April 2014 Newsletter - No April Fool's - Give Your Body Its Spring Break

Spring Break for Your Body – The Purification Program or The Gut Balancing Program

As March Madness peaks along with it is Spring Break.  Ever wonder what exactly are we breaking from?  For many it is a time of partying – probably the exact opposite of a “break” for the body.  Perhaps this year you should consider a real Spring Break for your body.  Give it a break from processing the everyday load of toxins and treat it to three weeks of healthy eating and living.  We’ll all be doing cleaning of the house, cleaning of the yard; so why not add the all important cleaning of the body. 

For this year I would have you consider either the traditional 21 day purification program or the new gut balancing program. The gut balancing program is a ten week program to rejuvenate your biome (read below what your biome is and why you may want to consider this). It does not have the food restrictions of the cleanse – so you don’t have to give up any of your favorites.  Of course the healthier you eat, the better you will feel.

Or, my more adventurous friends may want to do them in combination!!

The Surprising Truth about Vitamin Studies

Among the most common questions I receive in my nutrition consulting practice are those relating to vitamins and supplements.  “If vitamins are supposed to be good for us, why do I read in the paper and hear on television reports they are not?” 

Earlier this year there was a new study that looked at several prior research studies and concluded that vitamin supplementation was not helpful (and in fact some suggested it could be harmful).  There were no significant differences in positive outcomes between people taking vitamins and those not taking them.  A study released last year found similar findings specific to Vitamin E and “antioxidant” supplementation. It went one step further saying that those taking the supplements experienced worse outcomes (more heart disease and cancer) than those not taking the supplements. 

For years we have been told by alternative health practitioners and the vitamin and supplement industry that Vitamin E and “antioxidants” are supposed to protect against heart disease and cancer. This appears to be counter-intuitive. Can they both be right?

To read the full article click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-suprising-truth-about-vitamin.html

The Purification Program a.k.a. “The Cleanse”

You’ve heard me talk about it many times in the past.  You’ve heard me say I am about to do it and invite you to join me.  Yes, it is that time of the year again: Spring (really – it is Spring despite the cold weather many of us are still having!).  It is the perfect time for the Purification Program, also known as “the Cleanse.” There are many cleanses on the market but I say with all confidence this is definitely the best. Why do I say that? Because I am repeatedly told this by clients who did other cleanses previously.  

As I mentioned last month the 21 day Purification Program from Standard Process keeps getting better!  For those of you who have done it in the best there are some new refinements.  They finally mention quinoa as a key food and call it a “pseudo” grain.  It has replaced brown rice as an allowable food.  For the new and revised guide book click here: https://www.standardprocess.com/Standard-Process-Document-Library/Guides/purificationguideL2605.pdf

And as a special incentive for you to join me in the cleanse in April for each full purification kit you order you will receive a free copy of the new book that guides you through the purification process called 1° of Change.  It has lots of great information including day by day recipes with each day featuring a specific food.  It is a great guide to insure you are getting variety during the program.  It also contains many new and flavorful shake recipes.  

The Biome: Yes, It Is All About the Gut

In a quick summary the gut balancing program is designed to improve digestive and overall health by removing the harmful microbes from your gut while paving the way for the growth of beneficial bacteria via feeding and populating. This is not a “quick fix” project, but needs to take place over time, thus the ten week program. It does not require you to make dramatic dietary changes. In fact you don’t have to change anything.  However, we all know the better our diet the better we will feel in general.

Among the latest and greatest breakthroughs of modern medicine is the mapping of the human genome with its vast potential for gene based therapies. I find this work extremely interesting although I’m not exactly sure where it will lead.  What’s even more interesting is the work being done to explore the genome of what is living in our gut that is not human.  This is referred to as our microbiome. It is the trillions of bacteria and other microscopic living organisms that are an integral part of us. They are found on our skin, in our mouth, throughout the inside of our body, and most famously in our gut (our stomach, small intestines, and large intestines).

For the rest of the article click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2014/03/its-all-about-gut-and-gut-balance.html

It's All About The Gut and the Gut Balance Program

Among the latest and greatest breakthroughs of modern medicine is the mapping of the human genome with its vast potential for gene based therapies. I find this work extremely interesting although I’m not exactly sure where it will lead.  What’s even more interesting is the work being done to explore the genome of what is living in our gut that is not human.  This is referred to as our microbiome. It is the trillions of bacteria and other microscopic living organisms that are an integral part of us. They are found on our skin, in our mouth, throughout the inside of our body, and most famously in our gut (our stomach, small intestines, and large intestines).

Our microbiome is a large, diverse and dynamic population of micro-organisms. During birth and the first two years of life we acquire our “native bacteria.” This comes primarily from our mother from our birth and (hopefully) subsequent breast feeding. Thus, mom’s health and her microbiome are of extreme importance to baby and instrumental in shaping the future health of the child. After this “transient bacteria” is constantly ingested into our body from food, water, air, and if we choose probiotics. 

