Dear Friends,

In this week’s Forward Thinking we will discuss ecological redundancy, and continue to expand upon the merits of the Energy Sustain Complex. I will give a very short lecture on ecological redundancy Feb. 25 at the Pleo-Sanum Conference in San Diego. If you haven’t heard of this conference, check it out at www.terra-medica.com. A week ago I taught a class at Bridgeport University in Connecticut about the world today, the urgent need to change our food supply system, and the use of the Therapeutic Foods to protect, nourish, and heal. The topic of ecological redundancy summarizes my lecture well and will also be featured in my book. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get into this important topic.

Ecological redundancy, what is it?

In our Green Facts last week I referred you to an article by Peter Ward PhD and Jessica Whiteside PhD entitled, Species Loss Tied to Ecosystem Collapse and Recovery. You might want to click on it—it’s fascinating, frightening and should put a fire in us to take action to save species around the globe, in the ocean and on the land.

While the term is not new, the paper marks the first time that a loss of ecological redundancy is directly blamed for a marine ecosystem’s collapse in the fossil record. Just as ominously, the authors write that it took up to 10 million years after the mass extinctions for enough variety of species to repopulate the ocean — restoring ecological redundancy — for the ecosystem to stabilize.

The implications could not be clearer today. According to the United Nations-sponsored report Global Biodiversity Outlook 2, the population of nearly one-third of marine species that were tracked had declined over the three decades that ended in 2000. The numbers were the same for land-based species. “In effect, we are currently responsible for the sixth major extinction event in the history of the Earth, and the greatest since the dinosaurs disappeared, 65 million years ago,” the 2006 report states.

It hasn’t happen yet, but what scientists are insisting on is that when the tipping point is reached, with enough species going into extinction, the whole ecosystem will collapse on land and in the sea. The reality is frightening—in the last three decades we have reduced species on earth by one-third. We have trashed mother earth and we will pay for it with our lives, unless we do something now!

We are already paying the piper. You see it everyday with your patients—chronically ill human beings, unable to thrive. As Chief Seattle said in 1854 when he handed over his territory and his people to the sovereignty of the United States,

Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. This we know: the earth does not belong to man—man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood that unites one family. All things are connected.

So what can we do? What would be one focused action that we could do that would transform the earth from a path of destruction to a path of healing?

My answer is straight-forward: Go Organic!

Imagine a world where herbicides and pesticides are forbidden poisons—following Chief Seattle’s warning to us regarding spitting on the earth. Organic agriculture means farming without these toxic chemicals, toxins that have decimated species after species, causing the carbon cycle, a broad indicator of life and death, to fluctuate wildly. Biodiversity of species provides the necessary redundant supply of carbon, for its life-enhancing balanced recycling.

The microbiome within our gastrointestinal tract provides another example of ecological redundancy. The human GI tract is one of the most density populated ecosystems on earth, where roughly 100 trillion microorganisms co-exist—a healthy GI ecosystem is critical to our body’s health. Due to the over use of antibiotics, many good bacteria are destroyed, reducing ecological redundancy. For example, in a healthy GI tract there are an abundance of many lactic acid bacterial species (acidophillus, rhamnosus, casei, longum, bifidum—just to name a few) from the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Their metabolites (lactic acid, digestive enzymes, bacterocins, vitamins, detoxifying agents, etc) are very important to the health of the GI tract, and their destruction by antibiotic reduces the redundant production of their important metabolites—upsetting the microbiome (the gastrointestinal ecosystem) and creating dysbiosis.

Let’s go organic. Buy organic. Shop organic. Be dogged about being organic. Support farmers who grow organic. Encourage restaurants to serve organic. For example, if you are in a grocery and your choice is between buying an organic spinach from Mexico verses conventional spinach from America, buy Mexican. Support the Mexican farmer because you are supporting a worldwide organic movement. This can save our planet! There is an important vote to cast right now—check out this important link to Food Democracy Now (Kiss Your Organics Goodbye?).

The last two weeks, in our Forward Thinking newsletter I have been highlighting the attributes and science behind our new Energy Sustain Complex. We are still putting the final touches on this wonderful product. This week I wii share with you the state of our development thus far. Below is a list of its supplemental facts.

Warning: Always consult your health care provider before using.

