Easing Fatigue with Natural Enzymes
71A Raw Salad
Enzymes Equal Energy
Vegetables are filled with thousands of plant enzymes that naturally convert food into the energy we need to fuel our brain cells and muscles. However, the American diet is filled with processed foods, foods that are not locally grown and foods that are genetically modified - which means they start out with little or no nutrition.
We have to look for quality foods in order to benefit from enzymes.
Why are enzymes important?
We need enzymes in order for our digestive system to work. Enzymes break down food particles so they can be utilized for energy. If you are always feeling fatigued look to your diet for answers.
I do cook fresh vegetables so aren't I getting enzymes?
Unfortunately, no. If we do have fresh quality vegetables, the way we prepare them destroys these necessary plant enzymes. It only takes five minutes of cooking to destroy 100% of plant enzymes.
How do I get the benefit then from fresh foods?
Many people are opting for a raw diet in the hopes of getting necessary enzymes. Quick stir-frying can also help retain the plant enzymes. This also explains why juicing can be beneficial - you may not get all the fiber but you can get the enzymes necessary.
I did an interview with an established raw food chef. She uses live foods to heal and is called a "Culinary Healer." For a lot of information about enzymes and live foods you may want to read her interview (see link below).
Well, I don't want to sit around gnawing on carrots all day.
Fresh fruit also has enzymes. The good thing about fresh fruit is that it is generally not cooked. For more vegetable enzymes, have more salads. See the link below on how to build a better salad.
Any fruits in particular?
All fruits are beneficial but one fruit in particular has a long documented history of being enzyme-rich - and that is papaya. Papaya contains vitamins C, A, E, and K, folate, potassium, fiber, and carotene. It belongs to the yellow and orange fruit group which is known to contain antioxidants.
Papaya is highly recommended for people with poor digestive systems because it contains the enzyme known as 'papain.' This explains why so many enzyme supplements on the market are simply labeled 'papain.'
Recommendation:
Keeping in mind how quickly enzymes are destroyed when food is cooked - vegetables are still highly recommended. Just cook them quickly - under 5 minutes. Or eat one to two cups of salad or raw vegetables daily.
Energy Boost:
Vegetables have thousands of enzymes crammed into them - these enzymes help convert food to energy which in turns fuels brain and muscle cells. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a necessary part of a healthy diet. Look for organic or locally grown. Lucky are the people who can grow their own fruits and vegetables.
See links below for additional healthy eating information.
Raw Food Chef Interview
- What is Culinary Healing? An Interview with Culinary...
What is Culinary Healing? An Interview with Culinary Healing Chef and Expert, LaMana ML Culinary Healing Chef and expert, LaMana ML advocates a diet of live foods, as well as a Vegetarian and Vegan...
How to Build a Better Salad
- How to Build a Better Salad
How is it salads have made us fat? They were supposed to help us control our weight. Even worse, they have made us sick. Salads have been super-sized into high-calorie bombs, and E.coli and salmonella have...
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BKCreative, Nice hub! As always you have such great healthy suggestions! Luv your energy boost ideas... Thank you for sharing, Blessings!
Well that was interesting and I thank you for your hub.
Nice to meet you beth811 - it seems there is always an easy way to do everything. Sigh! for some reason we look for the hard way.
Always good to hear from you DeBorrah K. Ogans. Thanks for commenting!
You're very welcome Hello, hello!
Thanks for writing!
Good article! Apparently Aloe Vera is also packed with enzymes vitamins and other good stuff.
This is a very good hub. I love anything dealing with health, and this is one of the best I've read so far. You know, most of us know these things, but we need reminders, and this was a very good. I am going to bookmark this one for future reference. You're good BK!
Good to hear about aloe vera sannyasinman - because that is something we can grow right on the kitchen window sill - and use it for healing.
Soooo true fastfreta - we know this stuff or at least knew it at one time - I guess we get so overwhelmed with the millions of things that we have to do - we sometimes forget - so I am glad this was a reminder for you!
Thanks for writing!
Excellent hub! We don't often hear that eating fresh fruits and veggies provides energy. I'm a big fan of aloe vera, and here in Hawaii, it's fairly easy to get papaya. Thanks for the great info.
Hi BK.I saw a short film on a raw restaurant in Seattle.
I was amazed at the variety of great looking meals served.
Opening a similar one in your area might be a good idea,Hmmm?
Hello PWalker - thanks for the compliment! And you have the papaya and everything else that's fresh and wonderful there in Hawaii - smart move!
Seems we are doing a lot of raw restaurants here in NYC cheaptrick - and the culinary chef I mentioned - who does raw/live foods - she is in big demand! Seems like we are trying to get our health back. I'm so glad!
Thanks for writing!
Thanks for a great hub with greta advice, thank you for sharing. Godspeed. creativeone59
Thank you so much for this information. I definetly overcook my veggies, so although I think I'm getting the enzymes and nutrients necessary for my family, the way I'm cooking them is robbing them of most of their nutrients. I'll definetly start cooking my veggies at the alloted time.
You're welcome creativeone59 - thanks for commenting.
