The Best for 2013!

Dawn and I would simply like to wish you nothing but the best for 2013! You have the power of choice to make this the best year ever for your health and happiness.

We will continue to support you through the new year with weekly newsletters, complimentary webinars, health building programs and so much more...

If you missed last weeks gift, click here for a list of health building webinars from 2012. These definitely provide some eye opening information and subjects as a part of your goal for health and happiness!

Happy New Year to you all!

A Gift For You!

As our gift to you, we have listed all of the 2012 Depke Wellness webinars for your viewing. This collection of webinars will provide some of the information needed for yourself and your loved ones as you continue your journey toward health and happiness. 

Simply click on the title of any webinar that interests you...

Enjoy! 

One Man's Food is Another Man's Poison

Adrenal Fatigue...Tired & Frustrated?

Concerned About Diabetes?

Insulin...the Longevity Marker

Bloated and Uncomfortable

Thyroid Treatment...Ridiculous!

Autoimmunity at the Core

The Pain of Inflammation

Gluten & Cross Reactive Food Intolerance

More Than Just Weight Loss

Thank you so much for allowing us to serve your through the year and we relish the opportunity to assist in your health and happiness goals for 2013!

Dawn & Glen Depke

Do you Choose Dis-ease or Ease?

by Glen Depke

The picture to the right sums up the way we typically look at disease but let's define this.

Disease: any deviation from or interruption of the normal structure or function of any body part, organ, or system that is manifested by a characteristic set of symptoms and signs and whose etiology, pathology, and prognosis may be known or unknown.

Ease: freedom from pain, worry, or agitation.

Now that we have these defined, ask yourself this question. Why would you choose dis-ease over ease in our life? You may even be thinking to yourself right now, I don't choose dis-ease. 

Well, you may be surprised... 

As you can see by the definition of dis-ease, this is obviously holistic. There is not one ounce of your being whether physically, mentally/emotionally, chemically, vibrationally, or spiritually that the choice of ease or dis-ease is not relevant.

The challenge though is that we often think of dis-ease as something we catch that we are a victim of. This is fine if you believe in the Pasteur germ theory but personally, I do not. If this was true, this would mean that everyone that is exposed to any type of pathogen would be affected in the same way and that cannot be further than the truth.

At the same time Pasteur was proposing the germ theory, Bechamp was proposing that germs definitely are the result, not the cause of disease. Germs cleanse the human system and free it from accumulations of pathogenic and mucoid matter. Recognizing that we are constantly breathing in some 14,000 germs and bacteria per hour. If germs are so harmful, why aren't we all dead? Bechamp recognized that it is the health of the organism (you and me) that is the issue and not the germs.

How about that for a thought, dis-ease or ease is up to the organism and not the germ? 

So what plays into this choice? How about everything? Yes, everything!

There is not a moment of any day that we are not making choices that will either create ease or dis-ease. Often we choose dis-ease but it is hidden as a choice to quick fix some symptom. We've all done it. Had a long hard day at work, feeling mentally and physically exhausted, only to reach for a caffeinated coffee for the drive home, followed by a glass of wine before dinner and a night on the couch. Heck, I've done it myself. The problem though, is that this is leading to dis-ease.

In that moment though, a big glass of water, a short workout, healthy dinner and a relaxing evening with your significant other would likely lead to the ease you are looking for. 

Another way to look at ease or dis-ease is how we react to emotionally charged situations. Do you over react based on your emotions? Do you allow your emotions to dictate your day? Do you create stories in your mind that fuel further emotional challenges? These are examples of dis-ease.

Now to create ease, you can breathe into your emotions, use them as tools for understanding and create action plans to shift your situations all while remaining at ease. Remember to look at the facts of a situation and react accordingly rather than just to emotional expression you are experiencing . You too can create ease emotionally!

What about the dreaded germs though? 

Let's first look at these facts:

• About 80% of your immune system originates in your gut
• Your gut and brain are intimately connected
• As your brain goes, so goes your immune function
• Your adrenals play a direct role in two levels of immune function
• Chronic inflammation leads to and autoimmune reaction

So our choices on these levels determines your immune systems ability to react to an exposure to any germ or pathogen on any level. 

The questions are:

• Do you actively choose a healthy gut?
• Do you choose activities and nutrition that have a positive influence on your brain?
• Do you take the necessary steps to maintain health adrenal function?
• Is inflammation out of control in your body?

Well, if you do not choose to take care of these areas of your body and your life holistically, you are actually choosing dis-ease. To be honest, there are many times through the year that I personally choose dis-ease. I'll know that I am making a less than optimal choice, but I also know that I am going to make choices that will create ease more often than dis-ease and I personally choose a very healing 6 week protocol at the onset of every new year to reset my body back to a space of optimal health. All choices of course!

If you want to learn about the 6 week program that I choose on a yearly basis, follow this link. 

I also want to be clear that since choice is involved, it is completely up to you. If you make regular daily choices of ease or dis-ease, it will show up in your health accordingly. As you can see by what I shared about myself personally in the paragraph above, I do not expect myself or anyone else to be perfect, but I do expect those that have goals of optimal health to choose ease more often than dis-ease and I would also expect you to find your reset point at least once per year. Understand where your most significant challenges lie and address these accordingly. 

It truly is not difficult to choose ease, it's just that most of us do not even recognize that it is us that is choosing it.

It's your choice, make it!

More Than Just Weight Loss Protocols

I am so excited to welcome you to join me in a 6 week program that will provide weight loss and so much more! 

This second introductory webinar will address the technical aspect of the program to deeply understand the efficiency of this life altering program.

If you missed the first webinar, click here for the replay.

Last year in March, we did this program with a group of individuals across the United States and here are the documented results.

