Update on Barefoot Running

by Glen Depke

Well, it has been a couple of months now of experimenting with barefoot running and I feel confident in saying, this is no longer an experiment. This is a way of life for me now!

Let's define first that barefoot running for me is not ALWAYS barefoot. Most often I run with my Vibrams on. These are the interesting looking protectors of my feet that have the space for my five toes to move independently. If I am on the beach, I run barefoot. If I am in the neighborhood, I use my Vibrams.

Let me start by reminding you that I have not run pain and inflammation free for 29 years due to an old football injury. OK, how many time have you heard "the old football injury" story. Since introducing this new way of running, I do not experience pain or inflammation. Wooo...hooo, is the best way I can describe this.

I started by running 20 minutes, three times per week. At one point, I was feeling really comfortable, so I pushed a little harder running sprints with our dog at the park and oops. I over did it and set myself back a bit. I felt as is something was "pulled" in the heal area. Due to this, I cut my time down from 20 minutes to 10 minutes and it seemed to work out fine. Gradually, I began running more than three days per week and also increased my time. Funny but the heal problem ended up being a soft tissue issue in my upper calf. A good friend of mine Dr. Robert Janda was able to assess this very quickly with Applied Kinesiology. In a matter of minutes of this assessment and treatment the heal pain was gone because it was addressed at the core.

What I am recognizing as the biggest benefit for me is to get away from the old school thought of heal/toe running. When running barefoot or with the Vibrams, if you are hitting a hard surface with your heal, you won't be enjoying the pain. Running in this way, forces a front or mid foot landing. I have found that this landing is much easier on my knees. I even came to find out that this is actually easier on my whole body. I recognized this one day when I was on a Power Plate. For those that are not familiar, this is a plate that you stand on while the vibration runs throughout your body. What I recognized is that when I put my weight on the heal, I feel the vibration significantly through the whole of my body, head to toe. When I put my weight on the front of my foot, I only felt about 10% of the vibration. Recognize that the vibration did not change, only the placement of my body weight was shifted to a different area of the foot. This was amazing to me.

I would even share that if you are not READY to go barefoot or try the Vibrams, you can still move in another direction by shifting your running style. You know, the old heal toe that we have been taught forever, may or may not be for you. Try a running shoe with less support and give a front or mid foot run a try. Just be ready though, it may not be an experiment, it may be a way of life.

I am not pretending to be an expert on running or structural care of your foot. I simply want to share something that is working well for me, that is very exciting.

A special thanks to Manny Aragon whom I consider the structural expert, for introducing me to barefoot running.

What is the ONE thing that leads to Fibro Suffering?

by Glen Depke

So what is my recommendation if someone tells you that they have the ONE single thing for you to address if you are suffering with Fibromyalgia?

RUN!!!

I say this because it is NEVER one thing. You are typically looking at multiple imbalances functionally within the body that need to be addressed individually and as a whole.

I will share that from my years as in Dr. Mercola’s clinic, Fibromyalgia and CFS patients were unfortunately a regular occurrence for us. I say unfortunate due to the pain and suffering these patients would be in on a regular basis.

The positive that was pulled out of this though, is recognizing that time and time again, when you address these imbalances, the body has the ability to heal and walk away from this pain and suffering.

I know, if you are one of the many with Fibromyalgia, you may be thinking that you are already addressing this and do not find the relief you are looking for. The one very important factor to remember is to keep moving forward. As you eliminate one imbalance after another, you will eventually reach your goals. The only people that I have not seen reach this, is those that gave up before these goals were attained.

So what are some of the keys factors that I have seen as imbalances over the years? I will share this below and you can use this as a check list for your journey.

· Fundamentals of Health

· Emotional Suppression

· Adrenal Insufficiency

· Leaky Gut

· GI Pathogens

· Chemical Toxicity

· Gut/Brain Imbalance

· Heavy Metal Toxicity

· Gluten/Cross Reactive Sensitivity

· Autoimmune Reaction

Many of these areas listed will directly affect other factors within the body and often when you address the underlying factors the other imbalances take care of themselves. For instance, I typically recognize a poor functioning thyroid and an adrenal and liver imbalance. When these are addressed the thyroid function improves.

The main focus of this article is to bring awareness that it is NEVER just ONE thing. Look at yourself as a whole and you will find your health and balance!

Listed below is FREE eBook as well as another excellent read for anyone with chronic health challenges. Grab these today as a part of your healing journey.

