Why Can't I Sleep? Part 1

by Glen Depke

There are many factors that would define poor sleep cycles. The inability to fall asleep easily, waking often through the night and/or waking without feeling refreshed are the most significant issues and often individuals will suffer with all of these challenges. What I can share though, is that regardless of your sleep challenges, there is hope and finding the underlying components and balancing this is the key.

What, you mean it's not taking melatonin?

I know, you have already heard that all you have to do it take a melatonin supplement, right? Let me tell you that based on my years of practice with my clients the use of melatonin supplementation is not the answer.

While melatonin does play a significant role in your sleep cycle, the use of this from a supplemental aspect does not fix the problem for you. The first step is to recognize what is creating the low melatonin levels in the first place and next week I will address the underlying factors in part 2 of this sleep series.

Print out the list below and take out your highlighter to mark the areas in your life that are challenging your melatonin production. This will shed some light (pun intended) on a subject that can change your life.

These Substances Interfere with Melatonin

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Alkaloids

Caffeine interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin

Pharmaceutical Drugs

Aspirin interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin

Benzodiazepines lower the endogenous production of Melatonin

Beta-Blockers lower the endogenous production of Melatonin

Ibuprofen interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin  

Pharmaceutical Corticosteroids interfere with the endogenous production of Melatonin

Prozac (a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) lowers the body's Melatonin levels

Recreational Drugs

Excessive consumption of Alcohol (ethanol) inhibits with the body's production of Melatonin

Tobacco interferes with the endogenous production of Melatonin

These Factors Interfere with Melatonin

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Aging Process

The onset of the Aging Process decreases the body's production of Melatonin:

Age: Plasma Melatonin Levels

(Picograms per ml)

       Males Females

20  1,000  880

30    900   830

40    800   780

50    700   700

60    600   600

70    500   540

80    400   500 

Aging itself is not an excuse for low melatonin. The fact that most are becoming less healthy as we age is the bigger factor.  

Altered Lighting

The use of Sunglasses impairs the entrance of Sunlight into the Pineal Gland via the Eyes, causing reduced production of Melatonin

Cardiovascular System

Ischemic Heart Disease interferes with the body’s nightly secretion of Melatonin (Ischemic Heart Disease patients have been found to have significantly depressed nightly secretion of Melatonin compared to healthy persons)

Electromagnetic Radiation

Some forms of toxic Electromagnetic Radiation suppress the body's production and secretion of Melatonin

Exposure to Light during Sleep inhibits the secretion of Melatonin from the Pineal Gland.

Immune System

Several forms of Cancer interfere with the body's production of Melatonin (by decreasing the body's production of Interleukin-2):

- Breast Cancer

- Colon Cancer

- Lung Cancer

- Prostate Cancer

- Stomach Cancer

Metabolism

Exercise (when undertaken in at night) lowers night-time plasma Melatonin levels

Nervous System

Excessive Stress depletes the body’s Melatonin levels.

Sexual System - Female

The greatest decline in Melatonin production and secretion occurs during and after Menopause in women

These Factors Interfere with the Potency of Supplemental Melatonin

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Melatonin supplements are highly susceptible to degradation by Heat - Melatonin supplements should therefore be kept tightly closed and refrigerated.

Since I mentioned that melatonin supplementation is not the key, look for next weeks article to recognize the key underlying factors in sleep cycle challenges. In the mean time, make it a point to address the factors that you discovered today that may be creating some melatonin deficiencies at this time.

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

What the Heck is Glutathione?

by Glen Depke

Really, what the heck is glutathione?

I know you have all heard that a picture is worth one thousand words, so all you have to do is look at the pictue to the right here and you will see what glutathione really is. Let me guess, this did you know good whatsoever? I get that seeing the element formula for glutathione does most no good at all.

So what would help?

Maybe a definition? OK, here you go. Glutathione is a sulfur containing, water soluble endogneous tripeptide composed of 3 amino acids. I get it, still no help.

