Pills Made From Poop...Really?

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath
 
Yes I am not kidding, there really are pills made from poop. Here is a small sample from the article that exposed me to this recent news.

"Hold your nose and don't spit out your coffee: Doctors have found a way to put healthy people's poop into pills that can cure serious gut infections - a less yucky way to do "fecal transplants." Canadian researchers tried this on 27 patients and cured them all after strong antibiotics failed to help."

"Recently, studies have shown that fecal transplants - giving infected people stool from a healthy donor - can restore that balance. But they're given through expensive, invasive procedures like colonoscopies or throat tubes. Doctors also have tried giving the stool through enemas but the treatment doesn't always take hold."

To read the full article, copy and past the link below into your browser. It is a very interesting article.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/10/03/pills-made-from-poop-could-cure-serious-gut-infections/?intcmp=features

I will share that I am not against "odd" therapies. Heck, what I do with my clients would often be considered "odd" by conventional medical terminology.  I've heard many different "odd" therapies such as the use of parasites to treat brain tumors, the use of raw meat to regain balance, the use of high meat or fermented foods and many more.

With that said, I would not take away the potential validity of the use of these "poop pills" but there is a deep belief that I have held for some time. When people have extreme challenges, it often takes more extreme measures to assist that person find their health and balance, but with that said, you do not need to take extreme measures for typical challenges.

We also have to separate different areas of treatment. The article shared the experience of one woman as stated here, "It lasted for two years. It was horrible. I thought I was dying. I couldn't eat. Every time I ate anything or drank water I was into the bathroom," she said. "I never went anywhere, I stayed home all the time." So this was a woman that apparently had run the conventional medical treatment for C - diff with no relief. So what would that treatment be you may ask and you likely already know? It is the use of powerful antibiotics with generally no focus on underlying causes.

A holistic intervention for C - diff based on Depke Wellness would be to establish a balance within the fundamentals of health, bring some balance to adrenal function, address intolerant foods that lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system and finally at that point, the use of herbal remedies to assist the body's immune system function in the healing crisis of removal of the infection which in this case is C - diff.

Obviously there are more steps in the holistic intervention but in the end, the body is healthy, immune system function is reestablished, adrenals are balanced and you have addressed the underlying factors that lead to this challenge in the first place.

Now of course the antibiotic treatment would not address this, even though this truly can eliminate the C - diff as well as the "poop pill" could also lead to the same results. The challenge still lies in the ability to address underlying factors and to strengthen the body so this does not occur again and again.

Another point to be made.

Do not wait until you contract something like C - diff or other pathogens to address this. While this may seem like common sense saying it, this level of common sense is anything but common. So before you need the antibiotic or the "poop pill" how about simple basic measures? Taking a good quality prebiotic/probiotic formula daily, digestive enzymes and addressing adrenal/immune imbalances. When you do this, you can personally drastically reduce your likelihood of allowing these infections to take a strong hold on you. Understand that I did not say that you will reduce your chance of being exposed. Heck, we're all exposed. What matters though is what does your body do when you are exposed to these infections. If your fundamentals of health, adrenal function and immune function are strong, the likelihood of continued infection is actually very low. 

On that note I can bring up a short conversation I had with some individuals in the gym the other day. A trainer was jokingly but with a serious side blaming his client for getting him sick. Of course I jumped in and also jokingly but with a serious side mentioned that nobody can get you sick, you can only be weak enough to allow sickness. As expected the client and not the trainer enjoyed my comment but it was truly all in fun. Fun but true.

So in the end, recognize that there are always "odd" and sometimes extreme ways of treatment, whether this be the "poop pill" or other methods mentioned earlier, doesn't it sound easier and more effective to address these challenges holistically?

You decide!!!

Past articles on antibiotic treatment:
http://www.askdepkewellness.com/2013/09/antibiotoic-resistant-bacteria.html

http://www.askdepkewellness.com/2011/04/enough-with-antibiotics-already.html 

Past article on digestion:
http://www.askdepkewellness.com/2012/06/prime-digestive-support.html

Link to digestive aids:
http://www.depkewellness.com/GlenDepke/Store/DepkeWellness/index.cfm

Antibiotoic Resistant Bacteria

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath

Well, we knew it was coming and we have been warned about this countless times and in my opinion, this has been a challenge for some time already. This something is antibiotic resistant bacteria. Now this may not sound substantial but look at some recently released statistics.

