Wellness for the World

More Than Just Weight Loss

2012-02-28T07:36:00.001-08:00

by Glen Depke

First of all, I'd like to share that I am a human being like everyone else. I go through cycles in my own life and no, I am not "perfect". I laugh when others meet me and are surprised when I am not being "perfect" with my nutrition or other aspects of my health. My own weight can go up and down as well as my state of health. Maybe one thing that makes me different, is that I am going to recognize a down turn and I will do something to shift this in a very positive way.

Well, that time is now!

It is that time of the year for me and I want you to know that you can join me.

Last year about this time I followed the 30 day leaky gut protocol and I lost 20 pounds of body fat but enjoyed so many other benefits. My energy increased, my mental clarity was amazing, I required less sleep every night, I was never hungry and to be honest with you, I felt as if I was eating more food more often. Go figure?

This year I am doing a 6 week program to enjoy the same benefits and more...

This program is designed to enhance the function of the gut, improve brain function, assist with any inflammation, improve immunity, improve sleep, enhance detoxification, increase energy and yes, lose weight (if needed.)

Hopefully you can see that this is so much more than just a weight loss program?

Before

Here are some before and after pictures from last year's 30 day protocol. This too can be you.

Yes, believe it or not, these are before and after pictures of me. What you cannot see in the after picture is how awesome my mental clarity was, how incredible I felt and how much my energy had increased. It was actually euphoric!

Getting back to this year, I can share that I am currently in a bit of a challenging pattern myself and it is time to get out!

After

It seems that some of the choices I made during the holidays at the end of last year do not want to go away. I can't seem to create the shift for myself and I am craving that euphoric feeling from last years 30 day protocol. So with this said, I am going to start a 6 week program for myself in March of this year. Six weeks from then I will feel euphoric and I will be ready for the beach weather, feeling confident when I put on that bathing suit, and you can too.

But here is the big difference this year.

This year, I am inviting you to do this with me. Why should I be the only one losing weight while never feeling hungry? Why should I be the only one enjoying high energy, improved sleep and amazing mental clarity? Why should I be the only one feeling euphoric?

Well, I shouldn't...

I am offering this 6 week personally guided program for only the cost of the supplements needed. We are starting with an initial complimentary webinar to explain the details of the 6 week program and if you find this is for you, you are welcome to join me in the fun. During the 6 week program, we are going to get together once per week on a webinar for guidance, Q&A as well as further weekly instruction. As I mentioned, all the weekly webinars and expert guidance are complimentary to you. It is basically working with me for free! How can you beat that?

If you would like to learn more about this program, click here to register for our complimentary introduction webinar. See you soon...

Pure Encapsulations B12 5000 Liquid

2012-02-22T11:13:00.000-08:00

*Recent research has indicated that methylcobalamin, the active form of vitamin B12, supports neurological function and nerve cell health. In studies, methylcobalamin has demonstrated the potential to support healthy cognitive and nerve function as well as memory and emotional well–being. Vitamin B12 is also an important cofactor for energy production and plays a role in immune system health and healthy homocysteine metabolism. Due to these factors we recommend the use of the B12 5000 Liquid during periods of fatigue.

B12liquid supports nerve cell health, neurological function, energy production and immune system health.

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Supplement Facts

1 ml (0.03 fl oz) (one full dropper) contains:
vitaminB12	5,000 mcg.
(formulated with methylcobalamin)
other ingredients: purified water, apple juice concentrate, natural vegetable glycerin, citric acid, black currant juice, purified stevia extract, potassium sorbate

serving size: 1 ml (0.03 fl oz)
servings per container: 30 ml

1/2–1 dropper, as directed by a health professional.

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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.

Why Doesn't Holistic Health Work for Me?

2012-02-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

So why is it that one individual responds so well to holistic health practices while another individual either does not respond at all or their benefits are short lived?

I often hear individuals share comments such as, "my acupuncture treatments don't hold like they used to" or "I cannot hold a chiropractic adjustment" and the list goes on. I have even had clients of mine share that a certain aspect of the Depke Wellness protocols may not by working as expected or perhaps not in the way they once have.

Many times when it appears that Holistic Health practices are not working, this is tied into many of the simple aspects of life. Here at Depke Wellness we call them the Fundamentals of Health. It is important to recognize that in order for the practices of Naturopaths, Chiropractors, Acupuncturist as well as many other Holistic Health practitioners to be fully expressed, you have to take care of the simple things first.

So ask yourself these simple questions.

Do I deep belly breathe often throughout my day?
Do I drink approximately one quart of water for every 50 pounds of body weight every day?
Do I regularly take digestive aids such as probiotics and digestive enzymes?
Do I eliminate gluten or other intolerant foods if I find them to be a challenge for me?
Do I eat right for my Nutritional ID?
Do I sleep 8 hours per night and wake up refreshed upon sunrise?
Do I regularly move my body throughout the day?
Do I have 2 or more healthy bowel movements per day?
Do I maintain a healthy spine?
Do I expose a healthy amount of sun to my skin and eyes daily?
Do I have regular stress relieving practices daily?

These are the questions that you should be answering yes to with consistency. While I do not expect everyone to be perfect at all times, by all means I am not either, you do need to have a significant focus on these fundamentals. If you do not, you could be playing a major role in limiting the success of Holistic Health protocols.

So number one is for you to take responsibility for all the fundamentals above.

The second factor is to restrict self destructive practices, such as over consuming sugar, alcohol or any foods that you know create challenges for you. I have seen many individuals in the past that complain about the lack of progress with Holistic Health practices, yet they continue to over consume some of these challenging foods. Another destructive practice that is often ignored would include mental/emotional patterns that are self destructive. Living in a constant state of stress will hinder the progress of any Holistic Health practice.

The third and last factor I will address today is tied into adrenal health. Almost 100% of the clients I see have an adrenal issue and if this is not addressed, your success will be significantly limited when using Holistic Health practices.

So take this information, empower yourself and get the most out of any and every Holistic Health practice that you choose. You are worth it!

Why I Recommend Pure Encapsulations Products

2012-02-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

Here at Depke Wellness, we offer what we regard as the "best of the best" available to our followers. With this said, we are proud to share the recent award winning Pure Encapsulations within the newly revamped Depke Wellness Store. Review not only the supplements offered, but also Kid's Supplements and you have to look at the new Natural Soap Line created by Dawn.

February 14, 2012 - Sudbury, MA – Pure Encapsulations, a leading manufacturer of research-based, hypo-allergenic nutritional supplements, announced today that in the recent Consumer Labs survey including over 10,000 subscribers and 90 popular supplement brands, Pure Encapsulations was again named the "#1 Rated Healthcare Practitioner Brand^†". This marks the 5th consecutive award for Pure Encapsulations.

