Lipase enzymes
hydrolyze neutral fat (triglycerides) into diglycerides,
monoglycerides and, finally, glycerol and free fatty acids.
If fats are not properly digested, they cannot be used by
the to:
Provide A
Source Of Energy. Forty to forty-five percent of
the calories in the average American diet are derived from
fats, which is about equal to the calories derived from
carbohydrates. Therefore, properly-digested dietary fats are
needed as a source of immediate energy for basal metabolism
and to maintain stored energy for future metabolic events.
When carbohydrate metabolism is inadequate, the body relies
primarily on the metabolism of fat to supply its energy
requirements. This takes place in starvation and following a
high-fat meal when carbohydrate availability is reduced.
Using triglycerides as an energy source also occurs in cases
of diabetes because insulin deficiency impairs glucose
transport into cells. Triglyceride metabolism results in the
formation of ketone bodies which cannot be properly oxidized
in the absence of carbohydrates. Excessive ketone bodies in
the blood can have an extremely acidifying effect and may
overwork the body's homeostatic excretion mechanisms
resulting in kidney and circulatory failure. Enhanced
digestion of dietary triglycerides can reduce the metabolism
of stored fat thus lowering serum ketones. Tryglycerides,
composed of three fatty acids attached to glycerol, offer an
immediate replacement source of energy. Glycerol is a
short-chained carbohydrate which is easily converted to
glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream to supply energy,
sparing some of the body's fat reserves and reducing the
production of potentially harmful ketone bodies.
Prevent Cholesterol Deposits On
Arterial Walls: Although the exact cause of
cholesterol deposits on arterial walls is unclear, there is
overwhelming evidence that it is associated with how
effectively dietary fat is metabolized. Proper digestion of
dietary fats can have a beneficial effect on cholesterol and
triglyceride metabolism. Short chain fatty acids are
absorbed directly into the blood and transported throughout
the body attached to blood protein. Long chain fatty acids,
monoglycerides and diglycerides are reconverted into
triglycerides in the intestinal wall and surrounded
with protein to form chylomicrons and Very Low Density
Lipoproteins (VLDLs). These large transporter molecules
carry the fat through the lymph and blood circulation to the
liver for metabolism. Cholesterol is also incorporated into
the chylomicrons and VLDLs. VLDLs are potentially converted
in the blood to Low Density Lipoproteins (LDLs), the
molecular complex responsible for depositing cholesterol in
the tissues, of major concern, the arteries. Therefore,
thorough digestion of dietary fats into free fatty acids
reduces the VLDL and subsequent LDL levels in the blood. In
addition, proper digestion of foods containing the Omega-3
and Omega-6 oils is important in order to obtain essential
fatty acids, especially linolenic acid. This fatty acids is
the precursor for Prostaglandins in the E3 series (PGE-3).
PGE-3 are hormone like substances that have been shown to
reduce serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as
platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Older persons who are
more prone to hardening of the arteries were found to have
lower lipase levels and hence poor fat absorption from the
intestine.
Maintain
Resilience and Lubrication of All Cells and Tissues:
Fatty substances combine with protein to form the lipid
belayer of cell membranes and internal fatty tissue serves
as insulation against heat loss and as a protective cushion
for many tissues and organs. In addition up to 20% of solids
in fecal matter is derived from the fat in sloughed
epithelial cells. When dietary fat is poorly digested, it
will not be absorbed into the epithelial cells of the
digestive tract. Consequently, the stool loses some of its
natural lubrication from discarded epithelial cells which,
when compounded by low fiber in the diet, may contribute to
constipation.
Facilitate The Metabolism of Essential Nutrients.
Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K need dietary fat to be
absorbed and transported. Properly digested fats work with
these and other nutrients to perform life-supporting
functions in the human body.
The Need For
Enzymes: Today's "fast-food", refined diet is
essentially devoid of high-fiber foods. They have been
replaced with foods higher in fat, a trend increasingly
associated with serious health problems. Dietary fiber
consists of cellulose fibrils cemented together with a mat6x
of other substances including hemicelluloses, pectin,
lignin, and gums. Studies have shown that hemicelluloses,
increase the bulk, softness and transit time of stools;
pectin reduce the amount of fat the body can absorb reducing
blood fat levels; lignins bind excess bile acids produced in
response to a high-fat diet preventing their metabolism into
toxins by colon microflora; and certain gums reduce the rate
of glucose absorption helping to pace the postprandial rise
in blood sugar levels. In the digestive process, exogenous
cellulose enzymes help release these beneficial components
from dietary fiber. Only modest amounts of cellulose are
included in this formula because the additional glucose
obtained from complete digestion of cellulose would not be
desirable in cases of poor sugar and/or fat metabolism. In
addition to lipase and
cellulose,
protease and
amylase are
provided in Rich
Distributing's Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora formula to
help utilize other important food nutrients.
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Rich Distributing Enzymes Plus Intestinal Flora page