According to the CDC, each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection. Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and in my opinion the rate of death from these as posted above is very low.

The New York Times reported that the number of deaths is substantially lower than previous estimates, in part because researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stripped out cases in which a drug-resistant infection was present but not necessarily the cause of death. Infectious disease doctors have long warned that antibiotic resistance — in which bacteria develop defenses against antibiotics used to kill them — threatens to return society to a time when people died from ordinary infections.

Dr Robert Janda, whom I am interviewing Tuesday 9/24/13, had shared in a recent discussion with me that "the bugs are getting smarter." With this information, it is imperative for us to outsmart the bugs, rather than them outsmarting us.

I feel that as a culture we have made the bacterial infection/antibiotic treatment route the norm rather than the exception, which lead to this potentially tragic circumstance we are currently involved in. To be "real", we cannot go back and it truly makes no sense to dwell on the past. 

All we can do now is move forward.

The first point that I want to make is that I am not the holistic practitioner that bashes the conventional medical system. There is truly a time and a place where conventional interaction is necessary, but as mentioned earlier, this would be the exception rather than a norm. As an example, if someone has a serious staff infection, go to a doctor and get a powerful antibiotic to address this because that staff infection could kill you. Important right?

So what about low level bacterial infections?

Most bacterial infections start in the gut and are relatively easily addressed. Heck, just last weekend I picked up a bacterial infection while I was out eating. This made me a bit bloated, nauseous and I eventually vomited. I know, pretty picture.

So what did I do? Did I run out for an antibiotic to eradicate this bacteria? Absolutely not. I took approximately 100 billion count of beneficial bacteria to counter the detrimental bacteria that entered my body and between the bacteria and my own body's natural immune defense mechanisms, this was a non issue with relative speed and ease.

So a bacterial infection in your gut can be assisted by the use of a quality probiotic in high doses but what other natural products have antibiotic properties?

Here is a list that may help you out.

• Cloves (Clove Oil)
• Colloidal Silver
• Olive Leaf Extract
• Echinacea
• Garlic
• Oregon Grape Root
• Raw Honey
• Mullein
• Myrrh
• Sage
• Thyme

For clients in my office I would often recommend a homeopathic I get from Germany called ABB, echinacea homeopathic tablets or a combination of Chinese herbs supplied by Chi Enterprise.

I can also share another personal example of natural products with antibiotic properties. I had a minor surgery last May and the doctor recommended that I go on antibiotics post surgery. This doctor knew me well enough to know that it was unlikely that I would go on antibiotics but he really was insistent that I at least take an antibiotic for three days as a minimum. Rather that the antibiotic, I chose to take Chinese herbs, Kidney Chi and Bamboo extract for a few weeks as my natural antibiotic and this worked like a charm. Please note that I recommend that you follow your doctors advice or at least have a discussion with your doctor to share your thoughts and opinions.

So why didn't I want to take the antibiotic anyway?

While there was of course a risk of infection with my minor surgery, I recognize that the antibiotic would cause damage to my gut. If the gut is compromised, this would create challenges for my brain as well as weakened immune function.

Doesn't is make sense to have a strong immune system when dealing with an infection, rather than a weakened immune system?

Absolutely!

And this was not even taking into consideration the potential of an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria.

So in the end, recognize that our past choices have created antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, so it is now up to you to take matters into your own hands, be in communication with your doctor with natural options and if you are met with resistance, search out a quality holistic health practitioner for advise. Regardless of where you live, Depke Wellness is always just a phone call away.

(949) 954-6226

 

 

Food Cravings...Uggg!

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath

So what types of cravings do you experience on a regular basis? Sugar, chips, ice cream, breads, salt, chocolate, alcohol and the list goes on...

While most of us crave foods with some regularity, very few understand all of the mechanisms behind these cravings. Understanding this may assist you in curbing your cravings, so here we go.

