Everyone has it, but not many have heard of this mysterious enzyme. Rumour has it that catalase has many benefits and uses. We might actually need it to be in the best health possible. Let’s find out if it’s true.
What Is Catalase
Catalase is an enzyme found in every organ in nearly all living organisms that are exposed to oxygen. This enzyme is vitally important because it protects the cells from oxidative damage caused by reactive chemical particles such as hydrogen peroxide.
One catalase molecule can convert millions of peroxide molecules to water and oxygen in one second.
Hydrogen peroxide is a harmful byproduct of many normal metabolic processes, and it has to be converted quickly into less dangerous substances. This is where catalase comes in to catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Catalase Benefits & Uses
General Health
Catalase is an excellent antioxidant. Oxidative stress continues to attract researchers’ interest because it has been found to be at the base of many neuropathologies and diseases.
Research shows that catalase activity could play an important role in protecting us from it and toxic compounds. It may help improve treatment for not only digestive and cardiovascular diseases but also certain neurological diseases related to oxidative stress, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
It does so by protecting human neutrons from toxins, a study confirms.
A recent study also suggests that a therapeutic based on catalase can be a potential low-cost treatment for COVID-19. Based on scientific reports, coronavirus is closely related to oxidative stress.
Catalase has great abilities in that department because it reduces inflammation and protects from oxidative injury and stress.
Other Uses
- Catalase has proven to be an environmentally friendly method used in the food industry to remove hydrogen peroxide from milk before cheese production.
- Food wrappers to prevent food from being exposed to oxygen. That’s because it can cause changes to some foods. For instance, apples turn brown when their peel is removed.
- Studies have reported that due to bleaching fabrics with hydrogen peroxide, the textile industry uses catalase to remove hydrogen peroxide from fabric to make sure they are free of its traces.
- Some products used to clean contact lenses use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them and it is then followed up with a catalase solution to decompose the peroxide prior to using the lens.
- Microbiologists use catalase in their tests to identify species of bacteria.
Catalase Deficiency
- When there are insufficient levels of catalase in our bodies, a condition called acatalasia can develop, due to which some mild symptoms may occur such as oral ulcers.
- Lack of catalase can also affect the graying process of our hair because when hydrogen peroxide is not broken down, it interferes with the production of the pigment that gives color to the hair – melanin.
- Research also suggests that catalase deficiency may increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
How To Increase Catalase In The Body
Catalase is typically extracted from the bovine liver and there are supplements that you can purchase in the capsule form, ready for consumption.
However, there are also many plant sources rich in catalase, such as spinach, kale, soybean, parsnips, zucchini, carrots, red peppers, avocado, potato.
Studies have even suggested that curcumin, a well-known natural antioxidant, can significantly increase the catalase activity of the bovine liver catalase.
Conclusion
Catalase not only reduces the risk of various diseases, but it also has many beneficial uses in the food, textile, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. That makes catalase an extremely valuable enzyme that presents many benefits to us as a supplement!
If you’re looking for another unique supplement, check out our article about chaney root.