Are YOU in Integrity?

by Glen Depke

Integrity...what an interesting word with multiple meanings and understandings. What is interesting to me is how vast this stretches throughout ALL aspects of our life. So what is my understanding of integrity, how does this fit into our lives and more importantly how do we maintain integrity? Another important understanding is once we are out of integrity, how do we shift back into integrity?

Last week I posted a question on Facebook asking everyone if they had their emergency integrity plan. Today you will learn what this plan is all about.

First of all, let's separate integrity from morality. Morality definitely has an individual perception based on what you were taught, who you are, your belief systems and more. Integrity is your drive to maintain the choices you make in your life with consistency. These are two completely different subjects.

Often when working with my clients, we will find the key factor that will keep their life, health and happiness in check with consistency. I will use myself as an example here. I have made the commitment in my life to "be" unstoppable. It is up to me to hold my integrity to the "being" of unstoppable 24/7 for the rest of my life. This means that regardless of the situation that I am in, I will "be" unstoppable within this. This will cover any aspect of my life; business, personal health, relationships, financial health and the list goes on. So yes, holding my integrity means that I have made the commitment to "being" unstoppable 24/7.

I understand that it may sound scary to make a commitment to integrity 24/7 for the rest of your life. The first thought that often comes to mind is; how can I ever commit to something 24/7 for the rest of my life. Before you freak out and shut down to this thought, let me explain what this means to you in your life.

Maintaining your integrity means that you make the commitment to the "being" of your choice in every moment. If you recognize that you are out of integrity, the moment you have this awareness, you will put yourself back into integrity. Do you really think that in every moment I am unstoppable? I have made this commitment in my life but at times I will realize that I am being stopped. I may even realize that I have been stopped for hours or days. This does not matter though, because once I am aware that I am out of integrity, it is my job to get back into integrity.

Understand that life is ALWAYS trying to push us out of integrity and when we find ourselves in this space, there is no room for judgement. This is simply time to get back into integrity, which for me is to "be" unstoppable.

So what pushes us out of integrity and keeps us out? Typically this is the old stories that are running through our minds. The old situations of the past and the old stale suppressed emotions that attach to these situations. We all have these and for most of us, these old stories derail new commitments and integrity all the time. Heck, I teach this and live by this, yet I still find myself "being" stopped in my life. Remember though, being in integrity does not mean I will never "be" stopped, it just means that when I aware to this, it is my commitment to get back into the "being" of unstoppable.

So what is one to do when you are out of integrity and what is the emergency integrity kit?

Well first of all, it is important to make the choice of what it is you will "be" in your life. Let me give you a little clue. If you want to change your life in any way, your "being" will have to be something you have never "been" before. You cannot take an old way of "being" and think you will get something new out of it. We all know the definition of insanity; doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a new result.

Once you have chosen your "being" it is a good idea to share this with those that you are close to in your life. Ask them to bring it to your attention when you are out of integrity. It is so funny, because my clients are all over the country, I have people holding me accountable to the "being" of unstoppable all the time. If it is obvious that I am "being" stopped, someone will chime in on Facebook or email with a comment such as, "it doesn't seem like you are unstoppable in this moment Glen." You see, this does not mean that they are judging you or telling you that you are wrong. It is simply that they are bringing you an awareness that your are out of the integrity of your commitment. From this awareness you simply put yourself back into integrity.

That's integrity!

So what to do when you are aware that you are out of integrity and you cannot seem to shift back into integrity. Here is my emergency list for you. Follow these steps and you will find yourself back in integrity.

•     Straighten posture
• Sit and/or stand up straight
• Shoulders back
• Chin tucked and head aligned
•     Deep belly breathe (3-5 times)
•     Jam to some fun music
•     Let out a growl/yell
•     Tap on the emotion and the situation
•     Watch Bob Newhart’s “Stop It!” or a “like” clip
•     Go for a walk with myself
•     Yoga, Tai Chi or meditate if available
•     Look at your thoughts objectively
•     Communicate your thoughts in a healthy manner (saying what’s real)
•     Email and/or call an accountability partner
•     If you are still stuck in your old story at this point, call 949.642.2094 for an appointment with me to discuss this. I offer a FREE 20 minute phone consult to describe my services.