"On behalf of everyone at Pure Encapsulations, we are honored to receive this award for the 5th year in a row," said Kyle Bliffert, President of Pure Encapsulations. "We take pride in the fact that health professionals entrust Pure Encapsulations with their patients' health and well-being. Manufacturing the absolute highest quality nutritional supplements available on the market is our number one goal."

Criteria covered in the survey included quality, perceived effectiveness, and overall satisfaction. Consumer Labs is an independent 3rd party testing laboratory that has been helping consumers identify the best quality health and nutritional supplements since 1999. Pure Encapsulations is committed to producing the most complete line of science-based nutritional supplements. Available through health professionals, every finished product is pure and hypo-allergenic to best optimize the long-term health of the most sensitive patients.*

Pure Encapsulations manufactures nutritional supplements in an FDA-inspected facility, and is NSF-GMP registered in the U.S., GMP certified in Canada, and exceeds the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for supplement manufacturing.

An industry leader in manufacturing excellence, Pure Encapsulations is the supplement brand of choice for health professionals worldwide.

To review the Pure Encapsulations products recommended by Depke Wellness, visit this link. Review not only the supplements offered, but also Kid's Supplements and you have to look at the new Natural Soap Line created by Dawn.

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

^†Based on customer satisfaction. Ratings based on results of the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 ConsumerLab.com surveys of supplement users. More information at www.consumerlab.com.

EPA/DHA–CoQ10 Liquid

2012-02-12T15:46:00.000-08:00

EPA/DHA-CoQ10

I have been personally awaiting a supplement of this degree for some time and I could not wait to get it in my home for personal use. I will share that I have definitely felt an energetic benefit adding this into my daily routine.

Here's more info for to make an informed decision on your own...

*EPA and DHA from fish oil promote heart health by supporting healthy triglyceride and lipid metabolism, maintaining healthy blood flow and supporting healthy platelet function. CoQ10 is a necessary component of cellular energy production. It provides support to all cells of the body and is especially supportive of tissues that require a lot of energy, such as the heart muscle. Studies have suggested that CoQ10 supplementation promotes optimal CoQ10 levels, enhances exercise capacity and supports overall cardiovascular health.

EPA/DHA with CoQ10 combines ultra–pure molecularly distilled fish oil and CoQ10 to provide enhanced nutritional support for the cardiovascular system.

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Supplement Facts

each teaspoon (5 ml / 0.18 fl oz) provides:
calories	40
calories from fat	40
total fat	4.5 g.
saturdated fat	1 g.
cholesterol	25 mg.
fish oil concentrate	4,295 mg.
(anchovies, sardines) providing (typical):
EPA	611-859 mg.
(eicosapentaenoic acid)
DHA	429-644 mg.
(docosahexaenoic acid)
coenzyme Q₁₀	100 mg.
other ingredients: natural orange and citrus flavors, proprietary antioxidant blend (natural vitamin E, rosemary extract and ascorbyl palmitate)

This formula requires refrigeration after opening. Best when consumed within 90 days after opening. Contents may appear cloudy when refrigerated. Contents may precipitate; shake well.

1–3 teaspoons per day, with meals.

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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.

There's More to Detox than the Liver...

2012-02-06T07:20:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

So how many of you have been on countless liver detoxifications, taken milk thistle for years but still don't see the benefit? How many have been detoxifying their liver for years with little to know results? Believe it or not, this is typically the case because there is so much more to detoxification than the liver.

First it is important to establish the fact that all your systems of elimination and detoxification need to be in proper function. This includes not only the liver but kidneys, lymphatic system, lungs, colon and skin.

Let's look at the liver itself though.

First understand that the job of your liver is to take hormones, drugs and other toxins and express hepatic transformation via the phase I and phase II pathways within the liver. They are then eliminated through the phase III pathway.

The two biggest impacts on your phase I and phase II pathways are tied into your hepatic genotype, which is your liver's genetic expression of detoxification and your lifestyle. The lifestyle impacts are based on your diet, lifestyle habits and use of drugs. I will list the lifestyle challenges below:

Diet:

Well done meats
Reduced vegetable consumption
Dioxin containing meats
Pesticide containing fruit & veggies
Hormone containing meats

Lifestyle:

Smoker
Car exhaust
Industrial solvent exposure
Contaminated lotions
Poor air quality

Drugs:

Alcohol
Recreational drugs
Prescription drugs
Over the counter drugs
Improperly prescribed hormones

Together your genotype and lifestyle choices will provide what is referred to as your hepatic phenotype or the expression of overall detoxification pathways via your liver.

Proper function on these levels will take the determined hormones, drugs and/or toxins, convert them from active materials into inactive metabolites and release through a healthy phase III. In a healthy body and healthy phenotype, this will cycle with ease.

If this proper function in any of the three phases of liver detoxification are less than optimal this will significantly hinder your body's ability to clear toxins. If this is the case, this will likely lead to brain disorders, auto immunity, chronic inflammatory conditions, chronic pain and adrenal dysfunction as well as many other potential imbalances.

I also want to bring up a very important point, recognizing that the proper function of these three phases of liver detoxification depend on healthy brain function. To be a bit more specific, the brain dopaminergic system has been established as an important center regulating the liver. As this dopamine system activity decreases, this is equally expressed in liver function.

Here is a list of clinical symptoms recognized with low dopamine.

Depressed thoughts
Inability to self motivate
Easily angered by trivial situations
Slowness of movements
Slowness of thoughts
Inability to start of finish tasks

It is equally important to recognize the tie of the Vagus nerve and your liver function. Remember from previous posts about the gut/brain connection that the Vagus nerve connects the brain to the gut and liver. 90% of your brain output goes straight down this Vagus nerve into the gut and liver. In the end, this will significantly effect liver detoxification.

Symptoms of poor Vagal Tone:

Constipation
Poor enzyme production
Floating stool or food in your stool
Poor liver detoxification

If this sounds like a challenge for you, I would suggest reviewing this article on the Gut/Brain Connection.

When discussing detoxification, it is always important to address your own body's chemical tolerance. This plays another significant role in your body's ability to detoxify properly. To learn more on this area of your body's detoxification read this article. We will address this even further within future articles.

