Who Doesn't Have Allergies?

by Glen Depke

Allergies are a very common challenge these days. I often have clients visit me for an initial consultation providing me with an allergy testing result, only to tell me in anguish that they are allergic to EVERYTHING. I cannot even begin to explain the look of hopelessness on the faces of those that share this news with me. 

If you are one of those...there is hope! 

Even if your allergy issues are not to that degree, there is a very good chance this is effecting your life on multiple levels. After all, allergies are implicated in any of these challenges listed below. 

Allergies are Implicated in these Ailments

The release of excessive amounts of Histamine from the Mast Cells due to the body's defense against Antigens is responsible for most of the symptoms of Allergies.

Digestive System 
(Food) Allergies to Gliadin is the direct cause of Celiac Disease.    

Allergies (especially Food Allergies) can be an underlying cause of Colic.    

Allergies (especially Food Allergies) are the underlying cause of some cases of Duodenal Ulcers.    

There is some evidence that Allergies (particularly Food Allergies) may be an underlying cause of some cases of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Excretory System
Allergies can be the underlying cause of some cases of Bed Wetting (nocturnal enuresis).

Eyes/Vision 
Allergies can be the underlying cause of Eye Inflammation - Allergy based Eye Inflammations cause watery Eyes due to the release of excessive Histamine by the body's Mast Cells.

Immune System 
Allergies may increase the risk of some type of Cancer.    

Allergies that are caused by the entry of Antigens into the body result in the production of excessive amounts of several Antibodies (Immunoglobulins) - including IgA, IgG and IgM.    

Allergies increase the burden on the Immune System and cause the body to become more prone to Infection by:  
- Detrimental Bacteria

- Detrimental Fungi (including Detrimental Yeasts and Detrimental Moulds).

- Viruses

Metabolism 
Milld Fatigue can occur as a result of Allergies.

Musculoskeletal System 
Lumbago can occur as a result of the release of Histamine by Mast Cells that occurs within the body as a response to Allergies.

Food Allergies exacerbate the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Nervous System
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) patients are commonly found to have Allergies (Food Allergies) - many researchers have therefore speculated that (Food) Allergies may be an underlying cause of ADD.    

Allergies (Food Allergies) are a common trigger for Migraines.    

Allergies (especially Food Allergies) increase the risk of Multiple Sclerosis (people afflicted with MS have a higher-than-average incidence of Food Allergies).    

Polyradiculitis normally occurs as a result of Allergies. 

Tinnitus can occur as a result of Allergies.

Respiratory System  
Allergies (including Food Allergies) are a common underlying cause of Asthma.    

Allergies are the underlying cause of some cases of (chronic) Bronchitis.    

Allergies are the underlying cause of some cases of Emphysema.    

Hay Fever is caused by Allergies to wind-borne Pollens.    

Congestion of the Nasal Passages of the Nose is often attributable to Allergies.    

Sinusitis can occur as a result of Allergies (especially Food Allergies) (i.e. as a result of continued exposure to Allergy-causing Antigens).

Skin   
Allergies are often the underlying cause of Dermatitis.    

Allergies are often the underlying cause of Eczema.    

Allergies are often the underlying cause of Hives.    

Itching is a side effect of many Allergies.  

Psoriasis can occur as a result of Allergies.  

Rashes, reddening, Inflammation and flushing of the Skin often occurs as a result of Allergies - either Food Allergies or Skin Allergies- (due to release of excessive amounts of Histamine from the body's Mast Cells)

I know, now it may even seem even more hopeless.

The good news is there are multiple ways to address this and potentially completely alleviate your allergy challenges and symptoms associated with this.

First of all don't look at the allergies as the problem. I am typically not addressing the allergies with my clients, but when we address the underlying components, the allergies generally take care of themselves.

So why do you have allergies?

Typically this is tied into a poor functioning immune system.

So why is the immune system functioning poorly?

Immune system function is generally poor due to gastrointestinal issues. If you have not heard this enough from me already, approximately 80% of you immune function originates in the gut. If you have any gut challenge at all, know that this is affecting your immune function on a significant level. Your gastrointestinal challenges may be as simple as bloating, distention, flatulence or gas or this may be more challenging such as leaky gut, pathogen infections or other significant symptomatic challenges.

Often times, some of the less challenging issues can be addressed by the use of a quality probiotic and digestive enzyme.

The more significant challenges are best addressed by your qualified natural health provider.