Store tightly sealed in a cool place.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

The Energy Sustain Complex is a product that can be enjoyed as a meal, or between meals for an energy boost. It is a base for a delicious drink, adding other ingredient such as fresh fruits, vegetable juice, probiotics, and even cocoa when the craving hits you. It makes for a great smoothy. Remember, the protein and carb ratio is perfect, making this drink a healthy substitute for a meal, for weight loss or eating on the run. It also has the much needed fiber that we need daily in our diets. You can mix it with the Beta Glucan, No 7, Original, or Triple Berry to bring the probiotic element into the mix, and add fruit to enhance its nutritional value. We drink to your health!

The Last Quiz Answer:
I have always loved this breathe-taking creature—the Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Standing about 65 inches at the shoulder, weighting around one ton, living up to twenty years this massive freight train has only to enemies—humans and lions. Owing to its unpredictable nature which makes it highly dangerous to humans, it has not been domesticated. Here in this clip you will see lion versus buffalo.

Organic India’s vision is to be a vehicle of consciousness in the global market by creating a holistic sustainable business modality which inspires, promotes and supports well-being and respect for all beings and for Mother Nature—supporting natural sustainable organic agricultural practices that serve, honor and protect Mother Nature and the livelihood and well-being of farmers and tribal wild crafters in rural India.

Dear Friends,

It is widely acknowledged around the world how critical it is to bring whole foods back into our diet. As we know our own government through the USDA and the CDC has been urging us to consume at least 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Yes, daily.

Nine servings of fruits and vegetables—that’s a lot! Why so many? The key word here is VARIETY. In order to get the phytonutrients our bodies need today to fight and survive against the onslaught of pathogens, toxins, and stress of life, we must have a variety of vital, clean, whole foods. That is the concept of the Therapeutic Foods, and more practically speaking, the purpose of the Therapeutic Foods Platform.

Thus far when we’ve talked about the Therapeutic Foods Platform we have included the Wild Blueberry Daily, the Cruciferous Sprouts Complex, Organic Chlorella and a selection of one of our seven synbiotic (probiotic) formulas. Now we are adding the Energy Sustain Complex, a perfect whole food comprised of a global blend of indigenous organic seeds and grains. Let’s go a bit deeper into the Energy Sustain Complex to learn about its functional purpose.

Energy Sustain Complex is a mix of indigenous organic seed and grains from different parts of the world. The formula is comprised of foundational foods that have been with us for thousands of years, and are an important part of our evolutionary history. Their benefits are well documented and researched.

The blend is a whole food source of vegan, non-GMO, yeast free, soy free, glutan free, Kosher, organic seeds and grains that supply a perfect ratio of complex carbohydrates to proteins, excellent fiber (we need 25-35 grams of fiber per day. How many of us ingest enough fiber?), essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. The ingredients are organic, USA sourced: Amarath, Quinoa, Buckwheat, Millet, Chia and Oat Bran.

The Energy Sustain Complex: Science and Attributes

Millet may be the oldest, having been dated back to as early as 8300 BC in China and Korea. Millet is very rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B6 and folic acid, and essential minerals such as calcium iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc. The Hunzas, who live in a remote area of the Himalayan foothills and are known for their excellent health and longevity, enjoy millet as a staple in their diet. Millet is highly nutritious, non-glutinous, and like buckwheat and quinoa, is not an acid forming food, therefore soothing and easy to digest. In fact, it is considered to be one of the least allergenic and most digestible grains available, a warming grain to help to heat the body in cold or rainy seasons. It is nearly 15% protein, contains high amounts of fiber, B-complex vitamins including niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin, the essential amino acid methionine, lecithin, and some vitamin E. It is particularly high in the minerals iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium. The seeds are also rich in phytochemicals, including phytic acid, which is believed to lower cholesterol, and phytate, which is associated with reduced cancer risk.

Amaranth was domesticated in Mexico as early as 7000 BC. Early Aztecs used it both for food and in their religious ceremonies. The name amaranth hails from the Greek for “never-fading flower.” The plant is an annual herb, not a “true” grain and is a relative of a common wild plant also known as lamb’s-quarters. Amaranth has exceptional nutritional value for humans due to its ease of digestion, 12% overall protein content and unusually high content of lycine and methionine, two essential amino acids that are frequently not found in grains. The fiber content of amaranth is three times that of wheat, while its iron content is five times more than wheat. Amaranth also contains calcium, potassium, phosphorous and Vitamin A and C. It offers two times more calcium than milk. Amaranth supplies tocotrienols (a form of vitamin E) which have cholesterol-lowering activity in humans. Cooked amaranth is 90% digestible and because of this ease of digestion, it has traditionally been given to those recovering from an illness or ending a fasting period.