If your liver detoxification pathways are challenged, this is typically expressed with the following symptoms:

Acne or unhealthy skin
Bloating
Swelling
Hormone imbalances
Weight gain
Poor bowel function

If your challenges with detoxification are tied into a loss of chemical tolerance, this is typically expressed with the following symptoms:

Intolerance to smells
Intolerance to jewelry
Intolerance to shampoo, lotions, detergents, ect.
Multiple food sensitivities
Constant skin outbreaks

Hopefully you have a much further understanding of the liver as well as other areas that tie into proper detoxification within your body. If you have any questions or concerns that pertain to this article, leave a post below and I will address this personally. If you see many challenges for yourself personally within this article, you are welcome to call my office directly to discuss the potential of address this with Depke Wellness either in office or via phone consultation. Call direct at 949.954.6225.

Are you a Failure Too? Part 2

2012-02-05T15:14:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

If you have yet to read part 1, I suggest you follow this link to read or review prior to reading part 2. If you are already up to speed, by all means, move on now.

Based on what most of us have learned from our parents, scholastic system, government and many religions, when we fail, there is often some form of punishment that follows. This becomes a deeply engrained pattern within our being that will often hinder our possibility of success.

So how does a fear of failure hinder success?

First of all recognize t that you learn and grow via failure. How many times do you truly learn something while in the flow? You can book learn in this way or gather understandings but knowing is not learning, it is experiencing. I always say that you don't know it until you've lived it. Living it is experiencing, failing and learning from this failure, while creating success along the way.

I like to look at my own life as walking the fine line between success and failure, knowing that these are really one in the same and you do not have one without the other. Often when addressing this with my clients, they share that failure was never an option for them when growing up, therefore that chose a safe path, hence hindering further successes.

Look at it this way.

If you are working on increasing muscle mass by lifting weights, you will often do this to failure. From here, your body will learn from this failure and repair your muscle tissue in a way to adapt and find success. Without failure, success is limited.

Another example is nutritional choices. Often I'll have a client on a gluten free meal plan, enjoying substantial success while making their gluten free choices. Then one day months down the road, they may be at a special event where one of their old gluten containing treats are available and they simply succumb to their desires by indulging in this treat. This will often lead into considerable health challenges and a reoccurring of symptoms from the past.

Is this really a failure though? Well yes, but no...

When the clients goes through this sequence of events by reintroducing gluten, it is an invaluable tool to assist in their continued success of maintaining their integrity of gluten free choices. This in so often a needed failure for so many.

You could also look at it from a sports perspective. For my golfers out there, how many times have you hit a particular shot with a 3/4 swing only to find out that a 1/2 or full swing was what you really needed. Failure right? Absolutely, but that failure will lead to the understanding for a proper back swing the next time you are in that same position.

With these examples, you should be able to understand the importance of failure and how this has an intimate relationship with success in your life.

So let go of the old stories that failure is bad, wrong or invalid. Get out there and failure, knowing that your life will grow by leaps and bounds compared to playing it safe.

Some may ask what this looks like because this is such a foreign concept.

Look at it this way.

Find an area of your life that you would like to improve. From there recognize what you would typically choose within that situation and then the most important step; choose something completely new and different. This will do provide you with one of two options on the back end. Either your new choice will work out very well for you or it will fail. Good news on either end because you will have either created something awesome within your life or you will learn of one other choice that does not work. This is a real win/win situation.

Here's an example for you.

Let's say your health has been challenged for years and you have been seeking assistance from your conventional physician. Your doctor has provided you with years of pharmaceutical recommendations, yet you still find yourself unsatisfied with your results. Making a new choice such as seeing an acupuncturist may provide you with some relief or maybe not. If you find relief this is a reason to celebrate but celebration is still in order even if you do not find relief because you can now check something else off your list that did not work and move on. Perhaps the acupuncture treatment did not work because you have poor lifestyle habits and that needs to be addressed first. Great, that could then be you next area of choice that is different and new. Just keep moving forward, choosing new and different, failing, succeeding but always moving forward. This is walking the line between success and failure that creates a fulfilled life of health and happiness.

Another example is one that I lived. I lived in the Chicago area for most of my life and I had two practices that were thriving but I recognized a ceiling in this success for myself, my business and my clients. To find another level of success, I moved across the country and failed miserably. I started from scratch, zero clients, very little money and lots of stress, almost unbelievable! These very failures led to new understandings, new choices and a thriving practice and life that I am extremely grateful for. I contribute all my success to all my failures. I would never have one with out the other.

I'm sure you get the picture by now.

So what about the kids?

First thing, let them fail!

So often children are sheltered from failure and/or taught that this is a reason for punishment. Young kids get involved in sports these days and they often do not keep score.

Really, don't keep score?

I don't know who came up with this brainstorm but don't you play every game to win? I know, we've all heard the old saying, "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

That's one of the biggest jokes I've ever heard. While it is always important to do your best and play anything within the rules and integrity of the game while giving it your all, you want to win. If you teach winning and losing at a young age, you teach winning and losing in life. This is important because both winning and losing play a significant dynamic on every level in life.

To add to this, children these days have such a significant level of stress placed upon them to succeed on every level because failure is not an option. This is ridiculous because for every team winning there is always another losing. You cannot have one without the other.

School is another area of challenge these days. Young children regularly coming home with 3-5 hours of homework after already spending 7 or more hours at school. If you had to go to your job everyday and then take home 3-5 hours of work every day, plus added work on the weekend, wouldn't you be looking for a new job? Absolutely you would, but our kids don't have that choice. All because you cannot fail. Schools are funded based on standardized testing, so if the kids fail on testing, the school system will lack funds available to them. But that is another topic in itself that I'm not going to touch right now.

So with your kids, allow them to fail, encourage them to learn from their failures and find their own success within that failure. Allow your children to watch you fail and know that this is all right. This way, they will find life much more enjoyable, happier and healthier.

Isn't that what it is all about any way?

If you have any comments or questions about this article, please post this below and I will address this personally.

Are you a Failure Too? Part 1

2012-01-31T08:09:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

The word failure has such a strong meaning in our culture yet I am happy to say that I fail all the time. Actually I can say that I fail on a daily basis and I hope you do too!

Looking at the picture to the right, is the absolute representation of our current view of success and failure. What if? I love "what ifs?" What if the arrow of success and failure pointed in the same direction? What if the failure actually created the successes? What if you could not have one without the other? Hmmm....

Let's take a look at some of history's failures.

How about Abraham Lincoln? Did you know that he has a long list of significant failures? Take a look:

Lost job, 1832
Defeated for legislature, 1832
Failed in business, 1833
Sweetheart (Ann Rutledge) died, 1835
Had nervous breakdown, 1836
Defeated for Speaker, 1838
Defeated for nomination for Congress, 1843
Lost renomination, 1848
Rejected for Land Officer, 1849
Defeated for Senate, 1854
Defeated for nomination for Vice-President, 1856
Again defeated for Senate, 1858

How about Michael Jordan?