If you are struggling with Fibromyalgia, CFS, autoimmune challenges or really, any chronic health condition, I would recommend grabbing Sue Ingebreston’s book FibroWHYalgia. This is an incredible guide to health and wellness written by someone that lived the journey personally. I have read this book cover to cover and can share that the information addressed is of necessity and there is a bonus. The bonus being is Sue’s writing style and her ability to make health information fun and enjoyable. Follow this link for FibroWHYalgia.

As always, if you have any comments or questions in regard to this article, please leave your post below.

If you would like to understand the protocols used in my clinic with my clients, I always provide a FREE 20 minute phone consultation to assist in this understanding. Feel free to register here.

"The Secret of Pain" Interview

I had and interesting experience in Dr. Janda's office recently. I was experiencing pain in my left heal and in simple conversation, Dr. Janda was discussing a patient that had similar pain relieved in one session. Once I heard this he assessed my heal pain and he found it to be a soft tissue issue in my calf just below my knee. He addressed this in about 3 minutes and I was able to get up from the table with zero pain in my heal. It is always amazing how symptoms can shift when we truly get to the core.

Please enjoy a short interview below with Dr. Janda on the subject of getting to the core of your pain and suffering.

Do you find pain to be a common symptom for your clients and what levels of pain do you see with consistency?

Most people come to me for pain. There are two main types. The first are the ones that you know you have. The second occur only when you push on something with a hidden inflammation. They are both common and mean something. The pains I see can be mild to extremely severe. I have had people carried into my office and others unable to stand straight.

I understand that you do not view the pain as the problem. What are the varying underlying challenges that you see tied into pain?

The most common reasons are underlying dysfunctions causing pain, such as liver congestion due to toxins, fat or infection. There are countless variations. Many infections produce referred pains, called viscera-somatic reflexes, but also produce toxins that can cause both focal pain or diffuse muscle pain. Another common source of pain is spinal degeneration, or its precursor spinal subluxation.

How do you assess the underlying components of pain?

Most commonly I use Applied Kinesiology Muscle Testing because it is so fast and cheap. However, we also use standard orthopedic testing, lab testing and x-ray when appropriate.

I know you cannot give a definite response to this question but when you understand the underlying challenges, how quickly can a person potentially find significant results in regard to the symptoms of pain?

Most people respond from within a minute or two, to a few days. If it is due to advanced spinal degeneration it can take much longer and involves a rehabilitation program.

What is your opinion of the conventional allopathic treatment of pain?

Everything has its place. I would recommend trying natural conservative care first as we do not do surgery or give you toxic drugs. Usually, we will either not help or we will fix it. But we will not hurt you in the process.

Can your techniques be used along with conventional care?

Of course, I often work with conventional doctors, and they also send me patients.

For those that do not live in Southern California what is the best way for the public to learn about your approach?

I have just written a book about my approach called “The Secret of Pain." For more information or to order your this book today, follow this link. There is a video on the site that offers more explanation about what is in the book. Please use the Microsoft Browser as Firefox will not work for the video.

About Dr. Robert Janda

Dr. Robert Janda graduated from UC Berkley with a BA in Experimental Psychology in 1968. The year following graduation he stayed in the San Francisco area to study Gestalt Psychotherapy under the tutelage of Robert K Hall, M.D. The following year he began studies in Clinical Psychology at California State University in Fresno. In 1972 he graduated with a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with a special interest in hypnosis and Jungian Psychology.

After in interlude, he moved to Los Angeles in 1967 to study acupuncture from Korean and Chinese practitioners.

and their American students. During this time he also took courses in Swedish Massage, Shiatsu, Acupressure and Jin Shin Do. He also took a course in Iridology and Nutrition from Bernard Jensen, DC that started his lifelong interest in nutrition, which has continued to the present. In 1977, for 1 year, Dr. Janda worked at Harbor General Hospital Pain Clinic in San Pedro under Dr. Mok, M.D., as an acupuncturist.

In 1978 Dr. Janda began studies in Chiropractic at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. Starting the following year, and during his Chiropractic schooling, Dr. Janda began 2 years of seminars in Applied Kenisiology, which has become his special interest in the Chiropractic field. In 1980, also while still a student at the Chiropractic College, he began studies at the California College of Acupuncture in Los Angeles. Two years later he graduated from both institutions at the same time and received his Doctorate in Chiropractic.

