods.
Food enzymes help us "predigest" foods; that is, start breaking down foods
before our bodies' enzymes begin to do so. According to Humbart Santillo,
B.S., M.H., in his book Food Enzymes, the enzymes found in raw
foods digest 5 to 75 percent of the foods themselves without the help of
other enzymes. This way, our bodies' digestive enzymes have help in the
digestive process, and we do not use as many of the body's "in-house"
enzymes.

The Important of Enzymes

Dr. Edward Howell, who has written two books on enzymes, theorizes that
humans are given a limited supply of enzyme energy at birth, and that it is
up to us to replenish our supply of enzymes to ensure that their vital jobs
get done. If we don't replenish our supply, we run the risk of ill health.

In the enzyme nutrition axiom, Howell postulates the "The length of life
is inversely proportional to the rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential
of an organism. The increased use of food enzymes promotes a decreased
rate of exhaustion of the enzyme potential."

In other words, the more enzymes you get, the longer and healthier you live.

The key is to remember the food enzymes are destroyed at temperatures above
118 degrees F. This means that cooked and processed foods contain few, if
any, enzymes, and that the typical diet found in industrialized countries
is enzyme deficient. When we eat cooked and processed foods, we could well
be eating for a shorter and less-than-healthy life.

This points back to the importance of eating raw fruits and vegetables
because they are "live foods"; that is, foods in which the enzymes are
active. The more enzymes you get, the healthier you are. And the more raw
foods you eat, the more enzymes you get.

The Benefits of Enzymes

The benefits of providing your body with more enzymes are many. As noted,
getting more enzymes aids the body's own enzyme supply; which may lead to a
longer and healthier life.

Digestive enzymes help us digest foods more completely. This means more
nutrients (and maybe eating less!) and the good health that goes with them.

There is another advantage to being sure that foods are well-digested.
When foods are not well-digested, they remain in the stomach and can rot
and putrefy. This results in a buildup of waste in the colon. This fecal
matter begins to decay, producing bacteria and toxins. The toxins
eventually seep through the bowel wall, where blood capillaries pick them
up and distribute them throughout the body. This can result in health
problems. These problems include constipation, stomach bloat, poor
digestion, gas, fatigue, weight gain and weight loss, headaches, and more.
Using digestive enzymes ensures that your foods are more completely
digested, helping to eliminate potential problems due to toxins.

AIM Prepzymes® combines cultured enzymes with papaya and alpine wild garlic.
This breakthrough product has been specially formulated to:

* replace the naturally occurring enzymes lost during food processing, food
preparation, and cooking, as well as due to irradiating or the cultivation
of depleted soil; and

* meet the digestive needs of the diet found in industrialized countries,
which typically includes fats and proteins, hidden sugars, dairy products,
snack foods, and processed foods.


Nutritional Info:

Each capsule of AIM PrepZymes® contains enzymes to help you digest the foods you
eat, plus two special features.

The enzymes are:

* protease for protein digestion

* amylase for carbohydrate digestion

* lipase for fats and oils digestion

* cellulase for dietary fiber digestion

* lactase for dairy products digestion

* sucrase for white sugar digestion and to complement amylase

* maltase for malt sugars and grain digestion

Cultured Enzymes

AIM PrepZymes® contains cultured enzymes, which are a breakthrough in enzyme
production. Most enzymes are derived from animal organs, notably the
pancrease. Although these pancreatic enzymes can be valuable, they are
inefficient as digestive enzymes. This is because pancreatic enzymes are
limited by their environment - they require an alkaline environment of pH
7.5 or more before they begin to work. This makes predigestion impossible,
as the stomach is acidic with a pH of well below 6.

Cultured enzymes have a very wide work environment: from 2.0 to 12.0 pH.
In other words, they are active in both acidic and alkaline environments.
This makes them the best possible choice for predigestion.

Papaya leaf and alpine wild garlic

The papaya leaf found in AIM PrepZymes® contains papain, an enzyme similar to
pepsin, which helps break down protein. This is helpful for those who may
not have enough hydrochloric acid to activate pepsin in the stomach.
Alpine wild garlic aids in digestion and also contributes antioxidant
activity to the formula.

When you combine cultured enzymes with papaya and alpine wild garlic, you
get the best possible digestive product: one that provides you with
important digestive enzymes, as well as the materials to fight metabolic
damage.

Enhanced Digestion

The unique combination of enzymes found in AIM PrepZymes® means better digestion
for you. Of particular importance is the digestion of fats and sugars.

The lipase found in AIM PrepZymes® ensures that fats and oils are properly
broken down early in the digestive process. This eliminates the
possibilities of proteins becoming coated with oil, which means they may
escape predigestive ones.

The sucrase and maltase address the high amounts of "hidden" sugars found
in processed foods and snack foods high in dairy, malt, and white sugars.

Try this!

To see firsthand the power of AIM PrepZymes®, try this experiment:

Prepare a bowl of oatmeal, and let it sit overnight. Then mix into the
oatmeal the ingredients of one capsule of AIM Prepzymes®.

Within 15 minutes, you will notice that the oatmeal becomes more "liquid".
Within one hour, you will practically be able to drink it! This is the
action of the enzymes breaking down the oatmeal. This is what AIM PrepZymes
does for the food you eat!


Directions:

To aid in digestion, take 1 capsule before or during each meal. You may
take more or less depending on your needs.


FAQ:

Who should use AIM PrepZymes®?

If you believe that you are not digesting foods well, you should use
digestive enzymes. In addition, we have fewer enzymes as we age, so we
should always consider using digestive enzymes as we grow older.

May children and pregnant women take AIM PrepZymes®?

Yes, they can. Both children and pregnant women should take the usual
suggested serving of one capsule before or during each meal.

Is there anyone who should not take AIM PrepZymes®?

Yes, it is recommended that those with gastritis or gastric or duodenal
ulcers not use AIM PrepZymes®.

If we take enzymes orally, aren't they destroyed by stomach acid before
they can do anything?

According to Santillo, this is not true. In his book Food Enzymes,
he cites university research that has shown that supplemental enzymes pass
through the stomach uninjured. In one study, the enzyme amylase digested
starch in the stomach and then moved into the small intestine, where it
continued digestion.

What is the source of the enzymes found in AIM PrepZymes®?

The enzymes found in AIM PrepZymes® are cultured from Aspergillus niger
and Aspergillus oryzac, two types of fungi.

How many active units does each enzyme have?

AIM PrepZymes® was especially designed to meet specific needs, and the exact
amount of active units for each enzyme is proprietary information.

May I take AIM PrepZymes® with FloraFood™?

Yes, although not at the same time. FloraFood™ should be taken on an empty
stomach, 30 minutes before or two hours after a meal. AIM PrepZymes® should be
taken just before or during meals.

May I take AIM PrepZymes® with other AIM products?

Yes, you may.

This product data sheet is reproduced with the permission of AIM International, © 1999