Missed more than 9,000 shots in his career
Lost almost 300 games
On 26 occasions he was entrusted to take the game winning shot, and missed
He have failed over and over and over again in his life

I know of a chiropractor that has an incredibly thriving business that is almost unimaginable. Through the years he has recognized that for every 10 patients that come into his office only 1 will follow through with his protocol. So what does he do? He actually celebrates each and every patient that is not going to return, because he knows that for every 9 failures he will find one long term patient. His failures are the drive behind an unimaginable business.

This is just two of the failures that we can share but this list is endless.

You get the picture, so let's move on.

I am most often discussing the functional aspect of health on the blog and newsletter but there is a very important aspect of health that rarely gets attention and that is our mental, emotional, vibrational and/or spiritual health. When we discuss these areas, we are talking about the very foundation of your being and a significant directive in your current health state, whether this deemed good or bad. Did you know that our culture’s energy behind the word failure generally causes significant issues with individuals on the very core level of health?

So really, how does this happen?

We learn very early that failure is very bad because failure is always tied into judgment. Based on what most of us learned in our early years from our primary care givers, schools, government and many religions; when we fail and do something wrong, we are typically punished. This becomes a deeper core value and energy that we then continue the rest of our lives.

Then what happens with that energy?

Typically speaking, when we do something wrong or we fail, this ends up being suppressed. Since most of us have such a strong tie into punishment following failure, when we suppress this energy and we have not been punished, what do you think we do? If you answered that we punish ourselves you are exactly correct.
Scary, isn’t it!

I actually see this with my clients all the time. Past history of failures tied into judgment, history of failures being punished, long term suppression of failures and ultimately poor expressions of health to complete the cycle of punishment that many live with.

So where did this challenge really start?

It generally starts with our primary care givers, which is most often our parents. This could also be an older sibling, grandparents or even outside hired help. This is basically the people or person that played the most significant role in raising you from birth to about 5 to 7 years old.

Now what?

Well, there are two directives here to look at. The first is what do you do when this has already been a long term pattern and what do we do with the children growing up.

Next week in part 2, we will address new ways of being to shift this for you and for you children. You won't want to miss part 2...

Let's end today with some quotes from some very successful failures in our current culture as well as our history.

They say President Wilson has blundered. Perhaps he has, but I notice he usually blunders forward. ~Thomas Edison
If your not failing every now and again, it's a sign your not not doing anything very innovative. ~Woody Allen
There is no such thing as failure. There are only results. ~Tony Robbins
Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm. ~Winston Churchill
The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows. ~Buddha
The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed. ~Lloyd Jones
Nothing fails like success because we don’t learn from it. We learn only from failure. ~Kenneth Boudling
You always pass failure on your way to success. ~Mickey Rooney
You can’t have any successes unless you can accept failure. ~George Cukor
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. ~Henry Ford

There are defeats more triumphant than victories. ~Michel de Montaign

Do You Have Parasites?

2012-01-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

I know this is gross but real!

I often have clients visit Depke Wellness completely frustrated with their lack of success in reaching their health goals. This may be tied into insomnia, fatigue, depression or a wide array of symptom challenges. Often they have spend thousands of dollars and years of focus, but to no avail. Very often this is because they have not addressed and underlying challenge that is very often overlooked. The challenge is pathogenic parasites.

So how common are parasites? What types of parasites more commonly affect human beings? What are the common symptoms associated with parasites? Are these limited to the gastrointestinal tract? Will they have an affect on your health? How do you test for these? How do you rid your body of these invaders?

Most other "experts" will suggest that 50% or more of us are infected with some type of pathogenic parasite. I will share though that I find this percentage much higher in those with chronic health challenges. If you fit into this category, it is recognized withing Depke Wellness that this is often closer to 75% or more. Scary but true.

While there are many parasites that affect both humans and animals alike, here is a list of those that are most commonly found within our culture. While some of these are not technically defined as parasites, they are the most common of parasitic type infections.

Hookworms
Threadworms
Tapeworms
Roundworms
Ascarids
Flukes
Whipworms
Amoebae
Giardia
Blastocyctis
Cryptosporidium
Pathogenic bacteria

Here is a list of common symptoms associated with parasitic type infections.

Chronic diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea or/alternating with constipation

Nausea

Intestinal cramps

Dizziness

Changes in appetite

Vomiting

Fowl-smelling gas

Indigestion

Bloating

Multiple food allergies

Loss of appetite

Weakness and fatigue

Itching around the anus - especially at night (indicating pinworms)

Restlessness and difficulty sleeping

Sore and aching intestines

Weight loss (although not necessarily)

Itching on the soles of the feet - sometimes accompanied by a rash

Bloody sputum in some cases

Fever followed by loss of appetite

Palpitations (indicating hookworms)

Anemia

Fatigue

Muscle pain

Conjunctivitis

Facial swelling around the eyes (indicating trichinosis).

Wheezing and coughing, followed by vomiting, stomach pain and bloating (suggesting ascariasis or threadworms)

While parasitic infections are often associated with the gastrointestinal tract, they are not exclusive to this area of the body. These can create challenges anywhere and are commonly found in the liver, lungs and even the face and eyes. Truly, no where is safe.

It is also very important to be aware that these pathogenic parasitic type infections likely will have a significant affect on your health and well-being. I share with my clients that the average length of time between your initial contamination and actually realizing this infection, is about 11 years. During this time, your body may slowly but steadily begin to lose proper function.

While this can all lead to significant health issues, this does not need to be the case. If you can have these tested and get on the proper protocol to assist your body in overcoming this infestation, you will provide yourself with the necessities to live into your own health and balance. I find that testing is very important, since different parasitic infections do not respond to the same supplementation protocol. So many make it seem as easy as taking a colon cleanse, but far too often that is not the case. While a general parasite cleanse will work for many different types of parasites, this may not be a significant benefit for someone with cryptosporidium or an enterobactor infection. I only use these as an example.

I will also share that testing with a reputable lab that has a passion for uncovering these pathogenic parasitic type infections is a key. Nobody wants to spend hundreds of dollars for false negative lab result. This is why I have used one specific lab testing company for years in my practice. You know the old saying, "if it's not broke, don't fix it."

Lastly, recognize that most of these pathogens are addressed with relative ease using herbal and supplemental protocols while there is one that seems to only respond to pharmaceutical intervention. Regardless, it is imperative to address these challenges.

