Certain proteins act as catalysts. They have the ability to speed up necessary chemical processes in the body without themselves being altered. These proteins are called enzymes. All enzymes are proteins that work to regulate the delicate chemistry of the body. We say delicate, because these enzymes are easily destroyed; and when even a small number are neutralized, the result can be illness and even death.
The most significant enzymes are those which catalyze hydrolysis (or water absorptive) reactions in the system. They are called hydrolyzing or more specifically proteolytic enzymes. Each group has certain reduction tasks to take elements introduced into the body, break them down (or reduce them), enabling them to be rebuilt in the form of healthy amino acid proteins.
Each hydrolyzing enzyme belongs in its own grouping according to one of three functions.
The fact that two out of these three groupings are found in Aloe Vera gel explains why it has been found to be such an effective aid to digestion.
There are also enzyme groupings according to another level of functions.
Properly functioning enzymes can help the body reduce fat and starch into protein for strength and health, or split protein and fat for recombinations into starches for the utilization of energy.
ref: Silent Healer (pg. 58) by Bill Coats, R.Ph., with Robert Ahola
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Proteolysis:
The hydrolysis of proteins or peptides with formation of simpler and soluble products (as in digestion).
ref: Webster's International Unabridged Dictionary