These organisms are counted in CFUs (colony-forming unit) of live organisms. In your gut they are specifically measured as CFU/g or colony-forming units per gram of solid material. Here’s where it gets interesting! While a CFU is not specifically a “cell” it is a close approximation. The stomach and the duodenum (first part of small intestines) have the smallest number of organisms around 10³ (1,000) CFU/g. In the rest of the small intestines (the jejunum and ileum) the number increases from 10⁴ to 10⁷ (ten million) CFU/g. And by the time we get to the colon (large intestine) things are really cooking! There are now 10¹² CFU/g. For you math majors that is one trillion – 1,000,000,000,000 – and that is per gram! 

It is believed that the entire human body consists of 10¹⁴ cells of which only 10¹³ are of human origin, the remaining 90% are bacteria.  That is why you will hear statements to the affect that we have more bacteria cells than human!

Across the human population it is estimated that there are 40,000 unique bacteria species. Every person has a unique profile of predominant and subdominant species.  Scientists have even found that some bacteria strains are only found in one person! 

So, what does this all mean? Human genome research has identified approximately 20,000 unique human genes. Your gut microbiome has up to 3.3 million unique genes, 150 times more than its human host. This means that the gut microbiome may perform functions not encoded in the human genome. In English – it means that your personal bacteria have significant influence on your health. Current research suggests that tendencies for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease may be more related to your gut genes than your own human genes! Are we inheriting “bad” genes or is it actually “bad” guts?

What do they do?  Why has this evolved as part of the human? The “good” bacteria have beneficial effects so we’ve allowed them to settle in. They ferment the non-digestible carbohydrates that we consume (for example certain types of fiber) which they feed on to survive and also produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA). SCFAs support our immune system (by being anti-microbial – killing bad bacteria and yeast) and fire our metabolism which aids in weight loss or the maintenance of a healthy body weight. The beneficial bacteria aid in our absorption of calcium, magnesium, and iron; manufacture Vitamins B₅, B₇, B₉, B₁₂, and K; synthesize amino acids; and keep the pH of the colon properly acidic.  At the same time they provide a barrier lining the gut to keep out potential pathogens.

What about when things aren’t quite right? Dysbiosis is used to describe when bad bacteria take control of an area. This can occur in the mouth (bad breath, periodontitis and gum disease); in the stomach (the bacteria Helicobacter pylori had been linked to ulcers); and in the small and large intestines. 

Common causes of dysbiosis include: sub-optimal mother’s gut microbiota, birth, and neonatal nutrition; antibiotics; stress; an unhealthy diet such as the Standard American Diet heavy on processed and refined foods and sugar, while low in vegetables; a decreased immune status (low secretory IgA); decreased gut motility; low hydrochloric acid production; altered intestinal pH (generally the colon is not acidic enough to create a hostile environment for bad bacteria and yeast/fungus); and an intestinal infection or infestation.

Many challenges have been linked to dysbiosis including autoimmune diseases, other digestive problems, and other general health issues.

Autoimmune diseases linked to dysbiosis include: Crohn’s disease; ulcerative colitis; rheumatoid arthritis; Ankylosing Spondylitis; Graves’ disease; chronic active hepatitis; and Type 1 diabetes.

Other digestive problems linked to dysbiosis include: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); bad gas; food sensitivities; chronic diarrhea and constipation; general poor digestion; diverticulitis; and gastrointestinal infections and intestinal overgrowth.

Other general poor health issues linked to dysbiosis include: lack of well-being, low energy, and fatigue; poor immunity, allergies, and chronic skin disorders; breast and colon cancer; metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and obesity; Type 2 diabetes; depression and anxiety; chronic pain syndromes; and possibly autism.

The gut balance program includes supplements to support the elimination of bad bacteria and the healthy re-population of your gut with beneficial bacteria.  It has an herbal formula that is antimicrobial (attacks bacteria, fungi and protozoa that should not be there), cleanses the intestines, and stimulates digestion. It includes a prebiotic to feed the good bacteria and support their population growth. Prebiotics are food ingredients that humans cannot digest which provide health benefits to the good bacteria in our gut. These include: non-digestible carbohydrates, glucans, galactans, resistant starch, pectins, hemicellulose, arabinoxylans, inulin-type fructans, and galacto-oligosaccharides. And, it includes a probiotic. Quite the complete package!

The program is designed in the short term to promote a healthy and balanced intestinal flora, cleanse the lower gastrointestinal tract, and maintain a healthy GI environment.  In the long term this supports healthy digestion, improves nutrient absorption, and supports a healthy immune system.

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.

The Suprising Truth about Vitamin Studies

Among the most common questions I receive in my nutrition consulting practice are those relating to vitamins and supplements.  “If vitamins are supposed to be good for us, why do I read in the paper and hear on television reports they are not?” 

Earlier this year there was a new study that looked at several prior research studies and concluded that vitamin supplementation was not helpful (and in fact some suggested it could be harmful).  There were no significant differences in positive outcomes between people taking vitamins and those not taking them.  A study released last year found similar findings specific to Vitamin E and “antioxidant” supplementation. It went one step further saying that those taking the supplements experienced  worse outcomes (more heart disease and cancer) than those not taking the supplements. 

For years we have been told by alternative health practitioners and the vitamin and supplement industry that Vitamin E and “antioxidants” are supposed to protect against heart disease and cancer. This appears to be counter-intuitive. Can they both be right?