Since that time he has been in private practice in Costa Mesa, California, practicing Chiropractic, Nutrition Therapy and Applied Kenisiology. For the past 17 years he has continued his education in Nutrition through numerous professional seminars. As a sidetrack, in 1988 he entered the Bruchion Art School in Los Angeles and studied Old Master Oil Painting for 6 years. He currently paints professionally on a part time basis.

In 1997 he began studies at the Rolf Institute in Boulder, Colorado and was certified in Rolfing Structural Integration the following year. This technique has been incorporated into his current practice. In 2002 Dr. Janda took the basic and advanced seminars in Dr. Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) and was certified in that technique. In 2003 has continued his training through certification in the 3 areas of Active Release Technique (ART), the spine and upper and lower extremities. In November, 2003 he participated as an ART doctor treating athletes in the Ironman contest in Kona, Hawaii.

Dr. Janda now practices at Orange County Back Pain Clinic in Newport Beach and also in Temecula, CA. He has taken special interest in carpal tunnel and tendonitis symptomology and has developed effective procedures for diagnosing and resolving these problems. He also works on diverse musculoskelletal problems such as spinal injuries, whiplash, and athletic injuries. The Clinic has recently acquired a DRX 9000 C for spinal decompression to rehabilitate spinal discs that are degenerate, bulging or ruptured. This technology will eliminate the need for most disc surgeries. Through the use of nutrition he treats metabolic and female health problems such as PMS, digestive problems and toxicity. He is also interested in strengthening immunity and promoting longevity as well as the prevention of serious health problems such as heart disease and cancer. Dr. Janda believes that psychological, nutritional and BIO-mechanical factors are mutually interactive. His mode of practice is more akin to preventative Naturopathic Medicine but includes conventional Chiropractic.

Protect Yourself From Nuclear Fallout

by Glen Depke

The earthquake and tsunami are devastating events last week for the people of Japan and their friends and loved ones worldwide and our thoughts and prayers are with them all.

There is another potential devastating event that could be taking place sometime very soon based on the condition of many of the nuclear reactors in Japan. While it is difficult to get reliable information from the news and government agencies, it is suggested that 8 or 9 nuclear reactors is Japan are in dangerous territory. The chance that one of these reactors melts down may be higher than we are lead to believe. Since my wife and I live on the West coast, this is a concern of mine since the trade winds head right from Japan to the West coast of the United States.

So what are some of the toxic effects of radioactivity exposure?

On a cellular level excessive radioactivity causes damage to chromosomes and causes radiation sickness. This will also damage immune system function and increase the risk of many forms of cancer, due to radioactivity inducing mutations to cells that lead to cancer. This exposure also causes the production of hydroxyl free radicals with the body by “splitting” the body’s water content. Exposure to radioactivity on the skin can cause radiodermatitis and often causes radioepithelitis, which is a destruction of the epithelium especially of the skin.

So what proactive steps can we take based on this possibility?

I am going to focus on products and supplements that will provide the highest levels of protection for me and my family and I would recommend reviewing this list for your family.

· Glutathione is a key component of the antioxidant system which protects the body from free radicals at the cellular level. Reduced glutathione is involved in the synthesis and repair of DNA, and enhances the antioxidant activity of vitamin C, the transport of amino acids, and the detoxification of harmful compounds.

· Glutathione Recycler is a scientifically developed, first-of-its-kind formula supports the synthesis and recycling of glutathione, the primary antioxidant produced in our bodies. This formula provides key essential nutrients, cofactors, and substrates that are used to metabolize intracellular glutathione activity. It also supports the activation of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, and positively supports the ratios of reduced and oxidized glutathione.

· Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) - The oral administration of sodium bicarbonate diminishes the severity of the changes produced by uranium in the kidneys. The kidneys are usually the first organs to show chemical damage upon uranium exposure. It is my understanding that the United States Army recommends the use of bicarbonate to protect the kidneys from radiation damage. There is no better therapy for radiation sickness then intense sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and magnesium baths with the appropriate clay added in.

· Iodine is important to have in supply because this is the most obvious and important element in protecting against radiation damages. Radioactive iodine will plunge in to any and all iodine receptor cites that have no iodine in them due to iodine deficiencies. This is a serious problem because a high percentage of people in North America are iodine deficient. This leaves them susceptible to radioactive iodine, which is one of the principle forms of radiation given off in nuclear accidents. I would not recommend supplementing with more than 1000mcg of iodine per day and iodine could also be contraindicated with those on thyroid medications.

