A number of major enzymes required for digestion are secreted by the pancreas into the stomach and the small intestine. The major classes of digestive enzymes are the proteases that act on protein and digest them, amylases digest carbohydrates and lipases digest fats.

Apart from these enzymes, there are several other enzymes that help in the digestion of various food nutrients. The enzymes helping in the digestion process are:

Amylase: acts on carbohydrates and breaks them into simple sugars.
The enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase, elastase, act on protein and polypeptide molecules.
Maltase, sucrose, lactase help in the breakdown of sugars
Lipase acts on the triglycerides to produce fatty acids.
Cellulase acts on cellulose and useful in digestion process.

Most important function is the replenishment of cells present in the various organs that are helpful in the proper functioning of the body.

Pancreas plays a major role in the production of a number of metabolic enzymes that include the destruction of the toxins and the removal of the toxins from the body. Metabolic enzymes help in the production of energy and these enzymes are present in the almost all the organs of the body.

Metabolic enzymes act in the repair of damaged and decayed tissues. Absorption of oxygen and the ability to distribute the absorbed oxygen to other organs and cells is achieved by the action of metabolic enzymes.

The vital function lies in the processing of the forty-five nutrients of the digested food and help in the production of cells that are required by muscle, nerve, blood, bones and the lungs.

Problems arise when we are under chronic stress and our cortisol levels remain chronically elevated. This can result in poor immune system function which makes us prone to infections. Chronically elevated cortisol levels are also associated with osteoporosis, diabetes, insulin resistance and breast cancer.
Problems can also result when the adrenal glands become fatigued and cortisol levels remain chronically low. Good nutrition and supplements, proper sleep and stress reduction all have to be used to maintain healthy adrenal function.
Insulin:
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin is secreted from our pancreas in response to increase in our blood sugar. Insulin then allows our cells to process blood sugar and use it or store it for energy.

Excess weight and obesity causes our cells to become insulin resistant; the cells need more and more insulin to process the same amount of sugar. When we do not have adequate insulin our blood sugar stays high and diabetes can develop.

Elevated levels of sugar in our blood cause premature aging in many of our organs, leading to kidney damage and cardio vascular disease. Weight management, physical activity, diet and nutritional supplements should all be used to maintain a healthy insulin and glucose balance throughout our entire life.

• Cholecystokinin : Stimulates contractions of gallbladder and ducts
DHEA:
DHEA is a hormone produced by our adrenal glands and like testosterone it is an androgen. As we age our DHEA levels decline. DHEA is a precursor to other hormones made by the adrenal glands, including testosterone and estrogen. This is especially important in post menopausal women.

DHEA plays an important role in immune function and our ability to handle stress. Good nutrition and supplements can be used to naturally improve DHEA levels.

We actually make three different types of estrogen in our body; Estriol, Estradiol and Estrone. Bio-Identical hormone therapy can include any one or all of the estrogens. Maintaining optimum balance of estrogen protects against heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia. Symptoms of Estrogen deficiency include hot flushing, night sweats, mood swings, depression, memory loss, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, skin dryness and fine facial wrinkles.
• Progesterone Steroid Uterus Sustains pregnancy; helps maintain secondary female sexual characteristics. Progesterone is a hormone that balances estrogen in our bodies, it thus protects us from developing uterine and breast cancer. Progesterone also prevents osteoporosis, helps to treat fibrocystic breast disease and endometriosis. It is progesterone that frequently is lacking, even in the peri-menopausal years, and causes many unwanted symptoms such as anxiety, irregular periods, breast swelling and tenderness, fluid retention and weight gain.
Testes:
• Androgens: Stimulate development and maintenance of male sexual behavior and secondary male sexual characteristics; stimulate sperm production.

