December 2017 Newsletter: Happy Holidays, The Gut, The Cleanse, and a Flash Sale

Happy Holidays! I hope everyone had a very nice Thanksgiving and is now looking forward to the rest of the Holiday season – Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Recently I had a very interesting conversation with one of my clients. She and her husband just completed the 14 Day Cleanse and were both extremely pleased with the results in terms of weight loss and overall health. She asked me, “Do you ever watch Dr. Oz?” I said I did not and somewhat facetiously commented that most of what he talks about I have known for several years. Her reply caught my attention! That may be true for me, but to most clients the information is likely new, and I should talk about it. So, that’s what I’m doing! 

Apparently, the latest from Dr. Oz is that your health is all about the condition of your gut. Specifically, what is happening with your personal environment or flora (the bacteria, yeasts, etc. that live in your digestive tract). I’m excited to announce that I now have access to a new stool test called GI-MAP that tells you exactly what is going on in your gut and what to do about it. See below for more details on the test and some articles about the gut.

My next Open House will be in February at my office. The date and time will be announced in the January newsletter. Below is a brief preview of the topic – Quantum Physics and You!! (Hint: How and why the EMF Phone Chips, EMF Key Chains, Food Freshness Card, and Sleep Chips work!)

As we approach the New Year, come January some of you will say, “time for a cleanse!” I will be hosting several one-hour group meetings to learn about cleansing. See below for dates and times and special pricing.

Also, I’m having a FLASH SALE of 20% off Vital Proteins whey protein and bone broth collagen products and a few select others. See below for details. Quantities are limited so product availability will be on a first come first serve basis. 

It’s All About the Gut

There is no shortage of health news articles about the importance of the gut and your personal flora. I have touched on that subject several times in the past. I have discussed identification via stool and saliva testing, blood testing, and muscle testing. 

Here’s the latest – the GI-MAP™ a DNA Stool Analysis from Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory. The test assesses everyone’s microbiome, identifies healthy and unhealthy microorganisms, and provides a personalized nutritional protocol. The test costs $359 prepaid and may be covered by insurance. You can pick up a test kit from me, you pay the lab directly, and you consult with me regarding the results. For more information on the test click here: http://diagnosticsolutionslab.com/

Here are some of my recent postings on this topic:

What Not to Bring Home from Your Summer Vacation: http://brwellness.com/nutrition-news/?p=757

Getting Rid of Unwanted Guests: http://brwellness.com/nutrition-news/?p=767

It’s All About the Gut and the Gut Balance Program: http://brwellness.com/nutrition-news/?p=53

Preview of Next Open House

Quantum Physics and You – sounds like a very strange title, so what is it all about? At the next Open House, I will be featuring and talking about the wonderful products from Nature’s Frequencies. Many of you are already using them – the EMF Phone Chips, the EMF Key Chain, the Sleep Chip, and the Food Freshness Card – to name a few. 

At my last Open House, I joked that I was about to risk my career with a demonstration of the Food Freshness Card. Here is what happened. I have samples of a certain bone broth protein that I was muscle testing on many clients because I was strongly considering selling it. However, it failed every test! I asked a colleague of mine who sells it if she tested it on people and she said yes, but everything that comes into the office is put on the Food Freshness Card. So, I decided to try that first in the privacy of one client, which proved successful, so I took the big chance at the Open House and sure enough it worked again. Once the product was on the Food Freshness Card for a few minutes it passed the muscle test!

There is a lot more information on the Nature’s Frequencies website. You can see independent studies of how food stayed fresh longer using the card and read multiple testimonials. Here’s the website: http://www.naturesfrequencies.com/

To read more about the dangers of EMFs click here: 

The book, Zapped by Ann Louise Gittleman - http://annlouise.com/books/zapped/

EMF resources - http://annlouise.com/books/zapped/zapped-resources/

At the next Open House, I will repeat the demonstration and go into more detail as to why these products work and have product specials!! I hope to see you there!