• Average weight loss of 11.5 pounds *
• Average loss of inches in the waistline of 2.64 inches *
• Symptom shift from 45 severe symptoms to 13 *
• See testimonials at the bottom of the page

While it is awesome to lose weight and inches, the most significant shift in my mind was in the symptoms. When you can cut severe symptom challenges by over 70%, this is simply life altering!

The good news is, I am offering this program again to not only my current clients but also to followers of Depke Wellness and their friends and loved ones. 

Even better news, I am not charging anything for the weekly guidance during this program. All you would have to commit to is the cost of your supplements. 

All the benefits and more as listed above, with my time and guidance gifted to you!

I do not want you to commit to this until you have all the necessary information, so I am facilitating a webinar to fill you in. It is very important to have committed individuals in this program, so clarity is a key. 

Have a plan!

Register below for the complimentary webinar introduction to "More Than Just Weight Loss Protocols." 

This truly can change your life!

Read testimonials below....

Register Now!  

Glen Depke's program "More Than Just Weight Loss" has been a big turning point for me. It allowed me to finally get a sense of control over my health. In the program, I learned about the gut-brain connection, the absolute importance of having a nutritionally sound diet and what makes a diet nutritionally sound. Virtually all of my "less than healthy conditions" that I identified at the beginning of the program, simply disappeared or greatly diminished. The group dynamics really helped as well as the webinars and blog site. I've been able to carry forward most of the healthy practices since the program ended. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in excellent health and living life to the fullest.
Katherine S

________________________________

I was one of the fortunate ones that got to participate in Glen Depke's "More Than Just Weight Loss" program in March of 2012. Glen had previously done the program and had reported amazing results! I was excited when he decided to do the program again and invite those of us who were interested. Years of self- medicating my adrenal fatigue with sugar and caffeine were going to be a challenge to break away from. At this point...I really felt my life depended on it.

The diet restrictions involved in the program are do-able!!  The supplements become a routine. The first few days I did experience some mild withdrawal symptoms from the caffeine. But, after that I felt great!!

 

My favorite part of the program was the 24/7 blog we had access to. Here we could share our triumphs and mishaps.  Ask any questions we may have.  Share recipe ideas. I'm such a creature of habit it was nice to read about others more adventurous in trying new things. If I needed encouragement someone was always there to offer a word of advice.  If someone else was struggling, I could provide support. We could offer motivation to those who needed it and share, together, as we all made amazing progress throughout the program. Glen was ever present with his knowledge, advice, insight, positive attitude and guidance. The weekly information webinars were educational and helped to keep us focused and motivated throughout the program.

By the end of the 6 weeks I couldn't believe the changes that I had experienced! I lost 12 lbs! My acid reflux was gone! I was able to wean off all hormone supplements and sleep aides! With the improvement of my sleep...my energy level increased. And most important to me, the joint and back pain I had been experiencing was gone!!

Would I recommend this program...HECK YES!!! No matter where you are with your health and weight...you will benefit. The 'More Than Just Weight Loss" program was definitely much more than I had hoped it could be!!!  Thank-you Glen for putting this wonderful program together for us!

Kit

>^..^<

_______________________________

During this 6 week program I lost 16.9 pounds and reduced my waist by 3 inches. The completely unexpected benefit was the elimination of 30 years of knee pain. I now understand directly how inflammation creates pain and that I truly have to ability to control the inflammation. Basically I feel amazing on this program. Glen D (Yes, this is me. I did the program with everyone last time and will be doing it again with the group)

*Individual results may vary. Some had high levels of success while others had lessor success. 

Register Now! 

The Weeds in Your Grass?

by Glen Depke

I know, it sounds like I am writing an article for a prominent fertilizer company, but actually this cannot be further from the truth. When I talk about the weeds in your grass I am referring to the bacteria in your gut.

The fuel for this article comes from a recent but somewhat normal recognition of clients with detrimental bacteria. You know, the bad stuff that is creating gut/brain issues, immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation and adrenal issues? More and more these days, I see stool collection results showing some abundant amount of detrimental bacteria. I may look at this differently if I was recognizing less protozoa, parasites, H-pylori and such, but that is not happening. Clients are piling on the challenges to their gut and it is no wonder why there are so many symptom issues for so many people.

Let's start with the analogy that I use on almost a daily basis in my practice to help make sense of this.

Think of your lawn. Let's say it is the summer months and rain has been scarce. Now if you are not watering and feeding your lawn at this time, the lawn will begin to become sparse. The sparse lawn will then allow for the growth of weeds,which do not need to same nutrient or water content as your lawn. Over a rather short period of time, if you do not take care of the weeds, they will definitely take over your lawn. I know, you see this all the time.

So what do you do if you recognize this challenge?

Well, if you are like most, you will call your local landscaper and have them come to spray the lawn with weed killer. While that may do something as far as getting rid of the weeds, overall it will create an even tougher environment to cultivate a healthy, lush, green lawn. Now if you want to do this in a very health way, you honestly do not even need to worry about the weeds. Remember, the weeds are not the problem. The problem was that your lawn became sparse due to a lack of proper hydration and nutrition. So the answer would be to feed your lawn a natural fertilizer and water your lawn properly. This would allow the lawn to grow thick and lush.

So what happens with a think lush lawn? It chokes out the weeds. Ah, ha...

We can now take that into your gut.

As mentioned above it is becoming more and more common to see abundant amounts of detrimental bacteria in the gut. Based on the analogy above, does it make sense to simply take take an antibiotic to kill the bacteria? 

Absolutely not? Now to be fair, some bacteria are such an issue that an antibiotic may be necessary but that is not the case with most that I run across with clients in my clinic. The answer lies in feeding the gut what it needs so your beneficial bacteria is heavily colonized, thus choking out the detrimental bacteria.

