Is Female Infertility a Disease?

by Glen Depke

Female infertility is a huge issue in our culture. While infertility is typically addressed in the medical field and often ten of thousands of dollars or more are often spent in this direction, let's first understand that this is not a disease in itself. There may be times where female infertility is a secondary affect of a disease state but this is not the norm.

Before we discuss this further, let's look at some simple approximate stats. 

Overall 1 in 10 couples are having a challenge with infertility but the numbers do increase significantly with age demographics. If you are 30 to 34 it goes up to 1 in 7 couples. 35 to 39 is 1 in 5 and 40 to 44 is 1 in 4.

Here are some other interesting stats to look at.

Primary causes of infertility:

• 5% other
• 5% coital problems
• 9% endometriosis/ cervical mucous
• 14% tubal damage
• 18% ovulatory failure
• 21% sperm count
• 28% other

So which of these would be the focal point with Depke Wellness and more importantly, this particular article. First since we are talking specifically about women in this article we are not going to discuss sperm count. With sperm count out there is only one big area of focus and that is "other." In my opinion this is the focal point for most women because this is where most of the challenges lie.

Play the percentages and you generally win!

While I would not want say to ignore the other potential issues but "other" is generally where most of the challenges and imbalances lie.


Let me first share a phone call that came into my office earlier today. I had a client come to my office challenged with years of infertility and skeptical about my approach. It really seemed that the skepticism was not directed at me at all. This woman had already spent large sums of money and time with infertility clinics with nothing to show for it but empty bank accounts and emotional challenges. Once she saw that I had an approach that she has yet to try and the fact that it was not going to cost her and arm and a leg, she made the commitment to follow my recommendations. Well, the good news is that just over 2 months after our first appointment, she is pregnant! Very exciting!

I want to be clear that this is due to her commitment to follow the recommendations. She did this, I only provided the recommendations and it was up to her to place these into action.

Here are some of the common challenges tied into "other."

• Adrenal insufficiency
• Gluten intolerance
• Other food intolerances
• Excessive consumption of MSG
• Excessive consumption of trans fats
• Excessive consumption of caffeine 
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• High mental/emotional stress
• Poor focus on fundamentals of health

So you can see here that more often than not, infertility can be addressed in a very simple manner with amazing results.

Ladies, this is typically not disease related and does not have to cost you years or tens of thousands of dollars. You most often have to simply take care of your fundamentals of health, address any nutritional deficiencies or intolerances and bring your adrenal function back to balance.

Don't be a statistic and if you are, focus on the percentages and take care of the 28% "other." Female infertility is not a disease.

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

Dementia...Don't Let This Happen!

by Glen Depke

My Grandmother had severe dementia for years prior to her death and my mother is having challenges  with dementia currently. With this said, I should expect to have the same challenge as I age, right?

Not a chance!

Most believe that this is simply a genetic issue but I do not see it that way. First of all let me be clear, it is my belief that about 96% of what we feel is a physical genetic challenge is actually a learned behavior. 

More on that though another day.

Dementia can be very scary for not only the person suffering with this issue but also for the family. To watch the neurological function rapidly decline can create some life challenges for any of us.

It is has been recognized that this is not a challenge for only the elderly, this can begin much earlier if life. A recent study shows that memory loss can begin as early as 45 years old. To view an article on this study, follow this link.

So what causes dementia and what can we do to be proactive?

Let's first look at some substances that can cause dementia.

• Overconsumption of alcohol
• Excessive accumulation of homocysteine
• Excessive consumption of copper
• Chronic lead poisoning
• Chronic excessive exposure to manganese
• Excessive or long term use of benzodiazepines

How about some ailments that are associated with or cause dementia?

• Atherosclerosis of the brain
• Cerebral insufficiency
• Strokes
• Long term dehydration
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Alzheimer's disease which is a form of dementia
• Huntington's disease

Other factors that can cause dementia.

• Excessive generation of free radicals is one of the underlying causes of dementia
• Poor gut/brain integrity
• Brain inflammation
• Poor oxygen intake to the brain
• Lack of brain use
• Poor nutrient uptake to the brain
• Poor adrenal function

Since this has been a challenge for my Grandmother as well as my Mother, I have been proactive in regard to my own brain health. There is no chance that I am going to take this path!

What is it that I do to be so confident that I will not have the same challenge?