Instead of looking at the elements or getting into a scientific definition, let's look at this simply. Glutathione is a primary anti-oxidant that is produced in your body that actually enhances the benefit of every other anti-oxidant. In my practice I focus on glutathione levels to significantly improve auto-immune issues, inflammatory challenges, gut barrier breakdown, blood/brain barrier breakdown, chronic pain and so much more. Understand that this ties into so much more. Beside for my focus in my clinic, here is a list of  function that depend on adequate glutathione levels.

• Anti-aging
• Cardiovascular health
• Cell regeneration
• Digestive issues
• Kidney function
• Eyes/vision
• Prevent cataracts
• Recovery of eye surgery
• Protects hair follicles
• Immune system
• Metabolism
• Nervous system function
• Alzheimer's
• Depression
• Parkinson's
• Schizophrenia
• Enhances absorption of essential minerals
• Natural detoxifier
• Protection against damages due to aspirin and NSAIDs
• Protection against the damage due to alcohol consumption
• Protection against the toxic effects of smoking

With this said, I trust that you understand the importance of adequate glutathione levels in your body.

Let's now discuss what inhibits the production of glutathione. First of all cooking destroys all glutathione levels in your foods and it is also important to understand that glutathione is basically unavailable bio-chemically as a supplement.

Here is a list of substances that interfere with glutathione.

• Cadmium deficiency 
• Excessive copper and iron
• Hydrogen peroxide destroys glutathione
• Excessive consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids
• Helicobacter pylori
• Mercury toxicity
• Aspirin and NSAID use
• Excessive sun exposure
• Intense exercise or endurance exercise
• Alcohol consumption
• Severe stress

So what is a person to do? Glutathione is so important, much of what we do in life depletes our bodies ability to produce glutathione and it is so poorly absorbed as a supplement. My recommendation is to increase the nutrients needed to produce glutathione which is N-acetyl cysteine and L-glutamine. There are also other ingredients that enhance this production. I also recommend using a cream for vascular absorption of glutathione. I find that the combination of increasing the underlying nutritional components as well as the vascular cream goes a long way in substantially increasing your glutathione levels.

Feel free to leave a post below if you have any comments or questions on this subject or you can call my office directly at 949.954.6226.

Can Detoxification Kill You?

by Glen Depke

Before we get going here let's look at some simple facts. The exposure to mercury is an almost inescapable consequence of human life, we are constantly exposed to an incredible amount of new chemical substances daily, with little or no testing to its affect on us as humans, and we are ALL toxic. Yes, you heard me. We are ALL toxic. Of course this will be to varying degrees but this is the truth none the less.

So what's a person to do?

Well according to the old paradigm in regard to detoxification you would use a urine or hair sample to "measure" the amount of toxins in your body and your health practitioner would then share the dangers of living with these toxins. From here you would receive the dissertation on the need to remove these toxins to regain your health and happiness. At this point you would learn of that particular practitioners favorite way of addressing or chelating the toxins and away you go. Now of course if anything went wrong it would simply be explained as detoxification symptoms. I think most or many of you are familiar with this story.

I have to honestly share that this is what I used to do in the past but there always seemed to be something with this that never made sense to me. Why would feeling better often feel so bad? That was the question that I always had for myself. Due to this questioning of the paradigm that I was taught, I have always taken a less than aggressive approach with detoxification and I trust that my clients are very happy about this.

Well, let me tell you, there is a new sheriff in town. I've always wanted to say that...

No really, there is more to detoxification that is not generally understood. First of all, it is recognized in multiple studies that most of the toxins that are removed via chelation type therapies actually simply transfer the toxins from the tissue into the brain. What, toxins in your brain! Yes, it is insane but often the case.

This is due to the fact that most individuals that are chemical sensitive don't simply have a toxicity issue, they have a chemical tolerance issue. This means that their ability to live with their toxic load is significantly lessened and they often live in constant pain and agony from anything new in their environment. I don't have to point this out any further, you know who you are.