So how do you feed your gut this bacteria? 

Of course you go to the local grocery store and buy yogurt, right? Not so fast! The conventional yogurt in the grocery stores are pasteurized, which means the beneficial bacteria is dead. Dead bacteria does not have a positive impact for you. If you cannot achieve your goals in this manner, what is a person to do.

Here are some tips for you:

• Raw dairy has live beneficial bacteria. This can be purchased conventionally in only a few states, so feel free to look for a local raw food coop in your area by following this link to RealMilk.com.
• Purchase raw fermented foods such as sour kraut, raw naturally fermented pickles or fermented teas such as kombucha. My wife Dawn, makes this at home for a small fraction of the cost of store bought. Actually, I am drinking one as I am writing this article. For instruction on how to make your own kombucha follow this link. 
• You can also make your own raw fermented vegetables. This is another benefit we enjoy at home. There are many avenues for learning how to do this by simply doing a Google search for making homemade fermented vegetables.

*If you are purchasing any of the above products at a store, please be sure they are not pasteurized and typically the word "raw" will be on the packaging or labeling for you. 

If you feel that making fermented food or drink is too much of a hassle, I get it. Notice I mention that my wife makes this for us, not me. Trust me, I am thankful for this. You may also find that you do not have the availability to purchase raw food or drink for yourself locally. If this is the case, you still have hope by using a quality prebiotic/probiotic. I say both pre and pro because the prebiotic truly sets up the best environment for optimal utilization for the probiotic. Depke Wellness does have a private formula that contains not only the prebiotic but also a 20 billion count of assorted probiotics AKA beneficial bacteria. 

For more information on the Depke Wellness Prebiotic/Probiotic Formula, call our office at 949.954.6626 or email me at Glen@DepkeWellness.com.

In the end, recognize that the weeds are not the issue, it is the lack of a thick, lush, green grass that is truly the issue.  

That is your beneficial bacteria!

As a little tidbit of info for you, there is more bacteria in your gut than there are cells in your body...make sure it's good bacteria!


If you have a question or comment about this article, leave this below and we will respond personally.

Diabetes, Obesity and Chronic Inflammation

by Glen Depke

OK, so what does diabetes, obesity and chronic inflammation have to do with each other?  

How about everything!  

Any one of these challenges can easily and silently lead into the others. I say silently because this is often asymptomatic. People often go years without knowing they have chronic inflammation and blood sugar issues because the body has it's own ways of compensation that maintains the best balance possible. While it is a gift that our bodies have this capability, it is often a long term challenge because we are not dealing with the issues that may become our long term demise.

Not that obesity does not go unnoticed but it often is not dealt with because when diet and exercise don't seem to work, people do not know where to turn.

So how do these lead into each other?

If you want to learn about this in a live or recorded webinar register here.

Let's first start with the noticeable, which is obesity. When we increase fat cells in our body, this is one of the triggers for inflammation. When the inflammation itself becomes chronic, this can lead to further blood sugar instability, insulin resistance and finally to diabetes. The same pathway that creates this response also leads to increased inflammation.

The inflammatory trigger can look much different. The triggers for chronic inflammation are food intolerance, mental/emotional stress, infection and obesity. Once the inflammation is triggered this can not only lead to what is mentioned above, this can also lead to autoimmunity. This autoimmune reaction can lead to an attack on your pancreas and an eventual diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. Even this would be diagnosed as Type II, it is often a misdiagnosed autoimmune destruction of your pancreas, thus leading to more weight gain and inflammatory issues.

Now from the diabetic aspect. Once you have developed diabetes, your body has already had long term issues with dealing with sugar. Blood sugar is out of control, insulin resistance is already a long term challenge, and your pancreas is simply not playing its regulatory role with blood glucose levels. This ultimately leads to weight gain and chronic inflammatory states.

Now there is the person which I call "skinny fat" that is dealing with these chronic issues yet weight gain is not a challenge for them. This is often tied in a "wasting syndrome" the develops from the chronic inflammatory state. This can often be much more challenging than someone that is obese.

Please understand that just because your skinny, does not mean your out of the woods.

So if you think any of the patterns are a challenge for you, what's next?

Before you do anything else, it is of utmost importance to take care of fatigue after meals and inflammation. 

The fatigue after meals occurs when glucose is too high, thus creating one of or both dynamics. Either increasing triglycerides or a production of free radicals that that can damage the nerves, blood vessels or kidneys. For this you would eliminate potential inflammatory foods and likely add in some supplementation to assist in blood sugar regulation. One that is often mention is the mineral chromium but there are others that can assist as well. I mention the inflammatory foods and supplements because as mention earlier, just removing sugar and exercising itself, often does not fix the issues. Click here to learn more.

The other first step is to create an anti inflammatory affect. This is extremely important because the inflammation alone can create obesity, insulin resistance and even a autoimmune diabetic condition. This is addressed nutritionally as well as the use of supplements. Once you are in the chronic inflammatory condition, the supplements are needed to push you out of the inflammatory feed back loops. The key is diet, and getting the correct aggressive dose of the proper anti inflammatory supplements to allow your body to rid itself of this ugly pattern.

If you want to learn more about "More Than Just Weight Loss" register here.

Any questions, please leave these below to be addressed personally.

Hormones and the Holidays

by Glen Depke

Really, two women this week referred to themselves as raging lunatics and I would bet that there are some other women and men who may be thinking the same thing around the holidays.

While we hear a lot of the "reason for the season" we need to be real also. The holidays are unfortunately filled with stress and frustration. It can seem endless:

• Parking at the mall
• Crowds at the mall
• Too much to do with too little time
• Less than optimal food choices
• Too much alcohol
• Challenges with relatives
• So many parties, so little time
• So many gifts to buy without enough money
• Trying to make everyone happy
• Lack of proper sleep
• Disruption in schedules
• Holiday travel
• ...and the list goes on

I think you get the picture and I am sure that you can substantially add to this list.