What if allergies are an issue and you do not have gastrointestinal symptoms?

Often when this is the case, there is a deeper issue with brain function. If you do know already, the brain and your gut are truly one system. If you have a brain problem, this will often manifest as a gut symptom. Likewise, if you have a gut problem, this can manifest as a brain symptom. With this said, recognize if there is a problem with your brain on any level, this is also a problem with your gut. With this said, this leaves you with a less than optimal functioning immune system and allergy challenges are likely to be a challenge for you.

With this said, you can see that your allergies are really not the issue. These are only symptoms of deeper challenges that are in dire need of being addressed. Also recognizing the wide array of challenges that can be tied into your allergies and you can see the need to take care of your gut/brain/immune connection.

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

Radiation Traces Found in California Tuna

American scientists found minuscule levels of radioactive cesium-134 and cesium-137 in bluefin tuna caught off San Diego, California last August.

 

The researchers – who hail from Stanford University, Stony Brook University, and Yale University – say there’s no doubt that the cesium radionuclides they found come from the Japanese nuclear reactors damaged by the March 2011 tsunami (Madigan DJ et al. 2012).

 

Tissue samples were taken from 15 bluefin tuna caught by recreational anglers five months after the meltdowns at Fukushima Daiichi.

 

The samples from all 15 tuna contained the reactor byproducts cesium-134 and cesium-137 … but in amounts very far below those considered unsafe, the scientists said.

Visit Vital Choice Seafood Now

The results were just published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

We tested our Pacific seafood last March, and it passed with flying colors … see our sidebar, “Vital Choice Pacific seafood tested very safe”.

 

Levels detected fall far below natural background radiation

It’s important to put the levels detected in California-caught bluefin tuna into perspective.

 

The amounts of radiation produced by the cesium the scientists found are only about three percent higher than those produced by natural background sources of cesium-134 and cesium-137.

 

Further, the levels of both isotopes are just one-thirtieth the amount of naturally occurring radioactive potassium found in all marine life, and only about 2.5 percent of the limits Japan imposed on fish caught after the accident.

 

As the authors wrote, “even though 2011 PBFT showed a 10-fold increase in radiocesium concentrations, 134Cs and 137Cs would still likely provide low doses of radioactivity relative to naturally occurring radionuclides, particularly 210Po and 40K” (Madigan DJ et al. 2012).

 

Specifically, the concentrations of both isotopes of cesium totaled about 10 becquerels per kilogram (kg) of dry weight. (A becquerel is a unit of radioactivity equal to one nuclear disintegration per second.)

 

For comparison, these are the total Bq values of various foods and objects under normal circumstances (WNA 2012):

Bananas = 19 Bq/kg

Coffee = 1000 Bq/kg

Brazil nuts = 444 Bq/kg

Adult human = 7000 Bq/kg

Granite countertop = 1000 Bq/kg

EPA maximum for drinking water = 740 Bq (tritium/liter)

Household smoke detector (with Americium) = 30,000 Bq/kg

 

The major natural source of radioactivity in plant foods is Potassium-40, which normally constitutes just 0.0117% of the potassium in a plant food.

 

A typical banana contains about half a gram of potassium, and the portion that occurs as Potassium 40 gives bananas a radiation level of 15-20 Bq/kg.

 

Visit Vital Choice Seafood for one of the safest and highest quality seafood available.

How Toxic is Your Liver?

by Glen Depke 

You are reading this sentence, therefore I can be bold enough to assume that you are toxic and your liver is taking the brunt of this toxicity. 

How can I make such a bold statement? 

It is simple, if you live on this earth, you ARE toxic. There have been studies to measure levels of toxicity across the planet we live on and honestly, even the breast milk of women in the wilderness areas of Alaska show toxic levels of PCB's and other toxic chemicals. I'll even go a couple of steps further and suggest that most of us share a very similar level of toxicity. 

So obviously the key is not looking for a non toxic area of our planet.  

One of the keys is to lessen the load taken on by your liver. 

Let's first understand the basics of your liver. 

The Liver is the second largest organ (after the Skin) in the body and comprises 2.5% of the body's weight. The Liver participates in functions associated with the Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Excretory System and Metabolism. The Liver stores and filters the blood to remove infectious organisms, while processing approximately three pints of blood every minute. The Liver is the primary organ for the detoxification of toxic chemicals that enter the body through a phase I and phase II detoxification. The phase I enzymes in the liver directly neutralize many toxic chemicals or convert them into metabolites. Unfortunately, often these metabolites are more toxic than their precursor toxins. Phase II Enzymes in the liver process the metabolites of toxins produced by phase I enzymes. 