• Testosterone:
Testosterone is primarily a male hormone but it has many important functions in both men and women. It maintains muscle mass and protects against osteoporosis. In both men and women low testosterone can result in loss of sex drive, decrease in energy level, depression, loss of muscle strength and hot flushing. In men symptoms also include increased abdominal fat, development of fatty breasts and problems with erections

Pancreas:
• Insulin which stimulates uptake and metabolism offat, other glucose; increases conversion of glucosetissues to glycogen and fat
• Glucagon Stimulates breakdown of glycogen and raises blood sugar
• Somatostatin Inhibits insulin and glucagon release other cells of decreases secretion, motility, and the pancreas absorption in the digestive tract.
Adrenal medulla:
• Epinephrine norepinephrine :Stimulate fight-or-flight reactions,increase heart rate, redistribute blood to fat cells muscles, raise blood sugar
Adrenal cortex:
• Glucocorticoids :Mediate response to stress; reduce metabolism of glucose, increase other metabolism of proteins and fats; reduce tissues inflammation and immune responses
• Mineralocorticoids: Stimulate excretion of potassium ions and re absorption of sodium ion.

Thyroid
• Thyroid Stimulates and maintains metabolism, and amino acid necessary for normal development and derivative growth
• Calcitonin Stimulates bone formation; lowers blood calcium
• Thyroid hormone controls almost all aspects of our metabolism. Hypothyroidism, or under production of thyroid hormone, is a common condition as we age.

Thyroid hormone acts as a thermostat in our body, when too low, all processes and metabolism slows down; when too high, the processes speed up. Common problems associated with suboptimal thyroid function include: feeling cold, even when others are warm, cold hands and feet, fatigue, especially in the morning; weight gain, dry skin, constipation, hair loss and high cholesterol.

Sometimes standard tests do not reveal subtle deficiencies. It is important to accurately asses thyroid function, replace thyroid hormone and optimize its levels by using natural thyroid replacement and by using supplements that support thyroid gland function.

• Luteinizing hormone
• Prolactin release-inhibiting hormone which inhibits prolactin release
• Prolactin-releasing hormone which stimulates prolactin release
• Somatostatin (growth hormone release-inhibiting hormone) which inhibits growth hormone release; interferes with thyrotropin release
• Growth hormone-releasing hormone which stimulates growth hormone release
• Adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone which stimulates adrenocorticotropin release
• Melanocyte-stimulating hormone release and inhibiting hormone inhibits release of melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Anterior pituitary
• Thyrotropin stimulates synthesis and secretion of hormone thyroxine
• Adrenocorticotropin Polypeptide Adrenal cortex Stimulates release of hormones from adrenal cortex
• Luteinizing hormone Stimulates secretion of sex hormones from ovaries and testes
• Follicle-stimulating Stimulates growth and maturation of eggs hormone in females; stimulates sperm production in males
• Growth hormone (GH) Stimulates protein synthesis and growth of muscles
• Prolactin stimulates milk production
• Melanocyte-stimulating P Controls skin pigmentation
• Endorphins and Peptides Decreases painful sensations

The hormones released from the glands then control essentially all our metabolic functions by acting on many different cells in the body and by giving the cell different commands as to what to do.

As we go through our life, our hormone levels change and eventually many of our hormone levels decline. It is the purpose of bio-identical hormone therapy to maintain hormones at their optimum level and to keep hormones balanced.

Balancing hormones and maintaining them at a youthful level achieves not only a sense of well being but also slows down the development of many degenerative diseases.
Introduction to hormone in human body:
There are two types of glands in the human body – glands with duct or tube and glands without duct (ductless). The Secretions from glands with duct are transported along the duct to the target organ whereas the secretions from ductless glands are deposited directly into the bloodstream and then are transported to the target organ.

This is an incredible fact but we must go back to nature and become aware of the potential of our body to take care of itself. Human body is an extremely complex and beautiful creation.
Here I have given some information regarding Hormones and Enzymes, the two groups of chemicals in our body which play a very significant role in maintaining health and harmony in human body. What follows are just bare facts and information.

Later on we will learn how to use this knowledge to our advantage to be healthy and disease free without taking medicines!
The idea over here is not to belittle any system of medicine or healing; what I aspire to do is to facilitate the natural healing wherever possible. I am sure my friends in the medical fraternity will agree with me that it is always better to prevent a disease rather than cure it!

So helping your body heal itself at an early stage will prevent the condition from progressing into a full-fledged disease.