So, with the real Christmas as it is too many, what is this doing to your hormones?

Can you say, jacking them up?!

Of course this is a figure of speech to describe the hormonal imbalances that are created by excessive stress. The physical, mental, emotional and chemical stress that we endure puts a huge strain on the adrenal glands. This then creates a likely dysfunction in the:

• thyroid
• pancreas
• ovary function
• metabolism of fat and protein
• regulation of body weight
• mucosal tissue integrity
• detoxification processes
• immune system function
• pro and anti-inflammatory states
• cellular energy
• glucose balance
• bone and connective tissue turnover
• muscular integrity
• quality of sleep and mood
• ability to memorize and learn
• overall neural connectivity

Does the raging lunatic make sense now?

Even if you do not get pushed to the raging lunatic, you may experience weight gain, the "winter" cold or flu or other nagging symptoms at this time of the year. While there are many culprits that tie into adrenal dysfunction, stress is at the top of the list.

Now that we recognize the underlying issue, how do you resolve this?

That's easy...take a vacation to a remote island in the Pacific and lay around in a hammock reading a good book for the next month.

I know not likely for most of us, myself included. Does sound like a great idea though.

Truly you can help your adrenal gland function by taking a higher dose of vitamin B5 during this time of the year. You can usually get this in the form of Pantothenic Acid or Pantethine. The Pantethine is a more bioavailable form but the cost is much more than reflective of this benefit. I personally use and recommend to my clients the Pantothenic Acid at 1000mgs per day during these stressful times. Taking one 500mg capsule with breakfast and dinner provides the support that your adrenals need during these trying times. If you do not have stock of Pantothenic Acid, visit the Depke Wellness Store and pick some up. One 120 count bottle is just over $15.00 and when you get this online, shipping and handling is free with the Depke Wellness Store. It is simply too inexpensive to not do. Even if you do not get some from our store, get some locally or from another provider. Your adrenals and your hormones with thank you!

At this time of the year, the stress is real as is the need for additional B5.

Here's to your hormones and holidays and no more raging lunatics. LOL!

If you have any comments or questions about today's article, leave this below for us to address personally.

My Thoughts on Vaccines

by Glen Depke

The majority of our readers already understand that vaccines contain either mercury or aluminum and we know that these elements are toxic to our body and specifically the brain. Most also understand that vaccines are questionably efficient. While there is documentation to show a decrease in specific diseases post vaccination era, it is also documented that the same decrease occurred in areas of the world where vaccination was not in use.

The flu vaccines are a whole other bag of worms. It is well documented that the vaccines for flu derived by simply "guessing" what the upcoming flu strain will be and honestly, they are typically wrong.

On top of this, it is also well documented that many of the newer vaccines are actually creating chronic health issues and some are not creating a clear affect on protecting your body from the particular disease state.

Regardless of which side of the fence you are on in regard to vaccinations, there are arguments on both sides.

With that said, I do not want you to assume what side I am on so I will spell it out for you.

"I do not recommend vaccines"

Nothing said so far is shocking or a surprise to you but my thoughts to follow likely are.

So if vaccines have potential heavy metal toxins that create issues in the brain as well as other less than optimal factors, why doesn't everyone that gets a vaccine have similar issues. Why is it that one child that is vaccinated develops a skin eruption and food intolerance, another is later diagnosed with developmental delay or even autism, while another seemingly has zero symptoms from vaccines?

After all, there are toxic metals in the vaccines that are used for everyone.

The reason for these differences is due to the health of the barrier systems of one person to another.

So what is a barrier system?

The barrier system is the protective system designed to protect your body. You have 3 significant barrier systems in your body, one in the gut, another in the lungs and the last is your blood/brain barrier.

The last mentioned, the blood/brain barrier is my main focus here.

Let's look at the blood/brain barrier and vaccines.

When your body takes in a toxin, as would occur during vaccination, your body has a goal of moving this toxin out of your body. If you have a toxin in the tissue of your body that has been stored, this toxin will move from the tissue, to the lymph and eventually be removed via the kidney/bladder, liver/colon, skin and/or lungs. If you recently had a vaccine and the toxin is in your blood, optimally this will be moved directly to these areas for a health release.

Now comes the challenge though.

If your blood/brain barrier function is compromised, the toxins that are moved from the tissue to the lymph and eventually into the blood, or the toxins that are directly in your blood due to vaccinations problems will occur. This is due to the fact that when your blood/brain barrier function is compromised the toxins that should be moved "out of your body" actually pass through the blood/brain barrier and get into the brain. This creates a toxic affect in your brain, leads to potential whole body dysfunction and a host of detoxification symptoms. For some this can be the causative factor for developmental delay, autistic symptoms, pain and so much more.

So the key here is to support all the barrier systems. 

While I already made it known that I do not support vaccinations, if you chose this route for yourself or your children, be sure this is done with healthy barrier systems.

One easy was to test this is with the use what is referred to as the GABA challenge. GABA is a neurotransmitter that structurally is to large of a molecule in a supplement form to pass through a health blood/brain barrier. So if you take GABA, you should honestly feel nothing. I recommend to adult clients to take 1000mgs of GABA on an empty stomach and wait for about 15 minutes to and hour to assess symptoms. Some feel nothing, some feel sedated on some level, while other feel an excited type of affect. If you feel nothing, the blood/brain barrier is healthy. If you feel sedated, the blood/brain barrier is compromised and your are deficient in GABA. If you feel excited or stimulated, you have an adequate amount of GABA in your system but your blood/brain barrier is compromised. I would recommend half the dose for children ages 5 thru 16.