Buckwheat’s origin began in Southeast Asia, likely from around 6000 BC. From there its use gradually spread to the Middle East and Europe. Buckwheat is a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel. Diets that contain Buckwheat have been linked to lowered risk of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The Yi people of China consume a diet high in Buckwheat (100grams per day). When researchers tested blood lipids of 805 Yi Chinese, they found that buckwheat intake was associated with lower total serum cholesterol, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-the form linked to cardiovascular disease), and a high ratio of HDL (health-promoting cholesterol) to total cholesterol. Buckwheat’s beneficial effects are due in part to its rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin. The nutrients in buckwheat may contribute to blood sugar control. In a test that compared the effect on blood sugar of whole buckwheat groats to bread made from refined wheat flour, buckwheat groats significantly lowered blood glucose and insulin responses. Buckwheat also contains almost 86 milligrams of magnesium in a one-cup serving. Magnesium relaxes blood vessels, improving blood flow and nutrient delivery while lowering blood pressure-the perfect combination for a healthy cardiovascular system. Whole buckwheats also scored highest on their ability to satisfy hunger. Buckwheat is an excellent source of lysine, threonine, tryptophan and sulfur containing amino acids. It contains up to 37% resistant starch. Its glycemic index is 45.

Quinoa has been cultivated in South American Andes since at least 3,000 B.C. and has been a staple food of millions of native inhabitants. The ancient Incas called quinoa the “mother grain,” and revered it as sacred. Quinoa was used to sustain Incan armies, which frequently marched for many days eating a mixture of quinoa and fat. Technically, quinoa is not a true grain, but is the seed of the Chenopodium or Goosefoot plant. Quinoa supplies a uniquely balanced set of essential amino acids and is one of the best sources of plant-based proteins. It contains an almost perfect balance of all eight essential amino acids needed for tissue development in humans. It is exceptionally high in lysine, cystine and methionine-amino acids typically low in other grains. The quinoa seed is also high in calcium and iron, a relatively good source of vitamin E and several of the B vitamins. It is a high iron food that raise the hematocrit, delivering more oxygen to the brain to fight senility. Quinoa is an alkaline food, easy to digest, and provides important dietary fiber. Quinoa is 35 on the Glycemic Index (very low!).

Chia, like amaranth, was also very important to the ancient Aztecs of 7000 BC. Chia seed is a magical whole food, so much so that it was once valued for currency. It was known as the “running food”. Its use as a high energy endurance food has been recorded as far back as the Aztecs of old. The Aztec warriors subsisted primarily on Chia seeds during their conquests. The Indians of the southwest would eat as little as a teaspoon full when going on a 24 hour forced march. Indians running from the Colorado River to the California coast to trade turquoise for seas shells would only bring Chia seed for their nourishment.

Chia’s soluble fiber is highly mucilaginous and forms a gel in the stomach and intestines, slowing down absorption of glucose. The glycemic index of chia is 1—ONE. With Chia seeds regulate more efficiently the body’s absorption of nutrients. Because there is a greater efficiency in the utilization of body fluids, the electrolyte balance is maintained. Chia seeds can contain up to 20% protein, 25% dietary fiber, unusually high levels of healthy ormega-3 fatty acids, and significant levels of antioxidants.

Oats are the most well-known grain of the six. Oats were first brought to North America in 1602. Chiefly a European and North American crop, oats are used for hot or cold cereals, and are becoming more favored as a nutritional component to baked goods. Ingestion of oats rich in water-solble fiber has been associated with reductions in glucose, insulin and cholesterol levels, as well as with increases in meal satiet. Beta-glucan, within the whole-grain matrix of the oat, is thought to be largely responsible for these beneficial effects. Similar to starch and glycogen, beta-glucan consists of chains of glucose molecules linked together. The key difference is that these links can’t be easily hydrolyzed by any of the enzymes produced by the cells lining the intestines. Thus, unlike starches, it can’t be absorbed and is therefore considered an unavailable carbohydrate or fiber.

