Systemic Enzymes: 3 Important Functions They Have In The Body

When most people hear the word “enzymes” in the context of diet and wellness, they immediately think of the digestive enzymes that help people break down foods. While these enzymes do play a vital role in maintaining digestive health, they’re certainly not the only ones that deserve recognition. Systemic enzymes perform essential functions throughout the whole body, and they deserve some recognition.

What Are Systemic Enzymes?

First things first: what, exactly, are systemic enzymes? The answer to this question can be found by breaking down the term into its component parts.

In the healthcare and nutrition world, the word “systemic” refers to something having body-wide effects. Defining what an enzyme is can be a bit trickier, but in general terms, it acts as a biocatalyst that makes another chemical reaction work or work more efficiently.

Chemical reactions tend to be quite slow in the absence of enzymes. With those enzymes, though, reactions can be sped up to allow them to keep the body running at optimal levels. Those who want to learn more about systemic enzymes can find in-depth profiles online or read on to discover three of their most essential functions.

1. Systemic Enzymes Are Natural Anti-Inflammatories

Researchers have found that systemic enzymes provide the body with its first line of defense against potentially damaging inflammation. To understand why that’s so beneficial, it’s important to first get an idea of why inflammation occurs and when it can be a problem.

Inflammation is triggered by the immune system as a response to an irritant. Acute inflammation can be a beneficial reaction. It causes pain, swelling, and redness, but those issues all serve a vital purpose. They draw the person’s attention to hurt or infected body parts that need to be addressed.

The problem is that inflammation can be self-perpetuating. It creates additional irritation, which the body can then respond to by creating additional Circulating Immune Complex (CIC) protein chains that drive even more inflammation.

Many of today’s most popular over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medications work by stopping the body from making additional CICs. Unfortunately, though, it’s important for the body to maintain some CICs. They help to maintain the intestinal linings and support healthy kidney function, and taking anti-inflammatory drugs over long periods can disrupt these and other crucial systems.

Unlike anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic enzymes do not generate unwanted side effects, nor do they have a toxic dose. The best part is that systemic enzymes can tell the difference between the different kinds of CICs produced by the body. They will only eliminate the bad CICs that contribute to chronic inflammation, not the ones that help to maintain essential bodily functions.

2. Systemic Enzymes Reduce Fibrosis

Systemic enzymes don’t just metabolize CICs. They can also reduce fibrosis, a type of scar tissue that contributes to aging.

When people are young, their bodies generate a lot of systemic enzymes that help to keep this damaging scar tissue at bay. Unfortunately, once they reach the age of 27, even healthy people start experiencing a diminishing output of enzymes. This problem is caused by the fact that every human body can only generate a finite amount of systemic enzymes within a lifetime, so the body self-regulates this process to ensure they’ll still be available in old age.

When the body stops generating large amounts of enzymes, it can cause natural repair mechanisms to fall out of balance. Without sufficient systemic enzymes, the human body is less able to reduce the abundance of fibrin deposits that occur as a result of injuries. Replacing those lost enzymes with systemic enzyme supplements can aid in healing and reduce some of the problems associated with aging.

3. Systemic Enzymes Cleanse the Blood

Without blood, no person can survive. Blood transports oxygen throughout the body to different cells and organs while simultaneously transporting dead materials and waste products away to be disposed of in the liver and kidneys. Systemic enzymes help to improve blood circulation by reducing excess fibrin in the blood, which can contribute to the development of clots.

In a perfectly healthy body, all the waste products transported by the blood are supposed to be processed by the liver the first time they enter this vital organ. Unfortunately, though, most people don’t have perfectly functioning livers. Many of them live with livers that operate in a near-toxic state even if they don’t realize it. As a result, it’s not always possible for this overworked organ to remove 100% of the waste from the blood.

Taking systemic enzyme supplements can help to cleanse the blood while simultaneously taking some of the strain off the liver. It does this by:

• Reducing excess fibrin in the blood.
• Making blood cells less sticky.
• Breaking down dead cellular material so that it can pass into the bowels.
• Cleansing white blood cells’ FC receptors to improve their ability to fight off infections.

The combined effect of all these benefits can improve liver health and reduce the risk of blood clots, which, in turn, reduces a person’s risk of suffering from heart attacks or strokes.

A Brief Warning

As noted above, systemic enzymes are a much safer alternative to over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. However, they should not be used by people taking prescription blood thinners or patients who struggle with hemophilia unless they have medical supervision. Systemic enzymes can enhance the efficacy of drugs and thin the blood too much, which can increase a patient’s risk of bleeding.

Take Systemic Enzyme Supplements for Improved Health

Until the age of around 27, most people’s bodies produce sufficient systemic enzymes to meet their various organ and system needs. Over time, though, enzyme production goes down, affecting everything from the thickness and purity of a person’s blood to how well his or her body responds to infections. Taking systemic enzyme supplements is a great way to boost levels of these vital compounds.

The most important thing to remember when buying systemic enzyme supplements is to look for a quality brand. The supplements should contain a healthy blend of systemic and digestive enzymes for optimal effectiveness.