If you have any comments or questions in regard to this article, feel free to leave this below and I will address it personally.

Shocking...or Not?!

2012-01-20T10:04:00.000-08:00

This was a message from one of my colleagues, Dr Andreas Marx, that I simply had to share. Sometimes I still get shocked by what happens in this world we live in.

While reading a German newspaper, an article about vaccination caught my attention. By now many of us are familiar with the pros and cons. What mainly concerns me about today’s established vaccines are the preservatives they contain. Many vaccines are preserved with a mercury solution, and we all know the many side effects.
The news article reported that the British pharmacy giant “Glaxo Smith Kline” tested a new vaccine in Argentina and was fined in court. Fourteen (14) children died during their test. The company manipulated poor, underage and illiterate parents to sign their consent form. The vaccine was designed against lung and ear infections.

Will They Ever Learn?

In 2008, forty-nine (49) babies died in a clinic in India, where western pharmaceutical companies were involved in clinical tests. In 1996, Pfizer tested a new antibiotic against lung and ear infection on 200 children in Nigeria, and eleven (11) children died. A significant number ended up blind, deaf, and brain damaged.

The industry continues to test new drugs in third world countries. About 50% of new pharmaceutical drugs are tested in India, Africa and China.

Thyroid and Dropping Pounds

2012-01-16T20:41:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

While I do not typically focus on thyroid health when discussing weight loss, we don't want to leave this out of the equation because it does play a significant role in regard to dropping pounds.

Today I will share my opinions on thyroid health and I would be willing to bet that most of this information will be completely new to you in this regard.

First of all, let's separate hyper from hypothyroid.

Hyperthyroidism is a whole other can of worms compared to hypothyroidism. First of all, most with hyperthyroidism will typically lose weight as the natural imbalance due to this health challenge. Secondly, I want to be very clear that hyperthyroidism can be a very serious and potentially deadly challenge. If you are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism be sure to work with an Endocrinologist as well as your Natural Health Practitioner.

So what we are really looking at here in regard to weight loss is actually addressing hypothyroidism. What we are talking about here is simply the thyroid simply not producing enough thyroid hormone. When this is the case most individuals will be challenged with weight gain.

Now you have all heard many times that this would call for a need of thyroid hormone prescriptions or on the natural front, possibly iodine. Today though, you are going to understand some other challenges as tied into hypothyroidism.

I first want to share some thoughts based on one of my colleagues, Dr Robert Janda. Dr Janda is a master at A/K which is a form of muscle testing to understand the underlying core issues as tied into your health challenges. Dr Janda has shared with me more than once that so often the thyroid is hypo due to challenges with pathogenic infections and specifically worms. Once the pathogens are addressed the thyroid finds balance on its own. I know that Dr Janda will often suggest worm oil to address this issue, so I would recommend you seek the advice of a quality A/K practitioner and ask for you thyroid to be checked for pathogens and specifically worms.

The other significant issue is tied into the metabolic activity of the thyroid. Simply put, your thyroid uses quite a bit of energy on a regular basis, so if the metabolic activity is low, your thyroid will mirror this.

To improve your metabolic activity it is important to stimulate your mitochondria function. Your mitochondria is the little engine that drives every cell in your body and especially important for areas of the body that require loads of energy. One being your thyroid glands.

Here is a list of supplements that will assist in increasing this metabolic activity:

Co enzyme Q10 or CoQ10
Magnesium
Vitamin B Complex
Pantothenic Acid or B5

While these are excellent supplements to improve this metabolic activity and thyroid improvement, they will not provide much of an effect if the underlying challenge is tied into a pathogenic infection as mentioned above.

Please use this information to address your thyroid function and eventually weight loss. If you are trying to lose weight with an under active thyroid, you are swimming upstream.

If you have any comments or questions in regard to this article, please leave this below and I will respond to this personally.

A Year of Barefoot Running

2012-01-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

I cannot believe it has been a year since I started barefoot running. For those that do not know or remember the origination of the story, I have not been able to run on any level without pain and inflammation.

I originally went through a complete 10 session series of Rolfing with Manny Aragon. During this Manny assisted me with many bodily compensations due to and old football injury that occurred when I was 17 years old. To put it simply Manny had to teach me how to walk properly again.

Once I went through the Rolfing and found my proper gait, Manny then presented the concept of barefoot running. He described the 3 arches of the foot and how running barefoot with a front of mid foot landing, you would actually utilize all the arches in the foot. The idea was that this in turn would take pressure off the knees, hips and lower back.

As a Traditional Naturopath, this intrigued me as I am always looking for the most natural way to do anything.

So with this said, I started barefoot running at the beginning of 2011. Just to define this, I am running with Vibrams which allow protection from the elements while still allowing my foot to move natural without padding.

After a year, I am happy to share that I still run pain and inflammation free. This is still so shocking to me though, since my knee used to blow up like a balloon even with running very short distances. Oh and to be able to run without pain. I can't even begin to share how awesome that feels.

Just to be clear, I do not run long distances. I typically get up in the morning and run for about 1 mile and generally do this 5 to 6 times per week. While this may not seem like much to "serious" runners, this is huge for me! Before the beginning of 2011, it has been almost 30 years of pain and inflammation whenever I run.

I believe the 3 biggest impacts on my pain and inflammation free running has been Rolfing with Manny Aragon, adjusting my gait and of course the barefoot (Vibram) running.

Celebrate 100 Consecuctive Depke Wellness Newsletters!

2011-12-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

Today is actually number 100! Yes, this is 100 consecutive weeks of research, articles, blogging, and releasing health information to you.

I have to say that it is a pleasure for Depke Wellness to provide this for you and we trust that you can feel our joy and excitement through our articles, blogs and videos. This is all a labor of love, except of course for the occasional technical difficulties. LOL!

With all the excitement behind us we want to share that there is so much more building. Coming up as we speak, our website, newsletter and blog is undergoing quite a facelift. We are going to be providing additional online assessments to...

Assess your Nutritional ID
Assess your Adrenal Fatigue
Assess your Gluten Intolerance
Video introduction into the healing protocols used by Depke Wellness
And so much more

We are also changing the Depke Wellness Store...

Adding a Kids Supplement area
Adding the line of homemade soaps, candles and so much more from Dawn's line of sacred scents
Increasing the video availability of every aspect of Depke Wellness Protocols
Adding more easily absorbed and assimilated liquid based supplements

We also wanted to share that we are going to be offering a variety of games, giveaways and fun in building our newsletter list this year. We have been sending our newsletter to approximately 1100 individuals over the past 2 years and we are making the commitment to reach out to 10,000 total by the end of 2012.