If this is you, please understand that measuring your toxic load is of very little importance but addressing your lack of chemical tolerance is of utmost importance. If you go through chelation or any type of aggressive detoxification, the chemical load on your brain will seem insurmountable. If you have experienced this, I do not need to go any further. You already get this!

So why does this happen and what can you do about it?

This actually develops in two stages. First there is and initial yet profound breakdown in your natural tolerance. This then leads to a triggering of immune responses by small quantities of previously tolerated chemicals, such as exhaust, fragrances, foods, drugs, and often supplements. This reactivity to the environmental triggers can  lead to asthma, migraines, depression, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and autoimmunity.

Remember that it is not only the exposure to the toxin, it is the individuals lack of chemical tolerance that creates these issues.

So what creates the loss of chemical tolerances?

There are four significant challenges that create this as listed below.

• Depletion of glutathione recycling
• Regulatory T-cell failure
• Breakdown of the barrier systems
• Cytokine Dysregulation

While I understand that most do not know what I may be talking about here, I listed this so you can question your health care practitioner to discuss this.

I find that one of the most significant factors within my client base is tied into the depletion of your bodies ability to create and recycle glutathione. Glutathione is your body's primary anti-oxidant that also acts as a boost for all other anti-oxidants within the body. The lack of this proper recycling of glutathione leads to the breakdown of the blood/brain barrier, thus allowing chemical toxins to invade the brain. This often leads to an array of symptom challenges and brain inflammation that may seem unbearable.

This is why I say that you will not likely die from detoxification but you may wish you could.

In regard to your body's glutathione, I want to share the two biggest factors in this depletion, which are alcohol and stress. Any combination of one of or even worse, both, can lead to significant challenges with the loss of barrier function and lowering of chemical tolerances that can throw your health and balance completely out of control.

For those the would like a simple test to understand the balance and integrity for your blood/brain barrier balance and integrity, feel free to register for a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation with me personally  or call my office at 949.954.6226. This is too significant of a challenge to ignore.

Lose Weight / Gain Energy!

by Glen Depke

For most, you have tried countless ways to lose weight and/or increase your energy. Heck, who does not want to be leaner and rock their energy all day? Today we are going to address this from an uncommon  perspective on this subject.

This perspective is based on improving your digestion. I know, how the heck is improving your digestion going to improve your energy and help you lose weight? Read on for these answers...

First of all let's recognize that you are NOT hungry to fill your stomach. You are actually hungry to produce energy. You produce energy through glycolosis or beta-oxidation which is basically how your body takes the proteins, fats and carbohydrates you eat and converts these to energy.

So for somebody that has poor digestion to the point that you are not absorbing and assimilating your food properly, you may recognize this pattern. You eat a meal to the point that you are full because the trigger for hunger is never shut down until the stomach is full. At this point, you then have a craving for some type of desert or sugary food or drink. This craving occurs due to the lack of energy production and to be honest, we have all had sugar enough for our body to know that it is a quick fix for energy.

Now, if you had proper digestion and you were absorbing and assimilating your food properly, the trigger for hunger may be cut off long before your stomach is full and there would be potentially zero cravings for sugar.

When your digestion is improved you not only require less food but your production of energy will improve. This is a real win/win situation for all of us!

Obviously you already understand the result of less food and no sugar cravings. Yes, you guessed it, weight loss and increased energy!

Let's talk about some simple ways to improve your digestion.

• First of all get yourself into a relaxed state before meal time by taking 3-5 deep belly breaths
• Be sure to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly 
• Take a quality probiotic before meal time such as the Pure Probiotic GI
• Take a quality digestive enzyme with your meal such as the Depke Wellness Prime Digestive Support

By following these steps above, it will then be up to you to cut back on your portions with confidence knowing that you are increasing your absorption and assimilation, which in turn is assisting in weight loss and energy gain. Love it!

I would also add that a good next step is to then assess your Nutrtional ID, which will be available for FREE at DepkeWellness.com by January 1st of next year. Just a couple of short months to assess your Nutritional ID for FREE!

If you have any questions or comments on this article, please leave this below for me to answer personally.