Beta-glucan’s ability to lower blood glucose and insulin levels depends on at least three factors: how much beta-glucan is consumed, how much available carbohydrate is eaten along with it, and its viscosity once it gets inside the gut. This is where 21st Century technology comes in. Through a strictly-controlled combination of heat, mechancial and hydroulic forces to remove some of their insoluble fiber from the grains, followed by a number of additonal steps including filtration and drying, an exceptionally nutrient-dense powder remains. Once reydrated, the oat is very pleasing to the culinary senses with a smooth mouth feel. This process in regards to the oat bran frees the water-soluble beta-glucan from the convoluted cellular structure of the oat while leaving it unharmed. Studies performed by USDA researchers reveal that there are no major changes to beta-glcuan’s molecular structure and no diminshment of its important biological activities.

The beta glucans enable us to control the glycemic load in accordance to ones energy needs. If a more rapid loading of glucose is required, then simply mix the powder in water (or any liquide of choice), and drink it immediately. Or, if a lower dose of glucose energy is needed, let the mixture sit in the glass for a few minutes before drinking and it will drive the glycemic index lower, reduce the glycemic load, thereby producing a long lasting energy supply for the body. The bottom line is that whether you allow the drink to sit or you drink it immediately the product will not cause an insulin spike. In fact, it will help to bring blood sugar into balance and produce a sustained energy.

And there is much more! Next week we will continue to discuss the attributes of the Engergy Sustain Complex, the ingredients, and practical applications. We are learning from our ancestors how to eat and become healthy again!

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

The Energy Sustain Complex is a product that can be enjoyed between meals or as a meal replacement. It can be used as a base for adding other ingredient such as fresh fruits, vegetable juice, probiotics, and so on. It makes for a great smoothy.

The Last Quiz Answer: This amazing creature is a Handfish. They are small (up to 15 cm) bottom-dwelling marine fish found in coastal waters of southern Australia and Tasmania. Handfish are unusual, slow moving fishes that prefer to ‘walk’ rather than swim, using their modified pectoral fins to move about on the sea floor. These highly modified fins have the appearance of hands, hence their scientific name, from Latin bracchium meaning “arm” and Greek ichthys meaning “fish”.

Like with the benefit of having variety of whole foods in our diet, variety of species is key to the survival of an ecosystem. Geologists at Brown University and the University of Washington have made important observations regarding two of the greatest mass extinctions in Earths history, linking loss of variety leading to collapse of the whole system. Makes sense doesn’t it! Here’s their observations

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

Here at BioImmersion we are welcoming the new year with five new products that we will introduce over the next few months—products that we have been working on for the past year. The first product is presented in this week’s and next’s Forward Thinking: Energy Sustain Complex. We are still playing around with names. Any ideas for a good name? Let us know!

The reason we named it Energy Sustain Comlex is because the formula has the ability to give an immediate energy boost and also sustain the energy level as a balanced meal would do—a great energy performance. But it does much more, and in the next two weeks I will discuss the science and attributes of Energy Sustain.

To begin with: The product has been formulated to meet the energy needs of a serious athlete in training, an active adult, or an individual interested in making some healthy lifestyle changes to support glucose levels, to increase heart health, and gain control of weight management.

The Energy Sustain Complex: Science and Attributes

Do you recognize this molecule?

It is Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)—the body’s energy currency. It is the fuel our body uses to run all its metabolic processes.

ATP can be produced from the three macronutrients in our diet—carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The body, however, prefers carbohydrate as its source for energy, but the form of carbohydrate we take into our body is critically important. There is a huge difference as to outcomes—whether it results in healthful and effective transformation into energy currency or an overload of glucose, with disease initiating consequences.

To understand and to gain control over these two possible outcomes, we need to grasp the concepts of glycemic control and insulin/glucagon balancing.

The term glycemic control is used to refer to the dietary regulation of blood sugar levels. Ultimately, in regards to energy, our body must breakdown carbohydrate to its simplest form—a glucose molecule, which in turn, as it is processed through glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain, can result in the production of 38 ATP molecules.