First of all, I am going to be sure that I allow proper blood flow to the brain. Remember that your brain gets oxygen and nutrients via the blood. Poor blood flow equals poor oxygen and nutrient uptake. I use one of two different supplements in my practice to increase this peripheral blood flow. Unfortunately I cannot sell these on the internet, so feel free to call my office for this information at 949.954.6226. Once the blood flow is adequate it is very important to incorporate deep belly breathing into your regular routine. Increased blood flow with poor oxygen intake is not the answer. Please, deep breathe!


Next I want to be sure that I am getting the proper nutrients to the brain. Fat is so important to brain function and it is scary that there are still so many fat phobic people in our culture. Foods like coconut, avocado, and olives go a long way in assisting the brain but there is one supplement which I consider brain food. That supplement is one the components of your omega 3 fatty acid and specifically DHA. I take an omega 3 plus I take a separate DHA liquid drops every day to feed my brain. Follow this link for more information on DHA.


The other significant factor is to simply use the brain and this is done on more than one level. First of all puzzles that work the brain or that old card game I used to play when I was a kid. It was called memory. Do you remember it? Pun intended. Anyway, you would place a deck of cards face down on a table and pick two cards, trying to get  a match. As an adult, play this with a child and they will take you down. Another way to use your brain is with exercise and especially exercise that challenges your balance. A third way is to learn a musical instrument or a second language.


These are all great ways to use the brain.


Another factor is to assess your adrenal function. Your adrenals play a significant role in neural connectivity and those with dementia are typcially low in DHEA and pregnenolone. I do not advise taking these supplements without assessing your current adrenal function first. Hormones require a delicate balance so you do not want to blindly use supplemental hormones.


Focus on these for yourself to change your learned behaviors. Your brain can maintain optimal function for many many years, as long as you take care of it. Please do!


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

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

More Than Just Weight Loss Six Week Program

Greetings Everyone!

I am so excited for you as we embark on this journey together over the next 6 weeks. As a participant in the "More Than Just Weight Loss" 6 week program, you should expect to improve your health and happiness, potentially in ways you may not even imagine.

This link will be our place to gather, ask questions, share concerns and a space for all the participants to share their ideas and receive feedback and support.

Please use this as your key communication source through the program. I will check it daily over the next 6 weeks to be sure I am on top of your concerns.

Once again, congratulations on making a commitment to your own health and happiness!

Wellness for the World,
Glen Depke

Gluten, the Silent Killer

by Glen Depke

I say silent killer because most are not aware of their own personal challenges with gluten. The long term response by your body can be chronic health issues and yes, even death.

When you visit restaurants and grocery stores these days, you will find quite and array of gluten free foods. Understand that when something such as gluten intolerance because so recognizably dangerous to the general public, even big business jumps in.

Gluten is a real problem and in no way a reoccurring fad!

Gluten is a major contributing factor to many chronic ailments including but not limited to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and brain disorders such as dementia and depression. 

Complimentary Gluten Assessment.

The biggest challenge for us is wheat but gluten is also within rye, spelt, bulgar, semolina, couscous, triticale, and durum flour. Gluten can also be hidden in so many of the foods we eat so you also have to be very careful with reading labels. Be wary of modified food starch, dextrin, flavorings and extracts, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, imitation seafood, and creamed products such as soups, stews and sauces.

With wheat being the most significant factor when discussing gluten, did you know that the average American now consumes approximately 55 pounds of wheat flour per year. Wow!

Since the biggest challenge is wheat, let's look at the main culprit.

Did you know that today's wheat would barely be recognizable some years ago? Wheat is now a dwarfed, weakened and genetically manipulated likeness of itself. The scary fact is that modern wheat has been manipulated to produce a higher yielding plant that contains much higher amounts of starch and gluten.

Both of these are an issue.

The higher starch creates significant blood sugar and insulin issues, eventually leading to disorders within the endocrine system such as diabetes and adrenal challenges. This is just the start of the problems though.

From a gluten perspective, it is my understanding that wheat used to contain approximately 3% gluten, yet after genetic manipulation, it now contains approximately 50% gluten. While if may create a better bread product, is it really worth it?

The answer is a resounding, NO!

Please recognize that a gluten intolerance does not necessarily mean you have Celiac Disease. If you have a negative test result to Celiac this is not free game on gluten. Even low level gluten intolerance can create significant health issues that honestly, you do not have to endure.

So what do you do now?