Going through this list you will typically find yourself out of your old story and back into integrity rather quickly. The key is to have the emergency plan in place. Copy and past this for yourself and keep a copy in your purse or wallet and when life has you out of integrity, use these steps to assist in getting back in integrity.

Remember, to get something new in your life, you need to do something different and in regard to the old stories and emotions, my question is always the same. How's this working for you?

Feel free to post any comments or questions and I will address these personally.

What is the Brain/Immune Connection?

by Glen Depke

We often hear about the Gut/Brain connection but nobody is talking about the Brain/Immune connection. So what is the Brain/Immune connection all about?

Let’s look at some simple facts first.

If you have poor brain function you will have poor immune function and if you have poor immune function you will have poor brain function. They go hand in hand. Your brain mass is composed of approximately 50% glia cells and recognize that glia cells are immune system cells. It is also important to understand that here are 10 glia cells for every neuron in the brain. Most are not familiar with this significant immune connection with the brain.

So what are the most common challenges that lead to this Brain/Immune imbalance?

When we are challenged with any level of systemic inflammation, which is most health challenged individuals, this will substantially affect your glia cells. Poor sleep patterns is also a big one for us. Poor sleep patterns lead to brain fatigue and when you do not achieve proper rest and recovery, inflammation goes nuts. Actually, only one night of sleep loss can trigger an immune response which also includes the stimulation of proinflammatory proteins. How many of you are missing more than one night of proper sleep per week? Chronic stress has also been shown to influence these inflammatory markers and most of us understand that chronic stress is a current issue.

So what can we do to stimulate this Brain/Immune connection?

First, let’s all understand that by stimulating the brain you will stimulate the immune system’s ability to produce your natural killer cells. There is also a significant tie directly with one part of your brain which is the cerebellum. Movement will stimulate the cerebellum and unfortunately most of us do not move enough. For those that have a poor functioning cerebellum will often recognize challenges with car or sea sickness, poor balance, trivial nausea, and/or scoliosis. Overall you cerebellum will influence your immune system’s T-cells, modulate natural killer cells, improve secretion of cytokines from the bone marrow and thymus, coordinate balance and motor planning and excite the vagus nerve for proper digestion.

Three common areas that challenge proper cerebellum function would be a past head trauma, alcohol consumption and/or poor cerebellum development as a child. If you want your child’s cerebellum to develop properly you will make sure they get out and play regularly, learn a second language and play an instrument. These will all lead to optimal cerebellum development. If you have had a past head trauma, you will want to pay attention to brain symptoms that you may be living with. Alcohol is also a significant cerebellum suppressor and many of us use alcohol to suppress physical and emotional pain, far too often.

Brain symptoms to be aware of that may be creating this Brain/Immune connection are as listed.

• Brain fog

• Progressive degeneration

• Poor brain function

• Cold hands and feet

• Inability to experience joy or to motivate

• Easily upset or feeling worthless

• Poor memory or difficulty learning

• Anxiety or nervousness

Addressing these symptoms as well as balancing circadian rhythms, the adrenals and leaky gut all play a role in finding the health and balance you desire.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post these below. I have adjusted the comment moderation, so your post should show up immediately.

If you would like to learn more about the protocols with Glen Depke and Depke Wellness, feel free to register for a COMPLIMENTARY 20 minute phone consultation by following this link.

Enough With Antibiotics Already!

by Glen Depke


Simply put, antibiotics are poisons that are used to kill. Only licensed physicians can prescribe them and they are used to kill bacteria. While many have benefited from antibiotics, it is important to understand that antibiotics kill organisms and you are an organism.