If you recognize a compromised blood/brain barrier it is also likely that the gut and lung barriers are also compromised. There are ways to support these barrier systems if challenged.

So if you were already vaccinated and have symptoms challenges due to these vaccinations, you have to look at the barrier systems and clear the toxins out of the brain. If you decide to vaccinate, be sure this is done with healthy barrier systems.

Don't roll the dice with yourself or your loved ones!

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

Where'd my Mental Clarity Go?

by Glen Depke

A lack of mental clarity is a significant complaint of many of the new clients entering my practice. Most people have a misconception that mental clarity drops consistently with age and is gone for good.

First off, this is not true! Due to this misconception many individuals do very little or nothing to regain their mental function.

Sad but true...

Secondly, even if you have lost some of your mental clarity, there is a very good chance you can regain this.

Personally, this is a very important subject for me. My Mother is currently challenged with dementia and my Grandmother also had severe dementia later in her life. I do not mess around with brain health and it is my own personal life's goal to maintain optimal brain function. Thankfully I get to pass my research on to you.

Let's first look at the common health challenges that create the loss of mental clarity. 

• Poor gut health
• Poor diet
• Gluten intolerance or cross reactive food intolerance
• Lack of the DHA component of omega 3 fatty acids
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Poor circulation
• Past head trauma
• Lack of mental capacity use
• Lack of exercise
• Metal or other chemical toxicity

What can you do to slow down the loss of mental clarity or even reverse this?

• Improve your gut health with the use of probiotics and digestive enzymes
• Avoid sugar, alcohol and refined foods
• Avoid gluten and other cross reactive foods
• Use a liquid DHA supplement daily
• Use vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) to support your adrenal function and if you have current health challenges have your adrenals tested and addressed properly
• Address brain inflammation due to past head trauma with your qualified natural health practitioner
• Use your brain by learning something new and challenging your memory. Learn a new language, musical instrument, you get the picture. Also does anyone remember the card game called "memory" when we were kids? You should still be playing it now.
• Move your body. You know that old saying, "if you don't move it, you will lose it?" Well this is not only your physical body but also your physical body in respect to your brain.
• Use proper supplementation to assist with increasing peripheral circulation. In my clinic I choose between a homeopathic, encapsulated supplement and a liquid supplement. *

What happens if you do not address your lack of mental clarity?

• Futher deterioration of mental clarity
• Longer term neurological related challenges such as dementia or Alzheimer's
• Gastrointestinal degeneration
• Autoimmunity
• Poor motor skills
• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Poor focus and concentration skills
• Lack of motivation
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Short tempered
• Poor chemical tolerance
• Chronic illness
• Inability to tolerate light, colors and noises

So obviously the key is to be proactive with your brain health. If you wait until you have significant brain symptoms, you have waited too long. Be sure to address the underlying factors affecting your brain health, make the necessary nutritional changes, use the supplements needed to enjoy long term brain health and stimulate/challenge your brain on a consistent basis.

While others may believe that your brain will consistently lose function through your life, I truly believe that your brain has the ability to maintain a high level of function until very close to the end of life. It is just up to use to give it what it needs and live a life that actually support proper brain function. 

Coming up in January 2013 we are beginning a 6 week program that addresses many of the underlying factors that create poor brain health. On December 4, 2012 we are offering a complimentary webinar as an intoduction to this program that you will not want to miss. Click here for more information or registration.

*Some of the supplements for improving blood flow to the brain cannot be sold over the internet and you would have to contact our office directly at 949.954.6226.

Xenoestrogens Dangers

Just what are xenoestrogens? 

These are substances that mimic the effects of estrogen and can send bogus signals to the system. They create an imbalance with the body's hormones, specifically causing estrogen dominance.
 
Sources of Xenoestrogens

From plastics to pesticides, from foods to toys...we are all constantly exposed to xenoestrogens without us even knowing it. Pesticides like DDT or PCB have been banned for their estrogen-mimicking characteristics. However, these substances break down slowly and can remain in the body long after exposure. These pesticides have been found to cause birth defects and even cancer.

Xenoestrogens are also found in phthalates, which are used in plasticizers. They can leach from plastic containers, styrofoam, toys and even medical supplies. Some of you may be familiar with bisphenol A (or BPA) which can leak out of heat resistant plastics or coatings inside aluminum cans. Studies show that BPA can cause changes in sperm count and motility as well as increased growth of breast cancer cells.

Sports drinks contain substances like DEHP, DINP, BBP and DBP, which are used as clouding agents. They are also found in juices, tea drinks, fruit jams and powders. These substances can reduce sperm and cause feminizing qualities in men. In women, these can induce early puberty and increase breast cancer risk.

Foods that we eat may also have xenoestrogens in them. Hormones used by farmers to fatten up chickens and cows are ingested by humans, causing an imbalance. Many people have wondered, men especially, why they have elevated estrogen levels. It is because of the food we eat and our exposure to xenoestrogens.

I see challenges with xenoestrogens with clients on a regular basis. I am closing in on reviewing 4,000 adrenal hormone kits in my career and I have only seen 4 come back completely healthy and balanced. 

Yes, I said four! Shocking isn't it? 

It is almost normal now for me to see men with elevated estrogen type hormone levels. This is dangerous for any gender and definitely not the goal for a man. I have seen men increase breast tissue and move into mood swings among many other issues tied into this imbalance. From a female perspective, I see the estrogen type hormone swings create multiple challenges also. Almost too many to list...

Thankfully you do not have to live with this.

First of all, it is important to reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens in any and every level that you can. I would also suggest cutting back on sugar intake since this can also create and overproduction of aromatase which is one of the main factors in these estrogen type hormone imbalances.

