Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Amylase - A group of enzymes which break down sugars and starches. It is required
to digest carbohydrates (polysaccharides) into smaller units (disaccharides), and
eventually converting them into even smaller units (monosaccharides).
Ptyalin - amylase found in the saliva begins polysaccharide digestion in the mouth
and the process is completed in the small intestine by amylopsin - amylase excreted
by the pancreas.
If the diet is excessively high in carbohydrates, a deficiency of amylase may occur.
Deficiency symptoms may occur such as:
Skin rash.
Depression.
Mood swings.
Hypoglycemia.
Allergies.
General fatigue.
Cold hands and feet.
Inflammation.
Aches.
It is also involved in anti-inflammatory reactions such as those caused by the release
of histamine and similar substances. These inflammatory reactions usually happen
to organs which are in contact with the outside environment. These include skin problems
such as psoriasis, eczema, hives, insect bites, allergic bee and bug stings, atopic
dermatitis, and all types of herpes as well as some lung problems including asthma
and emphysema.
It is also involved in digesting and getting rid of dead white blood cells (a nicer
name for pus) and for this reason you might be more prone to abscesses if you are
deficient in this enzyme.
Optimum pH for Amylase:
Amylase found in saliva has an optimum pH around 5.6
Amylase from the pancreas has an optimum pH around 7.0
Carbohydrates are an energy rich food source. Amylase is thought to have played a
key role in human evolution in allowing humans an alternative to fruit and protein.
A duplication of the pancreatic amylase gene developed independently in humans and
rodents, further suggesting its importance.
Cellulase enzymes digest cellulose fibre, and aids in malabsorption. The cellulase
enzymes catalyse the hydrolysis of cellulose fibre tocellobiose (a simpler cellulose
chain). Cellulase enzymes are present in intestinal bacteria. The cellulase enzymes
break cellulose fibre down to beta-glucose (blood sugar).
Cellulose fibre is poorly digested and has little nutritional value, however, they
are very important for the structure of cell membranes.
The cell membrane is a most important part of the cell. The cell membrane separate
vital chemicals and structures needed to protect the cell from the environment, which
may contain free radicals, chemicals, and structures that are harmful to the cell.
They also help regulate the types and amounts of molecules pulled from the surrounding
environment into the cells.