So what are the biggest challenges when taking antibiotics?


First of all, this will destroy the beneficial bacteria in the gut. You have more bacteria in your gut then you have cells in your body and this high amount of bacteria is essential for an optimally functioning GI tract. This bacteria also keeps yeast in check. Between yeast and beneficial bacteria, they compete for nutrients in the food we eat. Due to the high amount of beneficial bacteria, the yeast is kept in check and this causes them to assist in producing nutrients such as B vitamins.


The challenge when taking antibiotics is that every time you take these, you kill your beneficial bacteria and upset the balance of your GI. The yeast is then allowed to grow out of control and create one challenge after another.


The challenge with low beneficial bacteria and yeast overgrowth due to antibiotic treatment is that this can create damage to the interior lining of the small intestines and lead to leaky gut. To learn more about leaky gut visit this link from a previous post.


Often when the GI integrity is compromised, this will lead to binging on poor quality carbohydrates and this ends up with results of weight gain, food born allergies, immune disorders and neurological challenges such as brain fog and depression. Yikes!


The scary truth is that this often leads back to the same problem that you took the antibiotics for.


This is not only the antibiotics you take orally, this is also the antibiotics fed to animals in conventional feed lots today. This is why I always suggest consuming the highest quality meat available to you such, from companies such as Blackwing Meats and Vital Choice. Always look for organically fed meat sources when available. They may be a bit more from a cost factor but they will be higher in nutrient value and you often need less from a consumption standpoint.


Because more antibiotics per pound are used on livestock than in human medicine, it is difficult to determine our personal exposure, but the mere possibility of this kind of thing is certainly a worry.


Our goal is to educate you and to help you make informed decisions. Some simple tips follow:


1. An ounce of prevention goes a long way; exercise, eat intelligently and take a few supplements. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs. Get some rest once in a while. Breathe!


2. Ask Questions. If your doctor diagnoses you with an upper respiratory infection, sore throat (in which the strep test is negative), bronchitis, sinusitis, or ear infection, and you wonder if you really need an antibiotic, make a point of asking her about it. A lot of physicians would be pleasantly surprised that one of their patients would even consider trying to recuperate without antibiotics. Ask if you can treat your condition symptomatically and come back or call in a couple of days if you are not better.


3. Take an objective look at yourself and your life-style. If you keep coming down with the same thing, do some research and a little thinking. Do you drink a lot of soda? Do you smoke? Are you taking antibiotic after antibiotic and now have a secondary yeast or fungal infection? How is your spiritual life? Your stress level? The point is, many factors contribute to "health and wellness."


As far as chronic sinus infections go, Johns Hopkins researchers are now saying most such conditions are caused by a fungus. So, if you do have chronic sinusitis, stop taking antibiotics, get on an antifungal diet, and ask your doctor for antifungal medications. If your doctor refuses, visit a health food store for natural, off-the-shelf antifungals such as olive leaf extract, garlic, and Caprylic acid.


Once you improve, make sure you go back and let your doctor know how things worked out. Chances are she is neither experienced nor comfortable with prescribing antifungal medication. Your story may convince him/her to do his/her own research, the first step to changing her treatment philosophy.


If you’ve decided to go ahead and take an antibiotic:


1. Get the facts. Ask your doctor how many days you must take the antibiotic and if you, in fact, do need the latest, most powerful one on the market. Simple urinary tract infections are now treated with only three days of antibiotics. Sinus infections, bronchitis, and ear infections in children over two years of age can be treated with as few as five days of antibiotics, new or old, generic or name brand. This may not be possible, however, if you have other medical conditions or if you smoke.


2. Build trust. Commit to the full course of the antibiotic unless you experience significant side effects or an allergic reaction. You sought medical advice and agreed to the prescription. You will build trust with your doctor if you work as a team. This trust will be very important once you see number 3 below.