For every new person that views our newsletter, blog and website, that is simply one more person that will be provided with a deeper level of understanding in regard to natural health, natural healing protocols, and the underlying core values of our health and happiness.

Remember, Depke Wellness is not only about wellness for yourself, but Wellness for the World!

Beat Holiday Stress

2011-12-20T07:50:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

Seeing as Christmas is only 5 days away, I am sure you are already engulfed in holiday spirit right?

Maybe if it's the spirit of the holiday Grinch I suppose.

Perhaps you are one of the lucky ones that shopped early, had everything wrapped by December 1st and all there is left to do is attend some exciting gatherings.

So what are the rest of us doing?

Running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Still looking for those last minute gifts, fighting the crowds, stressed about the cash we've already spent, stressed about family members visiting, worried about getting every nook and cranny cleaned in the house...you get the picture. I am sure many of you could add to this list many times over.

So here's some tips to turn these last 5 days into something joyous rather the stressous. Do you like my new word, stressous? Anyway here you go...

Breathe, yes breathe! When you are under stress your breath will become shallow and your fight or flee end of your nervous systems takes over. Yikes! This is no way to spend the holiday season. When you notice that you are feeling stressous, take 3-5 really deep belly breaths to shift you into the calming nervous system reaction. This plays such a huge roll in your whole body's function.
Drink lots of water. We all know that there are many parties at this time of the year and often this leads to an over consumption of alcohol. ALWAYS have a large glass of water between every alcoholic indulgence and be sure to show up at the parties properly hydrated.
Consume a healthy snack or small meal prior to going out. This will ensure that you have proper nutrition already working on your side, keep you from indulging in too many sweet holiday treats and ensure that you will not be drinking on an empty stomach. That is a definite no, no.
Be prepared that things often don't work out as planned but trust that they truly always work out. Due to the increase in people, places and things to do, this will puts us into the dependency of others much more significantly during this time of the year. If you are expecting the stores at the mall, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Harriet, or that perfect parking spot at the mall to work out as plannned...good luck with that. Remember that you have very little control of the things around you but have complete control of your reaction. If you do not set your expectations of everything working out perfectly, it typically makes it easier to take the challenges in stride. If you're one of my perfectionists out there, you know who you are, be sure to roll with the changes. BTW...that would also be a good time to breathe.
Get yourself organized. Often with so few days left we simply begin to wing it and what typically happens when we wing it. We forget. Whatever it is that you have left to do over the next 5 days, write it down. When you are stressous rather than joyous, your memory often does not work as well. If you have a list, you can simply cross things off the list and release the stress. Unless you lose the list of course. LOL!
Make your gatherings a pot luck. I remember my Mom on the holidays would do everything. All the cleaning, cooking and running around. Ladies, don't do this! Have others in the house help with the cleaning, somebody can make grocery store runs for you and for heaven's sake, have your guests bring a dish. I'll even give you a little secret, come closer so nobody else hears this, most people love to bring a dish and feel as if they're a bigger part of the gathering and feel included, loved, appreciated. You get the picture.
Do chores in the party atmosphere of a group. Still working on the last minute holiday cookies, wrapping or one of the other hundred things to finish. Well, invite some friends or family over to help and create a party atmosphere. You will not only make your chores enjoyable but likely you will be assisting other family/friends by getting them out and having fun also.
Take a time out. I know this used to be your punishment when you were a kid but as an adult a time out can be completely rejuvenating. Just 20 minutes in a warm epson salt bath can shift your day in such a positive way. This will assist with your mental/emotional state and leave you with some positive physical results also.
Be sure to get enough sleep. So often we become sleep deprived during the holidays. Look at it this way. If you are rested and enjoying high physical energy and mental clarity, you will accomplish all your goals with much more ease and life will occur faster for you. Miss your sleep and everything slows down and takes forever. I'm sure you already get this, but how easily we forget.
Lastly, when it seems like you have stuck in a stressous rather than joyous state, stop yourself. Take a few minutes to write a list of everything you are thankful for in your life and watch the joyous energy build. This simple tip can shift your entire holiday season. I know you have so many things in your life to be thankful for but it only matters if you know.

Instead of questions or comments to me for today's article, please share what it is you do to relieve holiday stress. The tip you leave may be the exact shift that somebody else needs during this holiday season. Remember the goal is joyous, not stressous!

Should YOU Eat Meat?

2011-12-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

This is a significant question these days for many of my clients. I will share that for most, this is a definite yes. I also have to share that the answer to the question often is not that simple though. Let's look at this from a few different vantage points today.

First of all, there are many people that do not digest meat that well. I would first suggest that the meat itself is not the issue. Poor digestion is typically the issue here. This could be due to a lack of proper enzyme activity, poor bacteria balance, lack of stomach acid production or GI distress such as some type of pathogenic challenge. This could also be an issue due to eating while under stress or from simply not chewing your food thoroughly. Once these areas are addressed, it is amazing to see the improvement in the breakdown of meat overall. It is of utmost importance to address these areas though, due to the fact that meat that sits in your GI tract for too long will tend to putrefy and lead to added toxicity, which is never a positive for you. Follow these simple steps below to reach optimal digestive function.

Take a quality probiotic, digestive enzyme and HCL supplement if meat breakdown is a challenge
Always chew your meat sources very well
Deep breath before and during meals to allow for proper digestive function
Assess possible pathogens with your holistic health practitioner

The other area to understand within this question is the reality that we are all bio-chemically different. While one person my excel eating red meat or higher fat, heavier seafood such as shrimp or salmon, another may actually be challenged with this. Some are best to keep their meat consumption to light chicken or turkey or lower fat, lighter seafood such as tilapia or orange roughy. Some individuals actually require meat with regularity while others may actually do fine with very little meat with additional plant based proteins. Remember, we are all bio-chemically different!

Understanding your Nutritional ID is so important to make this distinction. This goes back to the same saying made by Hippocrates some 2600 years ago, "One man's food, is another man's poison." This is just as true today as it was so many years ago.

Thankfully by the beginning of the year, DepkeWellness.com will be providing the Nutrition ID evaluation on-line at no cost to you. This will provide you with the basic understandings and guidelines for making proper nutritional choices that are best for you as an individual. As we get closer to the launch date of the Nutritional ID assessment, we will address this on a much deeper level for your understanding.