This is good and healthful. However, disease can form in the body when too many glucose molecules enter our blood stream from too fast (or of course, too much) of a particular carbohydrate food. If it is a highly processed carbohydrate food that already has been broke down to its simplest form (a simple sugar) it will rapidly be absorbed into our systemic circulation with too high of a glycemic index. If it is a complex carbohydrate in a more complex molecular structure, then it must be broken down by the digestive enzymes and the infusion of simple sugars coming into the blood stream is much more modulated. The slower a food releases its simple sugars, the lower is its glycemic index.

When the diet consists of a high proportion of refined carbohydrates, which have high glycemic indices, the body’s insulin response will be enhanced. High glycemic index foods tend to slam the bloodstream with sugar, producing a greater demand for insulin. This results in more insulin being rapidly secreted into the bloodstream. A rush followed by a crash, as blood sugar is.

Insulin is a powerful hormone. As insulin levels rise, insulin exerts powerful braking effects on the breakdown and burning of body fat. Certainly the most determinant factor influencing body fat levels is the number of calories consumed. However, maintaining a quieter insulin environment by eating low to mid-range glycemic index foods can give you a tremendous edge in your efforts to build a lean, high-performance physique.

The other powerful factor to consider in the diet towards the management of healthy insulin levels, is the consumption of healthy proportions of protein. Protein is required in order to stimulate the release of glucagon. Glucagon is a counter-regulatory hormone to insulin. A coordinated interaction between the two hormones brings about matched increases in production and utilization of glucose. Imbalances in insulin and glucagon secretion would favor the activity of one hormone over the other. A food or meal that contains a 2 to 1 ratio by weight of carbohydrate to protein is ideal.

Two main dietary factors appear to strongly influence blood sugar levels; those being carbohydrate to protein ratio of each meal and the glycemic index of each meal. Typically, post-pranial blood glucose elevations tend to stimulate insulin secretion, whereas the absorption of protein tends to stimulate glucagon release. Both hormones are made and stored in the pancreas; insulin in beta cells and glucagon in alpha cells.

The problem with the rapid infusion of sugar into the blood stream is that it causes the pancreas to release too much insulin. This over expression of insulin will result in pushing to much of the sugar out of circulation, causing hypoglycemia. So balancing blood sugar levels is critically important, and a big part of the genius of the Energy Sustain Complex is that it allows you to control the Glycemic Index, depending on your body’s need for energy. Let’s look at the nutritional content of Energy Sustain.

The following table presents a prime example of the difference between Energy Sustain and a highly process carbohydrate such as maltodextrin. When maltodextrin is produced, starch is isolated from corn, rice or potatoes and is then “hydrolyzed (chemically broken down into smaller molecules). Hydrolysis strips away most of the nutritional value in order to increase crude carbohydrate content. This explains at least in part why maltodextrin has a glycemic index of 100—equivalent to pure glucose! Although technically maltodextrin is a complex carbohydrate, it behaves exactly like a high glycemic sugar; so much so, that it can produce rebound hypoglycemia.

Look at the difference in the ratios of carbohydrate to protein between the maltodextrin and the Energy Sustain. The glycemic index of maltodextrin is 100, the glycemic index of Energy Sustain is adjustable, but never over 65 which is well within an acceptable range. In the mornings (or after you exercise), you need a quick infusion of glucose to jump-start the day, or restock your glycogen stores, Energy Sustain can provide the boost without the sugar crash. If you want a lower glycemic index for a longer lasting energy experience, Energy Sustain can impart that too—you can dial it up or dial it down. In next week’s Forward Thinking I’ll get into the details of what Energy Sustain’s actual ingredient are. Till then.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

The Energy Sustain Complex is composed of 6 ingredients, all whole foods with a bit of 21st Century science and technology. The formula is comprised of foods that have been with us for thousands of years, and are an important part of our evolutionary history. We are excited to share this whole food with you.

The Last Quiz Answer: This amazing creature is a Humming Bird. Hummingbirds drink nectar, a sweet liquid inside flowers. Like bees, they are able to assess the amount of sugar in the nectar they eat; they reject flower types that produce nectar that is less than 10% sugar and prefer those whose sugar content is stronger. Nectar is a poor source of nutrients, so hummingbirds meet their needs for protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. by preying on insects and spiders, especially when feeding their young.

It’s a new year, and a good time for new ideas. Planet Forward showcases smart ideas from smart people…online and on TV. It is a project of The Center For Innovative Media at The George Washington University.