There is also a Chinese herbal combination that can assist with this imbalance.

Fight the Effects of Xenoestrogens with MYOMIN

• Myomin will compete with xenoestrogens to prevent them from attaching to receptors and causing their disruptive effects. 
• Myomin assists the body in correcting estrogen dominance.

Try Myomin today and find out why so many men and women have benefited from it. Call Depke Wellness today for more information at 949-954-6226.

Want to know more? 
Check out John Gray's video on Myomin's effects on xenoestrogens.
Watch the video

If you have any comments or question regarding this article, please post this below for us to address personally.

So Much More Than a Pretty Face!

by Glen Depke

While we most likely recognize the skin by looking at the pretty face of ourselves or of others, your skin as an essential organ of your body and is so much more than just the pretty face. 

Your skin is the largest organ in the human body, and although not truly part of the Musculoskeletal System, has many structural and functional resemblances to Bones and Muscles and is composed of many of the same Connective Tissues that occur around Bones and Muscles. Most Skin growth occurs within the Stratum Germinativum (Basal Layer) of the Epidermis. Skin replaces itself almost every 27 days - it continually produces a horny protective covering of Proteins (via the process of Keratinization) and continually sheds its outermost layer of dead Cells (via the process of exfoliation).

Biological Function of the Skin

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Excretory System
 The Skin is responsible for the excretion of some wastes such as Sweat from the body.

Immune System
 The Skin is regarded as an “outposted” component of the Immune System:
  - The Skin helps to protect the body from invasion by Detrimental Microorganisms.
- Langerhans Cells in the Skin control the majority of the Skin’s Immune System functions.


Nervous System
 The Skin contains Receptors for the Senses of Touch, Pain and Temperature (thermoregulation, thermostatic function).

Water Balance
 The Skin helps to maintain the body’s Water Balance. It helps to prevent excessive loss of Water (Dehydration).

Chemical Composition of the Skin

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 Lipids comprise 2% of the Skin.
 Minerals comprise 0.5% of the Skin.
 Proteins comprise 25.5% of the Skin.
 Water comprises 70% of the Skin.
 Other substances comprise 2% of the Skin.

These Substances are Toxic to the Skin

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Alcohols
 Alcohol (ethanol) prematurely ages the Skin.

Carbohydrates
 Excessive consumption of Simple Sugars causes Cross-Linking (glycosylation) of the Collagen in Skin, resulting in Wrinkles.

Electromagnetic Radiation
 Excessive exposure to Sunlight accelerates the Aging Process in the Skin and causes Cross-Linking of the endogenous chemicals in the Skin (due to the UV-A form of Ultra-Violet Radiation)
  - Exposure of the Skin to Ultra-Violet Radiation severely depletes its Vitamin C content.
- Exposure of the Skin to Ultra-Violet Radiation stimulates the production of Superoxide Free Radicals.
- Exposure of the Skin to Ultra-Violet Radiation activates Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-Kappa B) which degrades the Skin’s Collagen and Elastase content by “switching on” the genes that activate Collagenase and Elastase, enzymes that degrade the Skin’s Collagen and Elastin content).

Hormones
 Excessive Cortisol levels inhibit the regeneration and repair of the Skin.

Minerals
 Arsenic accumulates in the Skin.
 Excessive consumption of Chlorine is toxic to the Skin.

Pharmaceutical Drugs
 Doxorubicin can damage the Skin. 
 Mitomycin C can cause severe injury and ulceration of the Skin if it accidentally spills onto the Skin as it is being injected.

Pigments
 Lipofuscin is the chemical responsible for Age Spots (Liver Spots) on the Skin.

Proteins
 Nuclear Factor-Kappa B (NF-Kappa B) contributes to the Aging Process (including Wrinkles) of the Skin: 
  - NF-Kappa B initiates the degradation of the Collagen and Elastin content of the Skin that occurs during the progression of the Aging Process (it “switches on” the Genes for the Collagenase and Elastase enzymes that degrade Collagen and Elastin).


These Ailments are Toxic to the Skin

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Aging Process
 The Aging Process causes the Skin to become thinner and more transparent:
  - The progression of the Aging Process causes deterioration of the structural attachment between the Dermis and the Epidermis of the Skin.
- The Skin loses its elasticity in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.
- The Skin’s Collagen content declines in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.
- The Skin’s Immune function declines in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process (this results in a reduction in the Skin’s ability to counteract Antigens and a reduction in the Skin’s ability to mount inflammatory responses).
- Blood Circulation to the Skin declines in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.
- The Skin’s ability to perceive Pain declines in tandem with the progression of the Aging Process.


Water Metabolism
 Skin has more Wrinkles and appears "rougher" when the body is affected by Dehydration. 

Myths Dispelled

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Phospholipids
 Many cosmetic companies make claims that their (topically applied) products that contain Liposomes can retard the Aging Process of the Skin and that they can reactivate Skin Cells. 

So truly recognize your skin as more than just a pretty face and find your health and wellness reach new levels.

If you have any questions in regard to this article, please leave a post below for us to address personally.

Confusion with Oxidation?

by Glen Depke

I have had readers asking questions about oxidation and there appears to be quite a bit of confusion when the word oxidation comes up. Here are some questions that have come up.

• Is oxidation breathing?
• Is oxidation increased during exercise?
• If oxidation is good, why would we need antioxidants?
• Should we limit or promote oxidation?
• Is oxidation good or bad?

As these questions unfold, it makes sense as to the confusion of this topic and why the subject can appear to be contradicting. 

Let's clear this up.