Lastly today, I would like to focus on quality of your meats. I am never one to recommend meat that is grain fed, farm raised seafood, or any meat source this is in an unhealthy environment, eating poor quality food and pumped with hormones and anti-biotics. This would not be considered healthy in my opinion. Using smaller quantities of healthier meat choices goes a long way in providing your protein needs. Companies such as Vital Choice and Blackwing Meats are some of the sources that I use and enjoy personally.

I would like to close by sharing once again that meat itself is typically not the issue. The issues with meat are generally tied into poor digestion, the consumption of poor quality meat or eating the types of meats that are challenging to your own personal Nutritional ID.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave this below and I will address these personally.

Why Can't I Sleep? Part II

2011-12-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

by Glen Depke

Last week we addressed the multiple areas of sleep challenges in regard to melatonin production. Hopefully you have already begun to address the areas in your life that hinder this production. Remember also that it was mentioned that adding melatonin in a supplement form is not necessarily the answer.

So why not?

Well, melatonin is what I refer to as an end result hormone. When you look at the sleep cycle pattern it looks like this.

Proper consumption of necessary proteins
Proper breakdown of these proteins to supply the essential amino acid L-tryptophan
Conversion of L-tryptophan into 5-HTP
Conversion of 5-HTP into the neurotransmitter serotonin
Conversion of serotonin to melatonin

With this you can see that adding melatonin does not fix the issue. It may be a quick fix, but that will be it.

So you can see that a disruption is sleep patterns can easily be created by poor diet or poor digestion. If you are not eating nutritional sources that contain tryptophan or if your digestive integrity is challenged, the cycle never really begins for you. With this in mind, be sure to add food sources that contain typtophan such as milk, tuna fish, soybeans, turkey, eggs, almonds, cabbage, kidney or lima beans, oats, pistachios, poppy seed, pumpkin seed, and spinach.

The next step is to be sure you can break down these foods properly by eating in a relaxed state (a few deep belly breaths go a long way), chew your food well and take a quality probiotic and digestive enzyme.

If you still find yourself struggling, you could add a L-tryptophan supplement 30 minutes prior to bedtime. It often helps to take this with a half/half mixture of grape fruit juice and water. This will not only assist with sleep but will also assist with B vitamin production.

Now, not every poor sleep pattern is tied into a poor sleep cycle. Very often it is tied into hormone imbalances, especially in regard to your adrenal glands. The cortisol produced in your adrenals for normal body function as well as a reactionary production due to physical or mental/emotional stress is often a significant issue. To understand, for proper hormone balance your cortisol and melatonin would typically be exact opposites of each other. When cortisol is up, melatonin would be down and likewise. Often when individuals have poor adrenal function, the cortisol levels are too high or too low, thus affecting the melatonin levels. To assess adrenal function and follow an adrenal balancing protocol visit the Depke Wellness Store and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

End results...poor sleep cycles.

If your sleep cycles are not providing you with the rest needed and energy desired, look at both the sleep cycle patterns mentioned above and/or your adrenal function. 9 out of 10 times, I see one of these two areas being the most significant challenge for my clients and often both are an issue.

Remember that within a healthy sleep pattern, you easily fall asleep, sleep soundly through the night and wake up rocked and ready to go. If you are not finding this to be the norm for you, find the imbalances and fix them before it becomes a significant issue for you.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to post this below.

Why Can't I Sleep? Part 1

2011-11-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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?

2011-11-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-11-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-11-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Breast Cancer Awareness...Really?

2011-10-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

by Glen Depke

Every time I go to my local food market this month I get asked the same thing, "Would you like to donate to breast cancer research?" Every time I reply the same, "I would love to, as soon as it is being used for cancer prevention."

I honestly have nothing against scientific research and discovery but doesn't it simply make more sense to educate women on the proper steps needed to prevent contracting breast cancer? It sure does to me...

I also feel that it is so important to educate women on the need for self examination, how to accomplish this, risk factors and signs or symptoms of breast cancer. Our current "awareness" addresses this and for that I am thankful. But really, where is all the money going? You may be surprised at times where it is actually going but one thing you can be darned sure about, it's not prevention.

Before we go on let's look at some stats. Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women. Each year it is estimated that nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

With this said, doesn't it make sense to focus on prevention? Instead of putting all the time, energy and money into research for after the diagnosis, how about putting some time, energy and money into teaching women how to live health lives without the fear of breast cancer?

So here is my contribution to women living happy and healthy lives.

Steps for Prevention:

Number one on my list is for women to learn to nourish themselves. More often women spend most of their lives nourishing everyone else at the expense of their own health and wellness. Take time each day to be "all about you."
Eat less sugar. Sugar consumption, especially fructose, has such a detrimental effect on your body on so many levels.
Work on emotional release for any built up suppressed emotional trauma.
Focus on proper nutrition, right for your Nutritional ID, as nutrition plays a significant role in prevention.
Add vegetable juicing as a part of your routine per your Nutritional ID.
Maintain a Vitamin D level of at least 50.
Be sure to get adequate amounts of vitamin A.
To achieve a good ratio of your vitamin A and D the use of cod liver oil is recommended.
Increase your Omega 3 Fatty Acids through supplementation as well as nutritionally.
Maintain healthy zinc levels.
Stay away from non-fermented soy products. If you use soy, only naturally fermented such as natto, miso, tempeh and soy sauce.
Drink approximately one quart of water for every 50 pounds of body weight daily.
Take care of all your fundamentals of health.
Assess your likelihood of gluten intolerance and eliminate this if it is an assessed challenge.
Stay out from plastics in regard to food and drink and never use plastics while heating foods in the microwave. Side note: stay out of the microwave all together.
Do not use birth control (the pill).
Assess your adrenal function.
Maintain a healthy gut with the use of probiotics and digestive enzymes.

Following these tips will provide you with the best internal environment to maintain your health and happiness.

If you have already been diagnosed, following these tips will also provide you with the natural methods needed to not just survive but to thrive. I recommend that those diagnosed to create a positive working relationship between themselves and your conventional as well as holistic practitioner.

If you would like to discuss the Depke Wellness approach to preventing cancer, feel free to call for a complimentary 20 minute phone consultation at 949.954.6226.

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

Do You "Get" What Gluten is Doing to You?

2011-10-17T22:55:00.000-07:00

by Glen Depke

If you have not noticed yet, the shelves in the grocery stores carry quite a bit of gluten free items. So do you thing this is some new taste craze or some new way of preparing food that benefits the manufacturers?

Absolutely not!

There is so much gluten free food on the market because even conventional wisdom has caught on to the fact that gluten is actually killing people. Well now, to be real, it will never say that on the death certificate but it may as well.