Cleanse Group Meetings

Had a rough Holiday Season or just feel like losing some weight or feeling a bit healthier? Well, there is no better way than to start the New Year off then with a 14-day Cleanse. I have decided to offer three one-hour group meetings for you to come learn about the cleanse and hopefully purchase your own kit. At this meeting I will be specifically discussing the 14-day Cleanse, but the basic principles apply to all the cleanses I offer. As an added incentive you will receive a sample of five protein bars from Designs for Health with each cleanse purchased. These can be used as a healthy snack during the cleanse.

Here are the dates and times of the meetings that will all be held at my office. Please register early as seating is limited at each session.

Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 5:30 PM

Monday, January 8, 2018 at 12:00 PM

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 5:30 PM

Flash Sale

I’m having a FLASH SALE of 20% off Vital Proteins products and a few select others. See below for details. Quantities are limited so product availability will be on a first come first serve basis.

Vital Proteins products:

Collagen Whey – Cocoa & Coconut Water

Collagen Whey – Vanilla & Coconut Water

Organic Chicken Bone Broth Collagen

Grass Fed Beef Bone Broth Collagen

Marine Collagen

Other products:

20% off Zgluten – in case you’re planning a gluten overload during the Holiday Season!!

Food Freshness Card - $50

EMF Cell Phone Chips - $10

EMF Key Chain - $35

Thermal Imaging Scans Available December 28

On December 28 from 8:30 AM until 12:00 PM, Jenny Steger from The Longevity Center will again be offering thermal scans at my office. DITI (Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging or Thermography) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that allows the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. An infrared scanning device is used to convert infrared radiation emitted from the skin surface into electrical impulses that are visualized in color on a monitor. This visual image graphically maps the body temperature and is referred to as a thermogram.

To learn more about The Longevity Center and thermography and to set an appointment click here: http://www.longevitythermography.com/index.php.

November 2017 Newsletter: Immune System Boosting Ideas as You Prepare for the Cold and Flu Season

Winter is just around the corner and with it the approaching cold and flu season. This newsletter and my next Open House on November 16 will focus on this topic. First, I will be covering a basic overview of the immune system. Second, I will be offering natural solutions for preventing and reversing auto-immune conditions. Third, I will be providing a list the go-to supplements for when you start to feel something coming on.

The next Open House “All About Immunity” will be November 16 at 7:00 PM. Please note that the Open House will be at my office; 10040 N. Port Washington Road in Mequon. There will be two main topics. First, we will look at the everyday functioning of the immune system and how our immune system handles acute events. Second, we will look at stealth pathogens.  Sounds scary, perfect for Halloween! But this topic is very serious. Stealth pathogens include bacteria, viruses, fungus, yeasts, mold, parasites, and mycoplasmas that cause chronic infections and years of unexplained symptoms. A clue to when a stealth pathogen is involved is when the client says, “I’ve never been well since…” One of my colleagues, Kerry Bone captures the essence of it by calling it “NBWS.”

The Immune System: Basic Overview

The immune system is frequently used to describe one of the major systems of the body. There are different ways to look at its actual components. In some circles, the entire body is considered the immune system because everything influences immunity. In the wholistic approach, the whole body - the skin, digestion, hormones, circulation, etc. all play a role in keeping us healthy.

For the rest of the article click here: http://brwellness.com/nutrition-news/?p=780

Natural Solutions for Preventing and Reversing Auto Immune Conditions

Did you know the current list of autoimmune diseases is now over 150 and continues to grow? We can now say that there is an autoimmune epidemic underway in the United States. We all know at least one person who suffers from an autoimmune condition.  In most cases they are offered little help from traditional medicine. The best case is to “manage” it to keep the symptoms as reduced as possible. There is never any mention of a possible reversal of the condition. Fortunately, many natural/holistic practitioners across the country are having success in preventing and reversing autoimmune conditions every day. I recently completed a six-week training called the Autoimmune Mastery Program with Dr. Michael Gaeta, one of the country’s leading natural health authorities. This course focused on this very topic – the prevention and reversal of autoimmune conditions.

For the rest of the article click here: http://brwellness.com/nutrition-news/?p=742.