3. Take an antifungal with the antibiotic. For example, you could ask your doctor for a prescription of nystatin to take during the course of your antibiotic. Many dermatologists do this when prescribing long-term antibiotic courses for acne. Most cases of upset stomach or diarrhea that kick in a few days of beginning a round of antibiotics can be cured with a single dose of the drug. Diarrhea after a two-week round of antibiotics is likely caused by a different bug altogether -- be sure to bring that to your doctor’s attention.


4. Supplement your intake. Take an antioxidant supplement, one which includes vitamin E, zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin A, among others.


5. Keep your bowels moving…if antibiotics kill off your friendly, intestinal bacteria, once you cease taking antibiotics you’ll run a higher risk of infection by other, more hostile bacteria. These bacteria will be quick to find and exploit pockets of debris that could be collecting and putrefying in your intestines if you happen to become constipated. So, be sure to keep your digestive tract as clear as possible until you can repopulate it with friendly bacteria. Fiber from your local health food store would assist, as long as you don’t have a history of intestinal obstruction. Fiber may not only relieve constipation, it also slows diarrhea by absorbing excess water. Staying hydrated and moving your body will also assist in moving your colon.


6. Replace the good bacteria in your intestines. Supplement with a quality probiotic such as Ba-Co-Flor supplement for a few weeks following any course of antibiotics. Do not take these simultaneously with your antibiotic, or you will simply end up with a lot of very dead, albeit still friendly bacteria in your intestines. At the very most, take probiotic supplements either in between antibiotic doses or after you have completely finished your prescription. Overall, I feel that taking Ba-Co-Flor or a comparable probiotic is a part of a regular positive health practice. I personally take my Ba-Co-Flor every day.


7. Look back at why you became ill to begin with. If you suffered from strep throat after indulging in half a box of chocolates or several margaritas, that should have come as no surprise. Who wouldn’t be crippled by that amount of garbage? More than likely, you have your own experience regarding similar binges. My point is, diet plays at least as much a role as actual exposure to germs as to whether we get sick -- when we are healthy and eating correctly, our bodies are amazingly resistant to infection.


Another very important factor is to recognize some of the earlier signs of infection and health challenges. If you notice an inner ear discomfort you could place a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ear canal for about 5 minutes for each ear. This may take care of your infection right away before it moves to the inner ear and eventually the sinuses. You can also jump on a rebounder a couple of times per day in 5 minute intervals to assist in moving your lymph.


Talk to your Naturopath, that’s me, about using homeopathy or herbal tinctures to assist the body in moving through this naturally by assisting your own inherited ability to heal.


If this seems to have gone too far, have in place a quality muscle testing practitioner that can assess the cause of your possible infection and suggest the proper supplementation to address this right now. Often an infection can be dealt with by taking large quantities of probiotics at once. This has been shown to address infection much quicker and without the symptoms of antibiotics. The key though is to already have this person as a part of your team. Look for someone that has a long history of use of AK, ART, NET or another comparable form of muscle testing and have them ready to go prior to having challenges. If you wait until the problem is “in your face”, it will likely be too late. These quality practitioners are a gift and I always have at least one on my team for optimal health.


Knowing what you know after reading this article will empower you to understand antibiotics and natural alternatives so you can now make an informed decision. You do not have to succumb to the fear based tactics of conventional medicine. In all sincerity, they are only suggesting and teaching what they know and they can only know what they are taught. Now you have new found knowledge on antibiotics.


Remember, there is a time and a place for antibiotics. I have a client that has an extreme case of staph infection that is out of control. By all means, antibiotic use makes sense in this case. If you have a food borne infection, which is very common these days, or other simple yet seemingly challenging infections, these can often be dealt with in much less invasive ways. Educate yourself and make an informed decision based on the collaboration of your conventional doctor, natural health practitioner and your muscle testing practitioner.


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


I no longer require moderation for your posts, so you should be able to reply with ease.