This is why it is important to address both the phase I and phase II of liver detoxification. When I am suspecting liver challenges with my clients I generally recommend a simple urine analysis that will expose your phase I and phase II liver detoxification pathway function. 

One other side note to address is something I would refer to as phase III. This is the release of toxic substances via your colon. Remember that while the liver is a primary organ of detoxification, it is not an organ of elimination. Any toxins dealt with in the liver exit via your colon in  your bowel movements. This is one of the many reasons it is so important to achieve the optimal 2 or more bowel movements daily.

How can you recognize potential liver issues even without testing? Here are some common symptoms as tied into liver imbalances.

Halitosis (bad breath) can be caused by malfunctions of the liver. Mature age acne and/or rosacea often occur as a result of liver malfunction. Often there will be a tenderness in your back between the shoulder blades when the liver is challenged. Another suspect in chronic liver issues would be a brown pigment in the sclera (whites) of the eye. I would also add that impaired adrenal function, which you hear me discuss often, can also lead to liver dysfunction.

So what can you do to support your liver?

There is plenty of information on supplement use for the liver, so I want to provide non supplemental info for you below.

Well most understand that alcohol and the liver an not the best of friends. This is due to the fact that the liver is responsible for the metabolism of 90% of ingested Alcohol. Keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum goes a long way in addressing this issue. Besides alcohol avoid excessive chocolate, caffeine, trans fats, refined sugar and wheat,  soft drinks, as well as fried foods, and highly processed foods. Also, minimize your consumption of smoked, cured and salted foods.

An over abundance of certain minerals (both essential and heavy metals) can also create challenges in the liver. Aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, mercury as toxic heavy metals as well as copper, iron, sodium and nickel in excess can create liver issues.

Extremely high levels of Vitamin B3 as well as excessive consumption of PABA and Vitamin A can also create liver challenges.                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Aflatoxins can also seriously damage the liver. An aflatoxin is a toxin typically produced by a mold that grows in nuts, seeds, and legumes. 

Cotton seed oil as well as excessive consumption of garlic can also damage the liver.                                                                                                                                                    
Any pharmaceuticals drugs are also metabolized in the liver and create potential problems. Obviously you do not want to nor would I recommend that you discontinue and prescription use without consent and direction from your doctor.  

Lastly, I would like to mention that the liver reactions intensely to the emotion of anger. If suppressed anger or regular over reactions of anger are a regular part of your life, I would suggest that you address this. Visit the Depke Wellness Energetic Release page for more information.

This should be provide you with some of the necessary information to begin lessening the toxic load on your liver.

If you have any questions or comments on this article, feel free to leave me a post below and I will address this personally.




   


   

Overachieving and Overreaching

Shared from www.DailyOM.com.

You'll know if this was written for you....

Glen

Overachieving and Overreaching
A Sign of Imbalance

by Madisyn Taylor



Sometimes when we don't feel good enough, we create imbalance by overachieving or needing to be the best at something.

Overachievers are people who have achieved but still feel the need to do more, creating an imbalance in their lives. People who exhibit this behavior may be trying to compensate for feelings of insecurity and doubts about their worth. They may be chasing unresolved issues from their past into the present, or they might not be looking at their lives as a whole, but judging themselves based only on one aspect of their being. If this is a word that we’ve heard used with respect to our choices and lifestyle, it is worth examining in order to balance our lives for a more rewarding experience.

If we find that we cannot allow ourselves to experience and enjoy the present moment, putting pleasure off into some distant future, it may be a sign that we are being driven to achieve more than is truly necessary. Pushing ourselves beyond the point of exhaustion, or to the exclusion of important people in our lives, robs us of true and meaningful joy. Once we make the connection to the eternal part of us, it can nourish us and allow our priorities to shift from chasing after an elusive feeling to being fully present in the moment so that we can live our lives in the now.

Sometimes we need to look to those we love and admire in order to realize what we value about life. We can take time to note what we like about others, and then turn the mirror to reflect the light of those same words and feelings toward ourselves. It can be quite a revelation to see ourselves in this nourishing light. When we can put the energy that we’ve been devoting to a phantom sense of achievement into the truly satisfying aspects of our lives, we can restore the balance between our inner and outer worlds and experience true joyful peace.

