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Are there different types of enzymes?
Enzymes can be classified into three primary groups: digestive enzymes, food enzymes, and metabolic enzymes. Digestive enzymes are secreted by the salivary glands, the stomach, the pancreas, endocrine cells and the small intestine. The digestive enzymes break our foods down in the GI-tract so that the 45-known nutrients can be absorbed into our bloodstream. Food enzymes are those enzymes that are present in raw foods. When food is cooked, the energy factor is destroyed and the enzymes are no longer effective. Digestive enzymes are created internally; food enzymes enter the body along with the food; both serve the same purpose: to digest our food. Metabolic enzymes are those enzymes that help run all of the parts of our body and are necessary for the proper functioning of every cell. They act as catalysts (speed up chemical reactions) within the cells. A good example of these metabolic reactions would be the production of energy (ATP), the removal of waste, and the detoxification of poisons. The body must have an adequate supply of both metabolic enzymes and digestive enzymes to operate properly and remain healthy.
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