The Cold and Flu Season Awaits

Winter is just around the corner. With the colder weather comes the cold and flu season. As I have mentioned previously I recommend that all clients have on hand Congaplex Chewable and Andrographis Complex by Standard Process - a great way to boost your immune system when you feel something coming on. Take 1-2 Congaplex every hour and 1 Andrographis Complex every 4 hours while awake and usually in a day or two you will be feeling yourself again.

Please let me know if you need to stock up! Or better yet, get them for a special price at the Open House!

Top Quality Kosher Protein Bars

I am excited to announce that I have finally found a source for Kosher and top quality protein bars. Ironically, it was right under my nose for the past few years. For some reason I failed to realize that all the protein bars made by Designs for Health are Kosher, carrying the OU mark. These bars come in these great tasting flavors: Cherry, Chocolate Mint, Coconut, Coconut Almond, Double Dark Chocolate (Susana’s favorite), Mixed Berry, Vanilla Almond, Mocha (my favorite), Peanut Butter (Mollie’s favorite), Chocolate Almond, and Chocolate. You can order them through me or purchase direct from the following link: https://brwellness.ehealthpro.com/

The Immune System: Basic Overview

The immune system. This term is frequently used to describe one of the major systems of the body. There are different ways to look at its actual components. In some circles the entire body is considered the immune system because everything influences immunity. In the wholistic approach, the whole body - the skin, digestion, hormones, circulation, etc. all play a role in keeping us healthy. 

The immune system has two roles:  to kill and to remember. Pathogens release certain chemicals and proteins that our immune system recognizes as not part of us which triggers a kill response. Once this occurs the system “remembers” and we can reduce the impact of future attacks of a similar pathogen and thus have “immunity.”

This parallels the two main parts to the immune system. The primary or innate immune system and the secondary or acquired immune system. The innate immune system is for immediate response to pathogens. The acquired immune system develops after. It creates highly specific antibodies for foreign (“not self”) or body (“self”) proteins (antigens). 

The lymphatic system plays a major role in the immune response. The primary organs of the lymphatic system are the thymus gland and the bone marrow. The secondary organs are the lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, liver, Peyer’s patches in the small intestines, and appendix.  

The thymus gland is located beneath the breastbone and is the place where T cells mature. T-cells are a form of white blood cells that recognize and attach to foreign molecules (antigens).  White blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Bone marrow also produces red blood cells and platelets. White blood cells include lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. 

There are two types of lymphocytes – the previously mentioned T cells and B cells. B-cells make antibodies. These are chemicals that latch onto foreign substances inactivating them or marking them to be destroyed by other immune cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of T-cell - the first line of defense for the body versus an infection. Lymphocytes migrate to areas of inflammation throughout the inflammatory process. Remember that infection produces inflammation.

Phagocytes are immune cells that engulf and digest foreign particles. They follow the lymphocytes into battle. The lymphocytes have marked the invaders for destruction. The phagocytes complete that task. The most important phagocytes are neutrophils and monocytes. Neutrophils are the first to respond to an infection. They will be elevated at the onset of an infection and decrease as the body fights the infection. They are the primary defense against microbial infections and respond to inflammation. 

Monocytes are the body’s second line of defense against infection. They will remove dead cells, microorganisms, and other waste materials from circulating blood. Monocytes tend to be elevated towards the end of the infection. They will stay elevated due to high levels of inflammation, during an extended recovery from an infection, and in cases of extended infection such as parasitic infections.

Eosinophils help to remove and breakdown the by-products of protein catabolism. They can ingest antibody-antigen complexes and are active in the later stages of inflammation. They are not effective against bacteria, but do respond to allergic and parasitic issues. Eosinophils will remain elevated in cases of intestinal parasites or food or environmental sensitivities. They are phagocytes that contain histamine, heparin, and serotonin.

Basophils also contain histamine, heparin, and serotonin. They play an important role in the inflammatory process by releasing heparin and other substances to prevent clotting in the inflamed tissues. They will often be elevated in cases of continued inflammation and allergies.

On a side note: Most blood tests will include what is known as the WBC (white blood cell count) and differential. The differential is the composition by type of white blood cell and adds up to 100%. Many times a client will be told that their blood test results are “normal.” However, in truth, their lab results are far from optimal. When taking a closer look at a client’s WBC and differential I often find the patterns of either acute or chronic infection or inflammation which supports the findings of my nutrition response testing.