Before I go further with this, let me be clear that not everyone has a gluten intolerance. Actually, in other countries gluten is not even as big of a challenge as here in the US and Canada. The challenge is both the modification of the wheat kernel as well as the processing and storing of these dangerous grains.

I have been promoting and discussing eating a gluten free lifestyle for some time now and I have to say that both personally and professionally, I have seen some dramatic results across the board. Heck, I even have clients telling me that they share my gluten intolerance assessment with their friends and/or loved ones. Often the success shared by these fortunate souls is miraculous. It sounds to good to be true, but if you have a gluten intolerance and you stop consuming gluten containing products, your entire life can make a positive turn for the better. I see it all the time in my clinic.

I wasn't looking to write an article getting into gluten containing foods or the multiple of health challenges potentially created by consuming gluten. You can find this in a past article I wrote by following this link here.

My motivation for writing this article is so more people would actually assess their likelihood of a gluten intolerance and learn more about living a gluten free life. If just one person reading this article assesses their level of gluten intolerance and removes gluten from their life to enjoy health and happiness...well then, it was all worth it.

To assess your own level of gluten intolerance you can visit the Depke Wellness, Gluten Intolerance page and scroll down to take the gluten intolerance questionnaire at no cost to you. What a combo, no cost and potentially life saving.

Visit this link to take your free test today. If you find yourself as somewhat likely or very likely to be gluten intolerant, it would be a magnificent idea to remove gluten from your diet. If this is the case, you will find a gluten free foods in categories list by following this link and scrolling down to the bottom of the page.

This is a FREE questionnaire and information because it is just that important. For the stubborn individuals that recognize that gluten is an issue but you need more proof to give this up, you can contact me directly for a blood test that will put your mind at ease.

If you have any comments or questions in regard to this article, leave a post below and I will answer this personally.

My PureLean Protein Breakfast Drink

2011-10-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Many ask what I do personally with my PureLean protein powder. I use this plant based protein, plant based omega 3 fatty acid, vitamin and mineral rich, super antioxidant formula to make a yummy breakfast drink that is so yummy. Watch this video for more information as well as my personal recipe. For more info or ordering follow this link.

Take Action and Preserve Choice

2011-10-09T11:51:00.000-07:00

I generally run the "Take Action" segment on the side bar of our newsletter, but this is action alert is deserves focused attention.

I was enjoying a gathering with a couple of my colleagues last night while we discussed the current medical/pharmaceutical establishment. We agreed that you cannot only sense but you can see the concern that conventional medicine is losing its stronghold on the American public. You can recognize this due to the vigilant activities that are potentially taking away our freedom of choice. Recognizing that when you push a frightened animal into the corner, it is going scratch, bite and use everything within its power to survive.

Conventional medical/pharmaceutical leaders would love to take away your own personal choices and leave themselves as the only viable option. It is up to us to stand up for ourselves,

share our voice and focus on maintaining our freedom of choice in health care.

Why is our current medical/pharmaceutical establishment pushing back with vigilance and what are they going after now?

Let's recognize that a healthy percentage of our culture that is paying for insurance coverage is willing to forgo conventional medical/pharmaceutical treatment and pay "out of pocket" for holistic health care because they are recognizing that the Western medical/pharmaceutical experiment is failing. Individuals are turning to holistic care and supplementation more often and finding very positive results on a consistent basis.

This is what frightens the "establishment" and the reason for their vigilance. I will share that I personally feel there is a time and a place for both holistic and conventional medicine but it should be our choice as to what direction is best for us individually. Please read on to preserve that right!

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently commenced a new assault against the dietary supplement industry – one that could threaten the availability of supplements currently on the market and that will discourage manufacturers from innovating new and more beneficial products in the future. In July, the agency issued a draft Guidance document which sets forth its current thinking concerning provisions of the law that dictate what ingredients can be included in dietary supplement products, and what information companies must submit to the FDA if they desire to market a supplement that contains a new dietary ingredient (i.e., one that was not sold prior to October 15, 1994).

The FDA’s draft Guidance ignores the intent of Congress by seeking to impose insurmountable obstacles to the introduction of new dietary ingredients and includes interpretations that will threaten the continued sale of supplements if even the most minute of changes are made. If the Guideline is finalized and enforced by the FDA it will go a long way towards establishing the agency’s long-standing goal of requiring pre-market approval for dietary supplements.

The following are a few highlights of the Guidance document:

The FDA’s draft Guidance requires companies to possess exorbitant amounts of information concerning their existing dietary supplements to prove that New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) notifications are not required for the products they are currently marketing. In many cases, it will be impossible to gather such information, thereby threatening the future availability of numerous dietary supplement products on the market today.
In order to market a product that contains a new dietary ingredient, manufacturers will be required to submit a tremendous amount of information concerning historical use of the ingredient or conduct a multitude of animal and human studies which are overly burdensome and costly. Establishing such excessive requirements is both contrary to Congressional intent and unnecessary given the safety record of dietary supplements over the past few decades.
Any change in the manufacturing process of a dietary ingredient that results in chemical alteration of such ingredient or a change in specifications of the ingredient, regardless of how insignificant the alteration or change is, will require the submission of a NDI notification. This will discourage manufacturers from using the most advanced and efficient manufacturing technologies and pursuing methods that can improve the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplement products.
Any increase of the amount of a dietary ingredient in a dietary supplement or any change in formula of a dietary supplement, regardless of how minute or insignificant, will require the submission of a NDI notification. This will discourage the innovation of new products.

FDA’s enforcement of its Guidance as currently drafted could have a devastating impact on the dietary supplement industry and significantly affect the availability of supplement products on the market today and in the future. We urge you to contact your representatives in Congress and express your concerns. While personal letters are always best, attached for your convenience is a form letter. Don’t just sit back while the FDA threatens your right to access cost-effective and beneficial dietary supplement products. The industry needs your help in fighting back against this bureaucratic power-grab.

To download a sample letter to your Senators, click here.

To download a sample letter to your US Congressional Representative, click here.

To find government contact information including mailing addresses for your Senators and US Congressional Representative, please visit www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

These letters are samples; please feel free to personalize them.

Making Kombucha with Dawn Depke

2011-10-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh....Kombucha.

Kombucha is a centuries old naturally fermented drink that will not only pleasure the palate but also provide many healing properties for your body. While this can damage the pocket book purchasing at your local market, making Kombucha at home is very cost effective.

To learn more about Kombucha, The Elixir of Life, follow this link.

Enjoy this 3 part video series.

Video One

How to Make a SKOBY with Dawn Depke

Video Two

Making Kombucha with Dawn Depke

Video Three

How to Bottle and Flavor Your Kombucha