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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.

Diabetes Got You Down?

by Glen Depke

If you have been recently diagnose as a type II diabetic, have been living with type II diabetes for some time or if you are concerned of living with this genetic expression, today's article is for you. 

There are 25.8 million Americans diagnosed with type II diabetes while it grows substantially every day and understand that you do not have to be next. Heck, even if you are already in the stats, you can even find your way out of the stat book.

First of all let's look at a typical definition of type II diabetes.

"Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes."

Notice that this mentions this being a "lifelong" disease. Let me start by sharing that this is absolutely not true in many cases. If you only follow recommendations within conventional medicine this may be true, but not so if you address this properly within holistic care.

From a conventional medicine perspective type II diabetes is generally treated with a combination of pharmaceutical drugs and dietary recommendations. While this at best keeps your blood sugar under control, this has been proven to not be the answer in alleviating type II diabetes.

When I mention alleviating type II diabetes I am talking about a drug free, happy and optimally healthy life. Yes, you can have this even after the dreaded diagnosis. 

Often from a holistic perspective you will have many telling you that it is simple, just stop eating so much and exercise. While that may sound easy for the person giving the directions, it is often not that easy for the person receiving these directions. If you are overweight and under energized it can be very challenging to find the motivation to change the whole diet and exercise component.

Beyond that thought, let's recognize that there are so many other factors tied into type II diabetes that are often over looked.

Just from the nutritional perspective, there are many areas to address:

• Digestive health of the individual
• Food intolerances such as gluten intolerance
• Assessing your Nutritional ID
• Glycemic level recommendations

After food it is not as easy as saying to simply exercise. Some exercise may actually hinder a type II diabetics progress while some exercise will be a huge benefit.

What would provide the answer for types of exercise would also provide deeper answers in regard to type II diabetes itself. This would be tied into adrenal function. Did you know that the pancreas and adrenals glands have a very intimate relationship and when one is off, this creates challenges with both? I have never seen a type II diabetic that did not have a significant adrenal issue that is also a part of the challenge.

Very often there is a significant challenge with the gut, brain, immune connection that is likely overlooked and chronic inflammatory states and type II diabetes truly go hand in hand.

So you can see that type II diabetes answer does not lie in drug use and it is not as simple as eat less and exercise more. There is a comprehensive protocol that can be used in a step by step manner to provide the health and happiness that you may be looking for.

If you have been diagnosed as type II diabetic, visit this link, to assess you likelihood of a gluten intolerance, adrenal insufficiency as well as your Nutritional ID. These are complimentary assessments that will provide some baseline guides for you.

If you are interested, you can also register for a complimentary webinar on Tuesday 5/29, where we will address the step by step protocols used by so many past type II diabetics in my clinic. The key word here is past.

If you have any comments or questions in regard to this article, feel free to post this below for me to answer personally.

Missing Our Old Habits

by Madisyn Taylor

Sometimes when we break a habit or addiction we find ourselves missing it like a dear friend.

Whenever we make the effort to free ourselves of an addiction or a habit we no longer need, we are often surprised to find ourselves missing the old pattern as we would a familiar friend. This sounds counterintuitive, because we think we should instinctively gravitate toward that which is good for us. And yet, it makes a lot of sense when you consider that we humans are creatures of habit. This is why we gravitate to people and places—and patterns of behavior--that make us feel comfortable. Therefore, many of the habits we form are not conscious and are based instead on learned behavior from role models who were not always making the healthiest decisions.

Most addictions begin as a way of avoiding feelings that are extremely uncomfortable, so it makes sense that stopping the addiction means, for a time, a fair amount of discomfort. The same, of course, is true of habits that we have developed over time that we are ready to release. Just knowing that this is hard, and having compassion for ourselves as we work through this process, can help us to stay the course when we feel the urge to backtrack. It’s also helpful to remember that in time we will establish new, healthier patterns, and the yearning for the old ones will disappear. Eventually, we will instinctively reach for things that are good for us, and the longing for positive change may form the basis of a new habit.

The only way to get to this new place is to endure a time of difficulty, which is a challenge we can confidently handle, if we remember that it will lead to the change we seek in our lives. Our bodies, hearts, and minds always need time to adjust to a new way of doing things, but they will adapt, and even become our allies, if we remain true to our vision of a new way.

*This is an article from www.DailyOM.com