We'll start with one of the most obvious and that is cravings based on the consumption of high glycemic foods. You know, foods sugar as sugary treats, sodas, processed carbohydrates, alcohol, fruit juices and fruit especially without the skin. When we consume these high glycemic foods, especially without added fat, these drive up glucose which in turn leads to a spike in insulin levels. When insulin levels spike so quickly, this will often send your blood sugar plummeting. As a result you have what...cravings. Often this is for more high glycemic foods also and round and round we go.

So to get off the high glycemic/craving cycle, do what? 

How about stopping the consumption of high glycemic foods? OK, so that was too easy of an answer and a bit of a smart (you know what) comment. It is a good idea though to consume high glycemic foods sparingly or only prior to times of physical exertion. What do you do when you simply want to enjoy one of these foods but you are not going to have the opportunity to burn off this sugar with exercise? The answer to this is to eat these foods at the end of your meal and always with added fat. Examples are:

• Apple with nut butter
• Wine with cheese
• Bread with olive oil

 * I am necessarily condoning all of these choices as healthy but I wanted to give you some real life examples.

A significant reason for cravings would be emotions. When we get stressed out what to so many people reach for to sooth their feelings? As mentioned earlier sugar, chips, ice cream, breads, salt, chocolate, alcohol and the list goes on...

Another factor that deals with emotions as tied into sweets is when we feel as if we are missing our own personal "sweetness" of life. So often we get caught up in a life of "doing" rather than a life of "being" and this leads to self soothing again and so often with sweets. Based on our discussion earlier, you now understand what dynamics are occurring when you are self soothing with these sweets.

There is one more craving definitely built into the challenges with emotions. When we are too ramped up, frustrated, irritated and angry we often crave processed carbohydrates such as breads. These choices actually have a sedating or depressing effect on your body to calm you down. Think about, how do you feel after a meal high in processed carbohydrates? You likely feel like hitting the couch and completely chilling. Unfortunately this is not the best way to achieve this due to the effect that this has on further cravings.


If you really want to do something to satisfy your emotions, try some deep belly breathing. Take a deep breath through your nose for a count of 7 while expanding your stomach and breath all the way down to your belly button. Hold that breath for a count of 4 and then forcefully blow this out through your mouth while contracting your stomach muscles to push every ounce of that breath out of your lungs. Actually, try this right now and see how you feel.


So why do I recommend the deep belly breathing? Because you cannot be under stress and take a deep belly breath at the same time. This are two opposing aspects of your nervous system function that will not exist at the same time. Take 3-5 of these breaths once per hour during your waking hours would be so helpful for curtailing these cravings and absolutely use this during acute stress.


One more significant factor for cravings is a lack of proper digestion. You know, you are not what you eat, rather you are what you absorb and assimilate. So what does this have to do with cravings? 


First understand that you are not hungry to fill your stomach, you are hungry so your body can produce energy. When you make quality nutritional choices and digest these foods properly, your body will produce the energy needed and your trigger for hunger will be cut off. It truly is that simple.


So what happens if you digestive system is not working properly?


This leads to a lack of proper absorption and assimilation, thus leading to a desire for more food. Once the stomach if full though, your trigger for hunger will subside even if you did not reach the desired energy production. Here's the kicker though. If your hunger went away and your stomach is full, you WILL have a craving to follow this meal. The bigger challenge is that this craving will almost definitely be for something sweet because sugar is a definite "quick fix" for energy and we have all had sugar enough for our body to recognize this.


Think about it. How often does this happen? You go out and eat a big meal, fill your belly, yet you still cannot make a move until you get some type of sweet in on top of this. This happens more often that not and most often this is due to poor digestion.


So how do your improve your digestion?


First off, the recommendation of the deep breathing above is definitely a benefit just prior to eating a meal. When you deep belly breath and get your body in a relaxed state prior to eating, this will assist your digestive system.


There are also some basic supplements to use for proper digestion to assist in aleviating cravings.

• Probiotics
• Digestive enzymes
• Stomach acid

These are the basics that Dawn and I use personally and typical recommendations for my clients. As a matter of fact, I refer to this trio as the Depke Wellness 1, 2, 3 of Digestion. If you would like to learn more about the 1, 2, 3 of Digestion visit this link provided. 

So now you know three of the biggest factors for you cravings, so when you think of cravings now, "uggg" does not have to follow.

Glad You Finally Jumped on Board!

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath

 

Jump on board for what you may ask?