· Lipoic Acid reduces the toxic effects of exposure to radioactivity. It was recognized that persons exposed to Radioactivity after the Chernobyl incident (in Russia) who received Lipoic Acid supplements exhibit greatly lowered oxidative damage as a result of Radioactivity exposure.

· Vitamin C improves the ability of the body to resist the toxic effects of exposure to radioactivity. Guinea pigs that were supplemented with large dosages of Vitamin C combined with bioflavonoids were able to withstand twice the known lethal dosages of radioactivity. Vitamin C (10 grams per day) decreases the bleeding and cell degeneration that occurs as a result of exposure to plutonium radioactivity.

· Food and supplemental sources of chlorella and spirulina reduce the quantity of radioactive isotopes absorbed into the body and thereby helps to counteract the toxic effects of exposure to radioactivity.

· Lastly you could use a Young Living diffuser, coupled with the following oils, in the rooms of your home over the coming days and weeks. Diffuse a combination of Melrose, Sacred Frankincense, and Purification essential oils. Combine the oils in pairs when diffusing (for example, Melrose with Sacred Frankincense or Sacred Frankincense with Purification). Melrose is a particularly powerful blend because it contains two melaleuca oils that may protect cells from radiation damage. Another sensible precaution is to wear an inexpensive dust mask saturated with the above oils while you are outside or traveling.

Let's hope and pray that we do not have another devastating event to add to the stress to our world, but if we do, you can be prepared.

If you would like further information on the supplements mentioned in this article, feel free to call my office at 949.515.3538 or email me at Glen@DepkeWellness.com.

If you have any comments or questions, please post these below for me to answer personally.

Leaky Gut Results...Shocking!

by Glen Depke

The 30 day leaky gut/immune boosting protocol is now complete and I wanted to share what transpired over the last 30 days and more importantly, what are my results.

Since your eyes will gravitate toward the pictures on this page, I will share that one of the results of the last 30 days was a 20 pound weight loss. You can see by the before and after pictures (yes, this is me) that I had was in need of some weight loss. The interesting fact though, is that I had zero restriction on the quantity of food I ate during this time. To be honest with you, I felt that I actually ate more than I would typically and still lost 20 pounds.

The 20 pound weight loss is the bonus though. I will share the highlight of hitting a new level of health that I did not even know existed. I am averaging at least one hour less of sleep per night. When I wake up I almost feel a buzz within me and I cannot wait to get out of bed in the morning. My energy is high all day and I had zero need for anything to stimulate energy through my day. Really, what can I say, this is amazing!

So what did I do over the last 30 days?

It starts with the meal plan and goes from there. The meal plan itself is restricted to flesh proteins, all vegetables except night shades, some fruit and fat sources of any form of coconut, olives or avocados. I thought this would be a bit difficult at first but I quickly found many new food choices that kept me more than satisfied. For my clients that are following this protocol, I am supplying a meal chart and seven days worth of meal ideas as well as some recipes to make the nutritional aspect much easier.

I want you to understand that you will eliminate ALL potentially inflammatory foods from you diet for these thirty days. No caffeine, alcohol, sugar, grains, rice, nuts, most seeds, night shades, eggs, dairy, and soy. I know what you may be thinking, “I can’t eliminate all these.” I had the same thought, but as mentioned above, you will recognize new food choices that are more than satisfying. My wife came up with and awesome coffee replacement, a client of mine came up with a custard replacement and I modified my wife’s coffee replacement and made an awesome shake out of it. Very exciting!

From the supplement aspect for leaky gut I was taking L-glutamine, deglycerhizinated licorice root and aloe extract, along with GI Synergy which is an anti parasitic, anti yeast and anti fungal combination. To support the leaky gut supplements mentioned above I followed an immune boosting protocol that included two supplements called Nitric Balance and Glutathione Recycler.

I was also exercising but this was minimal. I have been running in 10 minute intervals three or four times per week. I have been doing some anaerobic exercises for 10 minutes three times per week and trained once per week for 45 minutes. My schedule does not allow for a significant amount of exercise so I had to find what works in small time frames. This can work for almost anyone.

So now that I am at the end of 30 days, what do I do? Well, I am adding in the restricted foods one at a time while maintaining an awareness of what does and does not work for me. If I add a food that creates some negative results for me, I will either eliminate this from my nutritional choices or I will only eat this on rare occasions.

Since I am human and may at times make a choice that is not best for me. If this does happen and I make the choice to consume anything that could potentially be a mechanism for leaky gut I will take the combo of L-glutamine, deglycerhizinated licorice root and aloe extract for three days to be sure to keep my gut healthy.

