Papain what is Good for ? The molecule that makes papaya fruit makes an excellent garnish for meat
If you have digestive problems and / or need to eat a lot of protein because you are looking for new muscle mass, it is best to help yourself by taking enzymes. Papain is such an enzyme and can contribute to a fuller and faster digestion of proteins in our diet.
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What is papain?
Chemical analysis shows that papain is a protein with a three-dimensional polypeptide chain assembled from 212 amino acids. Pharmacologically, papain is a hydrolytic proteolytic enzyme. If you have forgotten what enzymes are, read Enzymes – designed to destroy!
What do we need to know about papain?
Papain is a naturally occurring substance in the papaya fruit. Like other hydrolytic proteolytic enzymes: bromelain, trypsin, pancreatin and chemotrypsin, papain has the ability to break down protein molecules in an aqueous medium at a certain acidity. It uses water molecules (hydrolytic) to break down the amino acid chains of proteins (proteolytic).
What is papain used for?
Proven benefits:
- aiding digestion as a process
- helps eliminate the symptoms of indigestion (gas, diarrhea, heaviness in the stomach, etc.)
Assumptions and unproven claims:
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improves recovery from sports injuries – repeatedly observed but not explained
- acts as an anti-inflammatory according to the theory that small doses of enzymes enter the bloodstream and lymphatic system – not confirmed
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reduces pain and stiffness in arthritis
reduces the autoimmune reaction when consuming allergenic foods by allergic people, when the allergens are proteins or peptides
It is not difficult to guess that the intake of papain will facilitate the work of our digestion, as the enzyme-producing cells in the pancreas have a limit. This is twice as strong for athletes who consume two to three times more protein in their diet than non-athletes. If you get gas and bloating after another high protein diet, it makes little sense to count the protein consumed for the day. In any case, you do not digest, and accordingly do not absorb everything eaten and the symptoms show it.
The solution is in smaller, more frequently consumed portions and / or enzymes in addition. You will find more about enzymes and indigestion in the article Enzyme Deficiency – A Frequent Companion to Diets.
What are the possible harmful / side effects when taking it?
Hydrolytic enzymes are thought to be safe for healthy people. Therefore, people with untreated gastritis and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum should not take enzymes without consulting a gastroenterologist. The same goes for those who feel burning in the stomach after taking proteolytic enzymes. This is a sign that its protective layer is damaged and enzymes break down the supporting tissues. The use of proteolytic enzymes by people with gastritis and ulcers can seriously damage their digestive system.
It is suspected that when it enters the blood, the enzymes “dilute” it, breaking down the auxiliary and anti-inflammatory and clotting proteins floating in it. For this reason, many doctors and pharmacologists do not recommend combining enzymes with vasodilators. Enzymes are not recommended for people with problematic blood clotting (haemophilia). The intake of proteolytic enzymes by pregnant and lactating women should be prescribed by a doctor and not merely initiated.
What are the optimal doses?
Different preparations have different concentrations of active enzymes, in addition, the effective dose of papain depends on the amount of protein ingested. It is best to follow the instructions on the labels of the products you buy.
How to take papain?
Only with food during the main meal. They are especially needed during periods of muscle weight gain, when food is extremely saturated with protein.
In which sports and health supplements can we find it?
As the main active ingredient it is most often used in complexes of digestive enzymes or in single form. As a support, it is used less frequently in protein isolates and more often in concentrates.
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