What I am referring to is something we have been talking about at Depke Wellness for some time not...

The gut/brain connection!  

Here is an excerpt from a past article on the gut/brain connection from Depke Wellness.

"So you think your brain is all in your head? Well, think again. Obviously it starts in your head but your brain extends into the brain stem, from there this leads to the Vagus nerve which then extends throughout the gastrointestinal system. Yes that same nerve tissue that is within your brain extends into the gut and oh, what a connection!"

If you would like to read the entire article on the Gut/Brain Connection, click here.

Finally conventional thought is catching up and that is so exciting for all of us. For decades natural health pioneers have been sharing information on the need for beneficial bacteria in the gut, recognizing that this is not just a gut issue but also a brain issue.

The "groundbreaking" news from the UCLA Health website has recently shared:

"UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task."

If you would like to read the article in its entirety, visit this link. I would truly recommend this article for all our readers.

They mentioned:

"The discovery that changing the bacterial environment, or microbiota, in the gut can affect the brain carries significant implications for future research that could point the way toward dietary or drug interventions to improve brain function, the researchers said."

While I am happy to see that conventional medicine is on board with this information, it would make sense that instead of discussing this as a desire to create further drug interventions, how about taking probiotics or naturally fermented foods? 

I can share that personally, I take 2 capsules of the Depke Wellness Prebiotic/Probiotic Formula every morning when I wake up. Thanks to some work my wife does for our home we also enjoy naturally fermented drinks such as coconut water kefir and kombucha on a regular basis to also kick up our healthy bacteria. There are so many health options to maintain a healthy gut/brain connection that are often not put into use. 

Here is a list of naturally fermented products for your personal use.

*As a special note, when these foods below are "rushed" and put through a chemical fermentation process they do not enjoy the same beneficial bacteria gift. Many of these are now chemically fermented but finding these in their true naturally fermented state is invaluable. Many of these can still be found in these healthy states of fermentation.

• Sourdough Bread - Sourdough bread is fermented with the help of wild yeasts that are unique to a region, climate, or even kitchen. Mixing wild yeast culture into flour and water to make bread will create bubbles that cause the bread to rise, and give the bread a characteristic sour taste.
• Cheese - Cheese is really milk gone bad (in a controlled way) All cheese consists of milk, culture, and sometimes coagulant. Different cheeses began with different cheese cultures, some of which have been handed down for generations.
• Cultured Butter - Cultured butter is butter made from soured (again in a controlled way) cream that is then whipped or churned to separate the whey from the butterfat. This extra step is what makes cultured butter more expensive than regular butter.
• Crème fraîche - One of the most versatile dairy products around, crème fraîche is soured cream, the precursor of cultured butter, and one of the easiest and most foolproof cultured dairy products to make at home.
• Yogurt - Yogurt is milk that has been cultured with two very specific strains of bacteria: streptoccus thermophilus and lactobacillus bulgaricus. Most yogurts in the grocery store are filled with artificial additives, colors, and sweeteners. When shopping, look for plain yogurt containing nothing but cultures and milk. Or make your own.
• Kefir - Also known as drinkable yogurt, kefir is a cultured dairy product similar to yogurt, but it contains more strains of friendly bacteria than yogurt.
• Salami - Salami and other cured meats made the traditional (slow) way are actually fermented. The meat is mixed with salt and spices, inoculated with a special culture, and then allowed to cure naturally, without additives. That’s why, when you bite into a really fine artisanal salami, you can usually detect a slight tang. That’s the fermentation.
• Wine -To make wine, the grapes are mixed with yeast and allowed to ferment before aging.
• Beer - Beer is made from fermented mashed grains like hops and wheat. Differences in flavor and body come from manipulating the ratio of ingredients and adding other flavors.
• Sauerkraut - Sauerkraut is another very simple home fermenting project. You can ferment cabbage easily with just salt, or you can use a lacto-fermentation method by adding a little yogurt whey. Try it here.
• Pickles - Traditionally, dill pickles were made through fermentation. Now they are most often made with vinegar. The traditional types are making a resurgence, however, and can be found in specialty stores carrying local products. Or you can make them yourself.
• Kimchi - There are more varieties of kimchi than cars, but all have a delicious funk in common, and that funk comes from fermentation. Kimchi is made like sauerkraut but may contain different types of vegetables and seasonings, sugar, and often some type of dried or fermented fish product.
• Kombucha - This popular drink, like yogurt, and unlike wild fermented items like sauerkraut, is the product of a very specific culture. The culture is a spongy, slightly slimy disc that is sometimes called mother and sometimes called a skoby. The culture ferments a mixture of black tea and sugar into a tart, slighty fizzy drink that some people insist is a cure-all for many ailments. Making Kombucha video.
• Fish Sauce - Where does the dipping sauce in Thai and Vietnamese restaurants get its pungency? From the fish sauce, which is made of mashed up whole fish, packed in salt and fermented. But beware. Not all fish sauce is created equally. Some brands are produced through a chemical process, not a natural fermentation process.
• Vinegar - Vinegar is made by fermenting wine with a “mother,” which is a stringy mass of bacteria found in unpasteurized vinegar. It’s easy to make vinegar at home from leftover wine and culture, either purchased or obtained from another vinegar.
• Miso - The salty paste used in Japanese cooking is made with a special koji culture, rice or barley, and soybeans. Many people think it’s the key to Japanese longevity.
• Tempeh - This meaty tasting soybean cake, popular in Indonesian cuisine is a product of fermenting cooked soybeans with a special mold. If the tempeh sometimes appears moldy, that’s because it is. But rest assured, it’s like the mold in blue cheese and ok to eat. Here’s a great recipe for pan-fried tempeh