I think we all overcook vegetables Veronica Allen - although I don't know why - I think it's an American thing. I remember collard greens being cooked forever - but then the 'pot likker' was saved and used to dip cornbread because it was filled with nutrients.
Thanks for writing!
All great stuff - however, in my experience, fatigue is almost invariably due to the banality and boredom of an unfulfilling life. Find something intersting and fun and your energy will come pouring back...
No doubt a boring life can get you down. But if all things are fine and you still don't have the energy - then take care of yourself. I often think a lack of energy leads to a life of wanting to do nothing with the results being boredom.
Excellent article. I try to eat 50% raw. I went 100% for a few weeks this summer but it was very hard work.
Congrats BK on your 100 score, today 12/30/09. You probably see it often. It seems to elude me. Of course I was told that I hit it one day, but I didn't see it.
I'm sure I saw you at 100 fastfreta - next time I do I will write you! Thanks for writing!
Great article. I find that adding more raw fruits and veggies into my diet definitely helps my energy levels. My body does well when I eat seasonally - like adding more cooked foods in the winter. One of my favorite ways to eat salad is to add cooked quinoa and then load up the salad on top.
I also swear by green smoothies. Yum!
Very interesting. I'll have to look further into your links. I'm really beginning to look at my eating habits and want to improve as well as my family.
Soooo important to eat in season Katrina Ariel - I'm glad you reminded us of that - we stand a better chance of getting nutrition if food is in season and locally grown. Great diet to go along with your great avatar!
Thanks for the comment RGraf - I'm glad we are all making the effort here on hub pages to share good eating ideas!
Very informative hub. Glad you mentioned papayas--I love them. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comment anglnwu! Alas, papaya is not in season right now in wintry NYC - and we need to learn to eat in season here in the US.
Enjoy your healthy papaya!
Hi BK, I eat papaya once a week and I bought it form Asian store, I choose the small ones as I cant eat all and they easily get rotten, Happy New Year toyu and I am glad youre back, Maita
I'm glad to be back prettydarkhorse - I had lots of holiday fun with family and friends. Now I can keep in touch with all my hub friends which is so lovely. I even have lots of hub ideas.
Now that you mentioned it - more than anything I want some papaya. I see it dried everywhere which makes sense - I think I'll try it and see how I feel. I'm thinking it should have some nutritional value.
Thanks for commenting!
Dear BkCreative, Very nice and informative Hub! I love eating fruits like papaya, mango and banana. But, I think that there should be a limit while eating fruits even then they are thought to be very important for our health. Because, I usually find some health problems when I have taken more quantity of fruits.
Hello ratnaveera - we do have to balance what we eat and how much of it. A little goes a long way - thanks for the reminder!
thank you for your hub. I am convinced you are right. I am horribly fatigued right now, from stress, lack of sleep and a big change in work. I haven't been eating as well as I have been in the past. I will put your fresh 'enzyme' plan to the test and I bet I will feel a resurgence of energy. Thanks for the reminder!!
You're very welcome J Burgraff! So much stress in our lives - and inadequate food everywhere. Glad you are turning to healthy foods. Thanks for commenting!
Great article. I used to work with Women to Women here in Maine. We worked on women's diets to help improve hormone imbalance. I followed their home program and learned so much - perimenopause doesn't have to be that bad.
Processed food is so bad for us and fresh vegi's are so good. It's too bad it's so easy to find the first and hard to find the second.
Great hub!
Thanks so much for writing mbwalz and sharing information about your positive project - I think we just have to spread the word and share this information. Wouldn't it be great to be healthy again? I went through menopause - happily - and I like that in Chinese medicine it is called the "Second Spring" - a beautiful new time in a woman's life. So true!
Nice to meet you too - thanks for commenting!
Good hub and thx I do all I can naturally and love learning all I can.
Man why's it gotsta be papaya! I can stand papaya, it's like someone took a Pine tree and rubbed it on an apricot! Haha, great article BK, I had no idea, I thought we only got enzymes from yogurt and meats. This makes a lot of sense, I wish I cooked less meals. I've thought about our (Western) societies obsession with cooking everything we eat! I have to admit though, I cook it all too. After reading this, I will try to cook less, and eat a few more salads!
You're welcome Pollyannalana - I'm with you - I want to be a natural healthy woman. The benefits show and feel so good.
Now that you mention it Ben Zoltak - we do cook everything - and we have ovens to prove it. However, when I lived in S. Korea - there were no ovens - it is a rarity and usually provided for Westerners that work there - because there is nothing fresh that comes out of a oven - and Korean people believe in fresh foods.
Enjoyed this hub, the Fatigue in the title caught my attention. :-) Thanks for the info!
When I lived in a fresh food culture (S. Korea) I had far more energy - I just felt so good - all the time and even enjoyed my food more. Made me laugh a lot more often.
I certainly wish we all had access to more fresh foods - that are not GM.
Thanks for commenting Jen's Solitude!
Mmmm.... Papaya.
Papaya!It is amazing, Katrina Ariel. Thanks for Mmmm-ing! I'm with you on that!
beth811 2 years ago
Well-written hub. I've read many ways to ease fatigue and this one is not commonly mentioned.
Thanks for the share.