Lymph is a fluid that contains lymphocytes, proteins and some fatty molecules formed from the fluid around the body cells.  Its function is to filter this material and return it to the blood stream.  The lymph removes waste materials from cells, so they can be disposed of properly by the body. The material moves through lymphatic capillaries and lymphatic vessels on its way back to the circulatory system. The lymph nodes are where the lymph is filtered and purified. 

The spleen filters the blood and lymph. It removes old red blood cells and destroys bacteria. The tonsils protect us against bacteria that enters via the nose and mouth. The liver produces half of the lymph in the body and stores and detoxifies blood. The Peyer’s patches monitor intestinal bacteria populations and prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The appendix makes antibodies. 

Following is a basic example of how the immune system works to defend the body against a virus with a four-step process.

1.      The invading virus is detected by white blood cells called macrophages.  These cells are also known as the “frontline defender”.  As they encounter a foreign organism such as a virus, they begin to destroy the antigens or toxins produced by the virus.  These activities are noticed by helper T-cells.  They have identified that the macrophages need more help, so they signal the spleen and lymph nodes to produce additional cells to help fight the infection.

2.      The full involvement of the immune system.  The spleen and lymph nodes are producing Killer T-cells and B-cells.  Killer T-cells begin to multiply and arrive to fight the invading virus.  At the same time B-cells produce antibodies which are effective at targeted a specific invader.

3.      Fighting off the virus.  By this time the virus is also doing its own fight for survival.  It has entered some of the body cells and is replicating and multiplying on its own.  The Killer T-cells are killing the infected cells and the antibodies are working to prevent further growth of the virus.

4.      The virus has been contained and the thymus sends out suppressor T-cells to slow down the immune response.  At the same time Memory cells are recording specific information about the virus, so that should it appear again, the body will be able to fight it more efficiently and effectively.

The above are the basic mechanics of the immune system. We tend to think of our immune system as fending off invading foreign substances that create an infection - such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungus. However, it is important to understand that other factors have great influence on our immune response. The wholistic approach. These factors include: food and nutrition, the environment, and stress.

The food we eat is critical. Foods that we are allergic to or that we have sensitivities to will produce an inflammatory response.  This turns on the immune system, utilizing resources that may otherwise have been required to fight a pathogen. Sugar is known to depress the immune system for up to five hours after being consumed. And, general nutritional deficiencies make it easier for pathogens to invade our body and reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. Our susceptibility to secondary infection is greater and recovery will be slower after infection or illness.

Environmental toxins are known to compromise the immune system, particularly exposure to heavy metals such as: Mercury (found in dental amalgams, fish); Lead (found in drinking water, paint, pollution, and pipes); Cadmium (from cigarette smoke, shellfish, and industrial waste); Aluminum (in antacids, antiperspirants, pots, foil, and water); and Arsenic (found in rice, tobacco smoke, pesticides, and glues). Again, dealing with environmental toxins distracts the immune system from pathogens. It is quite common to see heavy metal toxicity accompanying pathogen activity.

Signs of a toxic body include: fatigue, lethargy, depression, headaches, allergies, muscle aches, chronic infections, frequent colds, sluggishness, nervousness, irritability, sensitivity to perfume and other odors, and joint pains.

Once the body begins to show signs of toxicity, the immune system is over-burdened and autoimmune disorders begin to occur. Did you know the current list of autoimmune diseases is now over 150 and continues to grow? We can truly say there is an autoimmune epidemic underway in the United States. We all know at least one person who suffers from an autoimmune condition.  In most cases they are offered little help from traditional medicine. The best case is to “manage” it to keep the symptoms as reduced as possible. There is never any mention of a possible reversal of the condition. Fortunately, many natural/holistic practitioners across the country are having success in preventing and reversing autoimmune conditions every day. For further reading please read the article Natural Solutions for Preventing and Reversing Auto Immune Conditions. Click here: http://brwellness.com/nutrition-news/?p=742.

Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Mequon, WI. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.