The surprising answer is yes, they can both be “right.” It all depends what was being tested and understanding the basic principles behind vitamin metabolism in the human body. Vitamins appear in nature as part of a complex composed of several biochemical factors . For example, in nature Vitamin C is in an orange and Vitamin E is in wheat germ and leafy green vegetables. However, this is not what was “studied” in the research. What was used were alpha tocopherol as Vitamin E and ascorbic acid as Vitamin C.  You see the government allows you to say these are the same things. But they are not. Ascorbic acid and alpha tocopherol are produced in laboratories. For example you can combine sulphuric acid and sugar and get ascorbic acid.  That doesn’t sound like an orange or a lemon to me!  

Without going into all the details let’s take a simple example of how this works in the human body, not in a test tube.  Scurvy is a Vitamin C deficiency disease.  The British sailors successfully used lemons and limes to prevent scurvy on their long ocean voyages.  Guess what happens if you give ascorbic acid to someone with scurvy?  Their condition will not improve.  They need the full Vitamin C complex as it is in nature, as the British sailors used, not the fractionated part made in a lab.  

So, when we provide only the fractionated, synthetically produced “vitamin” we are not getting the true vitamin as nature intended. Logically it will not work as the full complex will and therefore the outcomes will not be positive.  What is actually happening in the body from being barraged with extra antioxidants?  In real life these antioxidants are oxygen inhibitors and we need oxygen for life! You may say that you’ve used antioxidant supplements and they make you feel better.  Well, that may be true for a short period of time.  Antioxidants drive oxygen from the blood to the tissues.  In the short term this benefits the tissue (making you feel better), but in the long term it creates a shortage of oxygen in the blood (leading to the negative outcomes as found in long term studies).

The lesson of all this. Yes, buying cheap, synthetic, fractionated vitamins is likely a waste of money.  You may have experienced this yourself  when you have noticed bright yellow urine after taking a “B-Complex” vitamin.  Your body can’t use the stuff, so it is getting rid of it.

However, eating real food and using supplements that have been made from real whole foods will provide you with the promised health benefits. This is based on real research. The original studies and identification of vitamins was done with real foods and seeing the effects of removing these foods from animal diets. Specific diseases (the vitamin deficiency diseases) that humans were experienced were reproduced in animals based on the real foods.  So, it is real.  Specific vitamins do support specific functions in the body but only do so when they are delivered in the natural form in which the body was designed to utilize them.

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.

March 2014 Newsletter - Here Comes "March Madness"

Your Own Personal “March Madness”

It comes every year at this time.  The NCAA basketball tournament  - better known as “March Madness” for its unpredictability, buzzer beaters, and crazy upsets. As we watch the games we become excited or calmed, happy or anxious, focused or have marginal interest.  Basically what happens to us on a daily basis every day of our life.

What makes all this happen? It’s not only the game – it is your neurotransmitters. Our own personal “March madness.” As I’ve mentioned many times previously neurotransmitters are amino acid based, meaning they come from protein.  If you are not eating and metabolizing sufficient protein, you may have your own variety of “March madness.” To learn more about neurotransmitters see the article below.

Also for some exciting news on the Standard Process Purification Program see below.  They’ve made a few changes and clarifications along with some excellent new materials, including a book that you can download that has recipes for each day! This makes it easier than ever to do the cleanse.  Perhaps you may even consider it for the upcoming (yes it will soon be here) Spring!

At a local level, our Weston Price Foundation chapter had our first meeting of the year and we learned about the magic of broth.  The meeting included recipes, demonstrations, and best of all a taste test.  If you’d like to be on our group e-mail list please let me know.  Also, if you’d like a copy of the recipes let me know that too!

Neurotransmitters – What Makes You Feel Good, Happy, and Focused

Ever wonder what really makes you feel good? 

While many people will answer “sugar” because they notice the “high” as sugar is flowing into their blood stream and giving them energy.  Of course, we all know what follows - the “low” as the sugar runs out and we crave more sugar to feel good again.  As you may have guessed, the correct answer is protein and the neurotransmitters which are made from it.  Neurotransmitters help you feel good for the long haul. To read the rest of the article click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2014/02/neurotransmitters-what-makes-you-feel.html

For your importance of protein refresher click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-purpose-of-protein.html

Old Reliable Gets Better

As I mentioned briefly above the 21 day Purification Program from Standard Process keeps getting better!  For those of you who have done it in the best there are some new refinements.  They finally mention quinoa as a key food and call it a “pseudo” grain.  It has replaced brown rice as an allowable food.  For the new and revised guide book click here: https://www.standardprocess.com/Standard-Process-Document-Library/Guides/purificationguideL2605.pdf

Even better is a new book available called 1 Degree of Change.  I strongly encourage you to download a copy. It has lots of great information including day by day recipes with each day featuring a specific food.  It is a great guide to insure you are getting variety during the program.  It also contains many new and flavorful shake recipes.  For a free downloadable copy of the book click here: https://www.standardprocess.com/Standard-Process-Document-Library/Books/PurificationCookbookB0980.pdf