Telomerase is a protein molecule and is considered the fountain of youth enzyme because it regulates the aging process. The discovery of telomerase fuels great hopes: could medicine soon defeat cancer? Can we humans live up to 200 years? We clarify what enzyme therapy can really do.
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Everything is controlled by enzymes
No human, no animal, no plant can exist without enzymes. Scientists assume that at least 15,000 different enzymes are involved in the processes in our body: Around 30 trillion chemical reactions are controlled in this way every second. Whether breathing, growth, stimulus conduction in the nerves, healing processes after injuries or the complex processes of the immune system: everything is enzyme-controlled. So far, however, physicians have only been able to more precisely determine the function of 3,000 enzymes.
How do enzymes work?
Enzymes are continuously formed in living cells; it is part of our genetic blueprint. However, the lifespan of the different enzymes is limited. Some only exist for 20 minutes, others remain active for weeks or even months. Our body is in constant remodeling processes, cells are constantly being renewed so that we can continue living. The tiny proteins are responsible for this. Most of them regulate and accelerate metabolic processes in the organism such as digestion, the transmission of stimuli in the nervous system or breathing. Others control the production of hormones and render environmental toxins and free radicals harmless, thus supporting the immune system. They can also kill pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Above all, however, enzymes are involved in the healing processes of inflammation. When muscles, joints or tendons become inflamed, they help to heal the symptoms. So you are a major supporter of modern medicine.
Where else are there enzymes?
They occur everywhere in nature where metabolic processes or chemical reactions take place: when fruit ripens, when waste is broken down or when alcohol is fermented. The industry also takes advantage of this. Enzymes are used in a targeted manner in detergents or in cheese and wine production. They get laundry clean at just 20 degrees because they can remove dirt from fabric even at low temperatures. Wine that ferments with the help of enzymes can soon be improved in terms of taste and appearance using newly programmed protein molecules. And a group of scientists from the Czech Republic, Germany and Japan are working on modifying enzymes so that they break down dangerous chemical substances more quickly and efficiently than nature alone could.
Can the body’s own enzyme balance be influenced?
Since not only the body’s own enzymes are active in our organism, we can also ingest them through our diet, for example through salads, vegetables and fruit. However, this only works as a raw food. Because heating kills enzymes. If food is heated above 45 degrees, the protein molecules begin to die off. The best-known fresh enzyme suppliers are pineapple and papaya: they contain protein-splitting bromelain and papain, which have a digestive and anti-inflammatory effect. However, only about 15 percent reach the intestines, where they can actually develop their effect on the immune system. The rest is destroyed by stomach acid. If there is a lack of enzymes, you can help with preparations from the pharmacy. The preparations are also the basis for “systemic enzyme therapy”.
The effect of enzyme therapy
The Viennese professor Max Wolf is considered to be the inventor of enzyme therapy. As early as 1940, he produced an enzyme mixture that is still used today in almost identical composition. The knowledge about the effect is mainly based on the positive experiences of the users. Studies show that people with chronic inflammation, such as rheumatism, need fewer medications with side effects. Sports injuries also apparently heal faster with enzyme treatment.
Self-medication with advice
The enzymes accelerate inflammatory processes and promote healing. If you are self-medicating with enzymes, you should definitely consult your doctor beforehand and follow the instructions on the package insert. It is recommended that the medicines be taken around 45 minutes before or 90 minutes after meals so that they do not mix with food.
