If you've spent any time learning how plants and animals grow and develop bio-chemically, you didn't get far into your studies without learning about enzymes.
Every living cell need's water and nutrients in order to produce energy and do their specific task, but it takes an enzyme in the middle of that process before anything happens.
They're protein catalysts, needed to create the chemical reactions within your body.
But what are the actual benefits of taking an enzymes supplement? Here we'll focus on "digestive enzymes," break down what they are, what each one really does (in the stomach and in the bloodstream), and look into what supplementing with oral digestive enzymes could do for you.
The human body is completely dependent on the process of digestion and the full breakdown of foods to function properly.
It's ability to grow, mend and heal itself, and fight off sickness all is dependent on good digestion.
Certain enzymes have the task of breaking down certain aspects of the food we eat- some for proteins, carbohydrates, sugars, etc.
This proper breakdown of food has been hindered more and more as our typical diets progressively move farther away from a "raw foods" diet.
Food in its raw state has living enzymes in it that, once in the human stomach, activate and help with complete digestion.
Cooking, processing, or heating foods above 118° F kills enzymes.
The extreme drain this causes on the body is what results in a growing number of degenerative diseases and health disorders in the population, specifically the American population.
A digestive enzyme is the only health supplement available that directly apposes and reverses this drain on the body.
And we can actually see the results in the blood.
Ronald K.
Schneider is a leading Enzymologist specializing in the field of Dark-Field Microscopy.
It's a certain light setting under a microscope that makes it possible to see aspects of blood.
Through Dark-Field Microscopy, Mr.
Schneider and others have discovered a number of situations that affect us.
For example, they've seen red blood cells sticking together (which can be caused by sticky undigested proteins), they've seen cholesterol and uric-acid crystals, and plaque from undigested fats and proteins.
Before and after studies have proven that, when taken on an empty stomach, digestive enzymes will go into the bloodstream and help clean up these conditions, and more! Here's a breakdown of the digestive enzymes that should be included in the best of enzyme supplements.
I've also listed some of the physical disorders associated with the deficiency of each enzyme: (from the research of Ronald K.
Schneider and others)

• Protease (digests proteins): anxiety, low blood sugar, kidney problems, water retention, depressed immunity, bacterial and viral infections, cancer, appendicitis, bone problems such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone spurs.
  
• Amylase (digests carbohydrates): skin problems (rashes, hives, herpes, canker sores), liver and gall bladder disease.
  
• Lipase (digests fats): high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, high blood-pressure, chronic fatigue, spastic colon, and dizziness.
  
• Cellulase (digests fiber): gas, bloating, acute food allergies, facial pain or paralysis, candidiasis (yeast infections).
  
• Sucrase (digests sugars): lung problems, asthma, bronchitis, seizures, hyperactivity, mood swings, insomnia, depression, chronic diarrhea, and dizziness.
  

A word of warning: before running out and purchasing a bottle of supplements that says "enzymes" or "digestive supplement" on it, please realize the unfortunate truth that not all supplements can give you enough enzymatic activity to give you all the benefits you need or that are listed here.
Make sure to get the most effective enzymes you can, and test them (try out the Oatmeal Test, for example-see below).