Enjoying these naturally fermented foods when available while taking your daily probiotic goes a long way in not only helping your gut but also your brain. Now it's not just us health geeks talking about it, conventional medicine in now on board. For that, we are thankful!

Are You Full of Poop?

by Glen Depke

So what do you feel would define healthy bowel movements (BMs). So many feel that this is having a bowel movement once per day. One per day will keep you full of poop and so much more.

It is amazing to me how our culture gets caught up in the norm, not recognizing that the norm would be sick and unhealthy. I like to think that the followers of our newsletter do not desire to simply to survive; our followers truly desire to thrive. So what is thriving on a bowel movement (BM) level?

Fist let's see what one BM per day will give you. If you have one BM per day, this means that you are more than likely holding the residual of 6 meals in your GI tract at all times. Hmmm...now wonder you feel bloated, right?

There are many challenges created by this. First of all the colon is not designed to be a storage unit. If your waste is not moving through adequately, the contents of your colon will leach through the colon walls and enter the tissue around the colon. From here, these contents will reenter the blood stream and circulate through the body. Recognize the the liver is pulling toxins out of the body for release through the colon. To add, women will often be ridding their body of some extra estrogen via the colon also. With this said, many of us are circulating toxins, hormones and waste through the body because we are happy with one BM per day. The other challenge is that our food will begin to putrefy if it does not make the complete trip through the GI tract in 18 hours or less, especially our proteins.

All this for those that believe that they are having healthy BMs. How about those that do not have even one BM daily. Some are holding the residual of 9, 12 and sometimes more meals in their GI tract at all times. Wondering what that little pouch is in the lower abdomen. You can see that it is not always fat. Yikes!

So what would I define as healthy BMs? This would be a minimum of 2 BMs per day. Generally the most substantial in the morning and another in the late afternoon or in the evening. This way you would be releasing your breakfast with your afternoon or evening BM and the next morning you would empty the waste of your lunch and dinner from the day before. This would achieve the goal of less than 18 hours and you would allow your colon to act strictly a transport unit. Optimally speaking you would have a BM after every meal, like a baby being fed. You know, feed a baby...poop, feed a baby again...poop again; you get the picture. At least get to 2 BMs per day and you have made a significant positive change for yourself. A deeper understanding for health BMs would allow for an easy release of your BM, very little odor and they would not float. They would actually slowly settle to the bottle of your toilet. Add into this, they would be about the consistency of soft serve ice cream and there would be little if any residual to wipe. Let's hear it for health BMs!

If you are not here, there are simple tips you can follow for improvement.

• Take a quality probiotic daily
• Take a digestive enzyme with each meal
• Chew your food thoroughly
• Stay properly hydrated
• Move your body - go for a walk 
• Deep breathe through your day and especially during meal time

Follow these tips and watch your BMs change for the better. No s_ _ t!