Understand that with as good as I feel right now, I do not EVER want to loose this feeling.

Another important distinction to make is that I am no better or worse than you. This is simply a choice that anyone of us can make and you can also enjoy a level of health that you may have not known exists. This feels so incredibly awesome that I want to share this with the world.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to post this below for me to address personally.

If you would like to receive a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation to learn more, call our office today at (949)954-6226.

What is the Gut/Brain Connection?

by Glen Depke

So you think your brain is all in your head? Well, think again. Obviously it starts in your head but your brain extends into the brain stem, from there this leads to the vagus nerve which then extends throughout the gastrointestinal system. Yes that same nerve tissue that is within your brain extends into the gut and oh, what a connection!

Seriously about 90% of your brain output is directed through the vagus nerve and due to this lower brain dysfunction very often leads to digestive difficulties without any noticeable sign of neural degeneration. It is actually suggested that Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), is the result of a “disturbed” neural function along the gut/brain connection.

The gut/brain connection is a parasympathetic activity and does not react well to chronic stress. When under stress there is a significant suppression of blood flow to the gut and stress has an accumulative effect on the brain. This is one of the many reasons why emotional release is so important in my practice with my clients. It has been shown that anywhere from 50 to 90% of chronic gut challenges is also dealing with psychiatric disorders. The other challenge that arises out of this is within your immune system function due to the fact that approximately 80% of your immune system function originates in the gut.

For my left brain followers, let’s take a quick look at the neurology of gastrointestinal activity. The frontal cortex excites the vagal nuclei to activate the gut motility and enzyme secretion. The insular cortex actually lets the brain know where the gut is. The vagal nuclei which is affected by both of these cortexes activates the intestinal motor cells for gut motility, regulates the gut blood flow and activates the release of intestinal enzymes. From there, the enteric nervous system generates intestinal motility, generates enzyme release and provides input to the vagus nerve. And the cycle continues…

It is also important to understand that this gut/brain connection goes both ways. You can also be living with a gut challenge that will then affect brain function. This is typically due to inflammation within the gut. Remember that gut inflammation decreases neuron function and honestly most people are living with chronic gut inflammation on a daily basis. See last month’s article on leaky gut or other posts on gluten intolerance.

Some other keys to remember is that brain fog is a sign of neural inflammation often due to gut inflammation and if consuming a particular food affects your ability to think, it is suggested to address both the brain and the gut. Another significant factor is the result of a physical brain trauma. Often brain trauma leads to gut dysfunction.

The noticeable brain symptoms tied into the gut/brain connection are listed below.
• Brain Fog
• Poor Brain Function
• Cold Hands and Feet
• Inability to Experience Joy or to Motivate
• Easily Upset of Feelings of Worthlessness
• Poor Memory or Difficulty Learning
• Anxiety or Nervousness

Other important distinctions to reveal is the ghrelin which is a hormone produced in the gut, has a stimulating effect on neurotransmitters, poor brain function can lead to dysbiosis (poor bacteria balance), and dysbiosis can lead to depression.

So what can you do? Depending on the symptoms you are experiencing, there are specific supplements you can use to allow your body to balance that particular area of the gut/brain connection. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, it is advised to get up and move, since movement will activate your neurological system.

To get moving in the right direction, assess you likelihood of gluten intolerance by visiting Depke Wellness and following the Gluten Intolerance link and complete the questionnaire linked at the bottom of that page. Be sure to take your probiotic on a regular basis. Personally I use a probiotic called Ba-Co-Flor which I get from Germany. I have used this with my clients and personally for over 10 years with great results. If you would like information on this, you would have to contact me directly at 949.954.6226 or email me at Glen@DepkeWellness.com.

Another step is to address leaky gut if this is a challenge. If you did not read the article on leaky gut I would suggest you visit this to understand the likelihood of this being a challenge. Click here to view this article.

If you are interested in hearing more about the specific supplements used per neurological symptoms as listed above, leaky gut or any other challenge to the gut/brain connection, feel free to register here for a FREE 20 minute phone consultation to understand my protocols used with my clients.

If you have any other questions or comments, feel free to leave your post below and I will address this personally.