Here's an easy way for you to gain some personal knowledge for your likelihood of being gluten intolerant.  Feel free to visit our website to take your complimentary Gluten Intolerance Assessment and if you find that gluten is a challenge for you, we also supply you a complimentary list of Gluten Foods in Categories.

This assessment and food list is our gift to you. Please take advantage of it, it may just save your life!

If you would like to visit the Depke Wellness Gluten Intolerance page to view a video or further information follow this link.

If you have any comments or questions to this article, please leave a response below for us to respond to personally.

Inflammation and Immunity...Good or Bad?

by Glen Depke

Overall most of my clients will come in thinking that inflammation is bad and immune function is good. Based on what mainstream information tells us, this makes sense right?

Maybe, maybe not.

If you have inflammation, most have been taught to take an anti-inflammatory and/or use ice to reduce this. Even though this is the norm, get this...inflammation is a necessary component of a healing crisis and it is definitely a positive response. I would also add that inflammation is a sign that the immune system is doing its job.

As mentioned above, most will look at an immune system response as a very positive response, but that is not always the case. Understand that the immune system response as tied into inflammation occurs when the cells of the immune system are activated in response to antigens released during either acute of chronic inflammation. This is beneficial when antigens are neutralized but this can be severely detrimental if the underlying cause of the inflammation is not resolved.

So you can see that  an immune response is typically positive for you, but it can actually lead to further damage and inflammation. Often I see this poor response lead to autoimmune reactions and eventually full blown autoimmune disease. Understanding that autoimmune disease basically means tissue destruction.

When discussing the biochemistry of inflammation and immunity, these areas are at the top of my list.

During inflammation, these particular events are very common:

• IgG enters the tissues and stimulates phagocytes to destroy detrimental bacteria
• Eosinophils act to control allergies
• Neutrophils release lysozyme to destroy detrimental bacteria
• Mast cells "burst" and release histamine and serotonin as a defense mechanism against antigens bound to IgE that are attracted to mast cells
• The end product of the inflammation process is often pus, which is comprised of dead tissue

I would also like to add that an excessive production of particular immune system chemicals can cause inflammation. These are:

• Interleukin 1
• Interleukin 6
• Tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Let's take some time to address specific questions that I have received by followers of Depke Wellness in regard to immune function and inflammation.

Do anti-inflammatory drugs suppress immune function?

I would not say that this is a direct suppression but the immune function does suffer when taking anti-inflammatory drugs. This mechanism is tied into anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) inhibit an enzyme which is involved in the production of other chemicals in your body. These chemicals allow the blood vessels around an infection to have an ease of permeability for the movement of immune system components such as white blood cells. This allows the ease of immune function to the active site of the infection. With this understanding, the inflammatory response is significantly reduced this suppressing the immune response at this infection location.

Is the immune system like a battery or an engine?

Great question. I always say the immune response is a mechanism but to be honest with you, it is also the battery and the engine. The immune system is such a complex system that involves an immense quantity of components. Here are some of the most significant components of the immune system.

• Thymus
• Spleen
• Lymph system
• Bone marrow
• White blood cells
• Antibodies
• Complement systems
• Hormones

Collectively this shows the synergy of the mechanism, battery and engine, per your question. 

Do you store up immunity or use it as needed?

The answer here is both. Even if we just looked the the different types of white blood cells, you would recognize the some may last only a few hours, some a few days or some months or even years. Thankfully the immune system is in a constant state of regeneration but I will expand on this deeper with the question below.



Is immune function always available in varying amounts based on your overall health?

Your question here actually answers this perfectly. As long as you are alive immune function is available, but this is going to vary based on each persons focus on health and wellness as well as genetic capabilities. Recognize that two people can be exposed to the same pathogen, in the same amounts, yet respond so differently. The healthier individual will likely have a very strong immune response, move through the challenge rather quickly and likely eliminate the pathogen with ease. The less healthy individual may take a considerably longer duration of time to overcome or if their vitality is too low, they may not even have a strong enough immune response to overcome the pathogen. This would stall the healing crisis and lead to a chronic disorder.

If you have any questions or comments to this article, feel free to leave these below for me to answer personally.

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zinc (gluconate)	3 mg.
beta-carotene	2,500 i.u.
hesperidin methyl chalcone	30 mg.
elderberry extract (fruit)	150 mg.
arabinogalactan	75 mg.
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lemon balm	50 mg.
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.