First of all, oxidation is a process where oxygen combines with another substance to produce an oxide. Every second we breathe in oxygen, which goes inside our bodies and the process of oxidation occurs. The human body converts a small amount of the oxygen that we breathe into free radicals as a positive step to ward off disease. However, an excess of these free radicals and the wrong type of free radicals can create havoc in the body. This risk increases considerably when we breathe in air that is polluted with emission from vehicles, industries and other pollutants. With this said, we can also understand that exercising to an extreme, which will also increase oxygen intake, has the potential to lead to an increase in free radical activity.

Another natural production of free radicals occurs during the process of digesting our foods. Our bodies break down the food we eat into usable energy and a side effect from this is the formation of free radicals. Consuming raw foods or consuming cooked foods with a quality digestive enzyme will significantly decrease the free radical production tied into digestion.

Another source of free radical production is caused by the immune system. Yes, your immune system will create free radicals in order to fight off bacteria and harmful disease.

Fortunately our bodies have natural antioxidants which will neutralize these free radicals. The problem occurs when your body produces more free radicals than your body can handle and/or when our body has lost the ability to produce its natural antioxidants. 

Unfortunately there are many factors in our culture that increase free radical activity. Here is a list of common free radical stimulatants:

• Environmental pollution (from air, water, household chemicals, asbestos, pesticide residues, & other man-made pollutants including the out-gassing of plastic and other synthetics)
• Preservatives, Colorings, and other food additives
• Smoking and passive smoke
• Exposure to excess heat or cold
• Medical Treatment including medications
• Alcohol
• Detrimental Bacteria
• Parasites
• Chemotherapy & Radiation
• Prescription & Over The Counter Drugs
• Exercise
• Lack of Clean & Fresh Air
• Radiation (including electromagnetic radiation from anything electric such as outside power lines; wires in your home/work, TVs, computer monitors, etc.
• Heart Disease & Strokes
• Computers/Monitors/TVs
• Cooking Food
• Microwave Use
• Refrigerators
• Nutrient deficiencies (major & minor) which can still occur even on the best of diets (even fresh, raw foods contain only as many nutrients as the soil in which they were grown)
• Sunburn
• Stress of any kind
• Judgment or any other non-positive mental state
• Synthetic materials such as Polyester, Acetate, Satin, Plastics, etc.
• Tap Water 

Obviously there is much within our life that creates free radical activity. While it would be nice to say that we could eliminate what creates free radical activity, that simply is not realistic, nor would be want to completely eliminate this oxidation and creation of free radicals. 

The key is to reduce as many external circumstances as we can that lead to further oxidation and free radical activity while increasing antioxidant activity. There are two ways we can increase antioxidants, food and supplements.

Nutritional Sources:

• Berries — Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and cranberries are among the top sources of antioxidants.
• Beans — Small red beans and kidney, pinto and black beans are all choices rich in antioxidants.
• Fruits — Many apple varieties (with peel) are high in antioxidants, as are avocados, cherries, green and red pears, fresh or dried plums, pineapple, kiwi and others.
• Vegetables — Those with the highest antioxidant content include artichokes, spinach, red cabbage, red and white potatoes (with peel), sweet potatoes and broccoli. Although the effect of cooking on antioxidant levels varies by cooking method and vegetable, one study showed that cooking generally increased levels among select vegetables.
• Beverages — Green tea may come to mind as a good source of antioxidants, but other beverages have high levels, too, including coffee, red wine and many fruit juices such as pomegranate.
• Nuts — Walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds are some of the top nuts for antioxidant content.
• Herbs — These may be unexpected suppliers of antioxidants, but ground cloves, cinnamon and ginger, dried oregano leaf and turmeric powder are all good sources.
• Grains — In general, oat-based products are higher in antioxidants than are those derived from other grain sources.
• And for dessert — Done forget that a piece of dark chocolate ranks as high or higher than most fruits and vegetables in terms of antioxidant content. Note that this is for high quality dark chocolate.

List of Antioxidant Supplements:

• Carotenoids - Plants are constantly being bombarded by sunlight and ultraviolet rays. Since they can’t just go inside or erect a parasol when they’ve had enough sun, they produce strong antioxidants to protect their cells against cell damage from ultraviolet radiation and other environmental carcinogens. It is a potent group of antioxidants, and having a daily intake of them is an important disease-preventing measure. Several hundred of these antioxidants are known to exist, and the most potent and beneficial ones are these six:

         Alpha-carotene
         Beta-carotene
         Cryptoxanthin
         Lycopene
         Lutein
         Zeaxathin    

• Flavonoids - Flavonoids are antioxidant phytochemicals that form the water-soluble colors of vegetables, fruits, grains, leaves, and bark. Flavonoids come in many forms, and different plants contain different concentrations of them. Some flavonoids may have up to fifty times more antioxidant activity than vitamins C and E. Impressively, flavonoids from red grapes are more than a thousand times more powerful than vitamin E in inhibiting oxidation of human LDL cholesterol. A steady intake of flavonoids can do a lot for your health.

         Catechins
         Resveratrol
         Proanthocyanidins
         I use resveratrol on a regular basis personally

• Isoflavones - Isoflavones are found in soybeans and other legumes. In the body, they are converted to phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), compounds that may help inhibit the growth of hormone-dependent cancers and other cancers. In addition, they lower total cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease.

         Genistein
         Daidzein

• Vitamins

         Vitamin A
         Vitamin C
         Vitamin E
         Personally I use Vitamin A daily and Vitamin E

• Minerals - All minerals are antioxidants and must be acquired through the diet, because none of them are produced by the body. Minerals are exceedingly important for the proper functioning of the body and the assimilation of vitamins. Selenium and zinc are the two most powerful mineral antioxidants.