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Supplement Facts

two tsp (10 ml/0.35 fl oz) provides:

calories	15
total carbohydrate	4 g.
ascorbic acid	100 mg.
calcium (lactate gluconate)	40 mg.
vitamin D3	800 i.u.
vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl acetate)	30 i.u.
thiamine HCl (B1)	7.5 mg.
riboflavin 5' phosphate (activated B2)	4 mg.
niacinamide (B3)	25 mg.
inositol hexaniacinate	25 mg.
pyridoxine HCl (B6)	5 mg.
folic acid	400 mcg.
methylcobalamin (B12)	30 mcg.
biotin	400 mcg.
pantothenic acid (calcium pantothenate) (B5)	25 mg.
iodine (potassium iodide)	75 mcg.
magnesium (gluconate)	20 mg.
zinc (gluconate)	15 mg.
manganese (aspartate)	1 mg.
chromium (picolinate)	200 mcg.
molybdenum (aspartate)	75 mcg.
boron (glycinate)	700 mcg.
beta carotene	1,000 i.u.
lutein†	3 mg.
carrot juice concentrate	25 mg.
tomato juice concentrate	50 mg.
cranberry juice concentrate	50 mg.
stevia	100 mg.
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Do You Suffer From GERD, Heartburn or Acid Reflux?

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath

Regardless of what you call it; GERD, heartburn or acid reflux, it still spells one thing, PAIN!

It is amazing to me how many people suffer from this pain and discomfort regularly in our culture. What is even more amazing to me is to watch the questionable treatment of this through conventional means.

For simplicity sake let’s refer to this as GERD throughout the article, understanding that GERD itself stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Basically, GERD refers to the stomach and esophagus and reflux means to flow back. Therefore, GERD is the return of the stomach’s contents back up into the esophagus. This causes the pain and discomfort that many feel today.

From a conventional treatment standpoint this appears to be an easy fix. Typically you will be told that you have too much acid in your stomach and you need to reduce this acid content. From there you simply go to the doctor or the local drug store for an acid blocker or a proton pump inhibitor. Sounds easy, right?

Not so fast!

First understand that this is typically caused by too little stomach acid and not too much. The stomach prefers to achieve the optimal breakdown of your food based on early enzyme activity and proper breakdown with stomach acid. Low stomach acid will significantly slow the movement of your food through the stomach and potentially put pressure on the esophageal sphincter (LES), which is the muscular valve connecting the esophagus to the stomach. This pressure can lead to a dysfunction in the LES and the contents of the stomach backing up into the esophagus.

Since this is typically tied into low stomach acid, why would you be given an acid blocker or a proton pump inhibitor (blocks stomach acid production)? Well, for many this may provide some relief because there is no longer any acid to flow back into the esophagus. While this may appear to work for some, it is leading to other definite challenges.

You see, the stomach acid plays a major role in digestion by breaking down proteins properly and also plays a role in the uptake of your minerals and B-vitamins. The two hardest minerals to absorb without proper stomach acid are calcium and iron and interestingly enough, these deficiencies seem to almost be at an epidemic proportion.

I remember back when I worked alongside Dr. Joseph Mercola, he shared with me that when the acid blockers were first introduced, they included a “black box” warning. Never prescribe the acid blocker for more than one week. Yes, I said one week. Many are told they will be on their acid reducing meds for life. The reason you do not want to be on these drugs long term is due to the fact that your health will quickly deteriorate when you cannot absorb and assimilate your food adequately. This is a significant challenge without proper stomach acid.

For my clients I recommend taking some simple steps to improve and potentially eliminate any challenges with GERD by focusing on the fundamental core imbalances. Here is my list of recommendations.

· Chew your food slowly and thoroughly

· Deep breathe before and during your meals

· Use a probiotic to enhance beneficial bacteria

· Use the Prime Digestive Support or other digestive enzyme

· Reduce your stress levels

· Do not consume large meals

· Stay away from trigger foods such as chocolate, peppermint, fried or fatty foods, coffee and alcohol

· Make sure you do not eat a meal within 3 hours of bedtime

· Do not lay down immediate following any meals

· If there is a challenge with your LES, visit a chiropractor to assist with strengthening the LES muscular valve

If symptoms continue there may be a deeper challenge with an infection, such as H-Pylori. An H-Pylori infection can significantly lower stomach acid production and would need to be tested and addressed appropriately. There are natural protocols that you can use to address H-Pylori. This is important to understand because the conventional treatment for H-Pylori includes a proton pump inhibitor and strong antibiotics. I think you are already “getting” that this would not be my recommendation for obvious reasons.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post these below and I will address them personally.