If you have any questions or comments on this article feel free to leave these below and I will answer them personally.

Why are Probiotics Important?

by Glen Depke

For those that are not aware I want to share that when I refer to probiotics, I am talking about beneficial bacteria. For a healthy person, this beneficial bacteria comprises approximately 90% of your digestive tract and honestly, there is more bacteria in your gut than there are cells in your entire body. To me, that is an amazing stat in itself. 

So what are the biological functions of these beneficial bacteria? 

·         Beneficial bacteria in the colon convert cholesterol to coprostanol for excretion, thereby lowering total serum cholesterol levels

·         Beneficial bacteria enhance the health of the digestive system

·         Beneficial bacteria strengthen the immune system functions of the intestines

·         Beneficial bacteria help to reverse intestinal permeability

·         Beneficial bacteria alleviate some of the symptoms of IBS (especially intestinal cramps and flatulence

·         Beneficial bacteria may assist with urinary tract infections

·         Beneficial bacteria enhance the function of the immune system function by producing substances that help counteract antigens such as detrimental bacteria and viruses 

Beneficial bacteria enhances the function/production of these substances. 

·         Beneficial bacteria in the large intestines cause the fermentation of your nutritional carbohydrates

·         Due to this fermentation, your body will benefit from the result of helpful volatile fatty acids

·         Beneficial bacteria produces hydrogen peroxide which is utilized by the body to “extinguish” neutralized antigen/antibodies

·         Beneficial bacteria reside in the body’s intestines and can manufacture many vitamins including those listed here; biotin, choline, folic acid, inositiol, PABA, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B6 and vitamin K 

These substances enhance the function of beneficial bacteria. 

·         Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) provide nourishment to most types of beneficial bacteria. Note: because beneficial bacteria are living organisms they require nutrition as any other living organism. Another note: FOS is not a source of nourishment for toxic bacteria

·         Butyric acid fees the beneficial bacteria within the digestive tract 

As you can see, probiotics play a significant role in your overall health and wellness. Due to the fact that we typically do not eat raw naturally fermented foods, this places a significant need to take probiotic supplements. I use probiotics myself daily and this is a regular recommendation for my clients also. 

Follow this link to learn more about the probiotic offered at the Depke Wellness Store. 

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

Pure Encapsulations Probiotic GI

The shelf stable (no refrigeration needed) Probiotic G.I. provides 10 billion CFU per capsule of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis and Streptococcus thermophilus. Research indicates that these strains provide particular support for a healthy inflammatory balance within the GI tract. Beneficial microflora are crucial for proper gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) function and development. The GALT helps protect intestinal mucosa from allergens and toxins and is a major component of the body’s immune system. It is estimated that more than 70% of the body’s B lymphocytes are found in the GALT. Probiotics are believed to support healthy GALT composition, and in turn, support barrier function, GI epithelial cell health and T cell function within the GI tract. Some probiotic strains may also modulate local production of cytokines in the GI epithelium. L. casei and B. lactis support healthy T cell activity and cytokine production in the intestine, at least in part by regulating transcription of genes that encode for cytokines. L. acidophilus promotes healthy cytokine production in the colon. Research also suggests that metabolites produced from Streptococcus thermophilus may cross the intestinal barrier to support healthy cytokine production and inflammatory balance. 

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

As always, shipping/handling is FREE from the Depke Wellness Store.

Order Now

Probiotic G.I.

Supplement Facts

each capsule contains:
ascorbyl palmitate	20 mg.
(fat-soluble vitamin C)
probiotic blend	10 billion cfu
providing:
Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14)
Lactobacillus salivarius (Ls-33)
Lactobacillus casei (Lc-11)
Bifidobacterium lactis (Bl-04)
Bifidobacterium bifidum (Bb-02)
Streptococcus thermophilus (St-21)
Contains milk, *soy
other ingredients: rice starch

1–2 capsules per day, in divided doses, with or between meals.

*Pure Encapsulations uses only high quality fermented soy

Order Now

As always, shipping/handling is FREE from the Depke Wellness Store.

Enough With Antibiotics Already!

by Glen Depke


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


So what are the biggest challenges when taking antibiotics?


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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