         Selenium
         Zinc
         I use a zinc liquid personally

• Allium vegetables - The genus allium encompasses over 500 plants, but the best antioxidants in this group are garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks. These vegetables contain flavonoids, vitamin C, selenium, and sulfur compounds that have potent cancer-fighting properties. In addition, they may help prevent heart attacks stroke by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and preventing blood clots. They benefit the liver by activating detoxification enzyme systems, and may be helpful in preventing allergies and asthma. These vegetables retain their antioxidant properties even when cooked, and odorless garlic caps are available.

• Bilberry - This potent antioxidant, which is an herb, is also called European blueberry. It contains anthocyanides, which keep capillaries strong, protect against cataracts and night blindness, and improve circulation. As well as having anti-carcinogenic effects, it inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and acts as an anti-inflammatory. Bilberry supplements are widely available, either as pills or in liquid form.

• Coenzyme-Q10 - This antioxidant is also known as ubiquinone, since it is present in every living cell. It provides the cells with energy to effectively carry out their functions. Without this antioxidant, our cells would simply not work. The levels of Q10 fall with increasing age, a fact which may have impact on the diseases and illnesses we associate with age. Infection, stress, and poor eating habits can also affect the body’s ability to produce sufficient amounts of this necessary enzyme. Q10 shares many of its antioxidant properties with vitamin E. It has been shown to increase energy, improve heart function, help reverse gum disease, and strengthen the immune system. It may also slow the deterioration rate in Parkinson’s disease, and is the only known substance to have that effect. Coenzyme Q10 has many other positive effects and is a most valuable antioxidant ally in disease prevention and anti-aging. Coenzyme Q10 is found in meat, dairy products, eggs, cereals and vegetables. Storage, processing and cooking significantly reduces the Q10 content of these foods, so supplementing your diet with additional Q10 is a good idea. Personally I take CoQ10 almost every day.

• Cruciferous vegetables - Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cale etc. are very rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and other flavonoids, and also phytochemicals called indoles and sulforaphane. Indoles inactivate estrogens that promote the growth of tumors, particularly in the female breast. Sulforaphane stimulates cells to produce cancer-fighting enzymes. This combination of antioxidants makes cruciferous vegetables potent cancer-preventers. Cruciferous vegetables may not be among the most popular foods, but many of their beneficial antioxidant effects may be obtained through supplements.

• Ginkgo Biloba - Ginkgo Biloba is a potent antioxidant herb which is best known for improving circulation. It helps increase the blood supply to the brain, the heart, and all other body parts. It strengthens the mental processes and the ability to concentrate, as well as ease muscle pain and improve male potency. For this last reason, Ginkgo Biloba is sometimes known as “nature’s Viagra”. Interestingly, this antioxidant may improve perception and social functioning in victims of Alzheimer’s disease. Like many other antioxidants, it protects cells from free radicals and may therefore prevent cancer and slow the aging process. Macular degeneration of the eyes may be prevented and treated with Ginkgo Biloba, which also has been shown to work as an antidepressant. Ginkgo Biloba is widely available as a supplement.

• Glutathione - This antioxidant is produced in the liver from amino acids. It protects cells throughout the body, and may help prevent cancer, especially of the liver. Glutathione is beneficial as an immune system booster, a detoxifier of heavy metals and drugs, and may also protect against radiation poisoning and negative effects of smoking and alcohol abuse. It also functions as an anti-inflammatory treatment of allergies and arthritis. Glutathione is found in vegetables and fruit, but cooking will significantly reduce its potency. Taking glutathione as a supplement is little to no benefit because of its poor absorption and assimilation. I do recommend a glutathione recycler, which is the nutrients needed to increase your own production of glutathione. This is such a key since glutathione is your bodies' primary antioxidant that actually assist every other antioxidant in your body. Personally I take a vascular cream of glutathione almost every day.

• Lipoic acid - This antioxidant is produced naturally by the body. It is a unique defender against free radicals, and is sometimes called the universal antioxidant. Many other internally produced antioxidants have specific jobs, whereas lipoic acid enhances the activities of other antioxidants in the body, as well as being an excellent antioxidant on its own account. Lipoic acid may, for instance, temporarily fill in for vitamins C or E if their levels are low. Because of its ability to pass through the blood-brain barrier, it can reverse the negative effects caused by a stroke. Lipoic acid helps normalize blood sugar levels and can prevent serious complications from diabetes. Our bodies’ production of lipoic acid decreases with advancing age, so it is a very beneficial supplement for those over age forty.

• Melatonin - This antioxidant hormone is produced by the brain’s pineal gland during sleep and helps maintain the body’s natural biorhythm. Melatonin may also help retard the aging process, especially by preventing the oxidative damage to brain cells that are associated with Alzheimer’s and other conditions. Cluster headaches may be alleviated by melatonin, and it has the ability to boost the immune system’s ability to stop tumors from spreading. Melatonin is found in tomatoes and other vegetables, and is available as a supplement. I do not recommend melatonin supplement use as an antioxidant due to fact that hormones require a very delicate balance in your body.

• Superoxide dismutase - This antioxidant is an enzyme which is particularly powerful with skin tissue, revitalizing cells and reducing the rate of cell destruction. Superoxide dismutase helps the body use essential zinc, copper and manganese. Good sources of this antioxidant are barley grass, cabbage, wheatgrass and broccoli. As we age, our bodies produces less of this beneficial antioxidant, so supplementation could be an important factor in reducing wrinkles and retarding the aging process. Personally I take this daily in a vascular cream.

So we can see that a level of oxidation is actually a very positive aspect of our health and wellness, yet when this gets out of control and our antioxidant levels do not meet the levels of our oxidation, chronic dis-ease states will likely develop.

Please use this information to move into empowering choices within your life to reduce oxidation levels, increase antioxidant rich foods and supplements and live your life of health and happiness.

If you have any questions in regard to this article, leave a post below for me to reply to personally.