Dear Friends

In 2003, the probiotic market in the U.S. was valued at $952 million.  Five years later it had grown by 160% to one billion, 527 million.  By 2015 it is projected to be at $3.1 billion.  Definately a growth industry, and rightly so.

The awareness that a healthy gut flora is manditory for a truly healthy body and robust longevity, and the consensus that a good probiotic formula can facilitate the building of a healthy gut flora has spread from beyond the holsitic medical community to the hollowed medical research centers of the National Institute of Health (NIH). 

In 2008, NIH established the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) to study the significance, in health and in disease, of the vast number of microbes that intimately associate themselves with our human bodies.   HMP is focusing their research on four major dwelling places for these human associated microbial communities— the ecosystems of the GI tract, the respiratory tract, the urogenital tract (in women), and the skin.

The gastrointestinal tract (from the mouth to the anus) is the largest and most diverse of the microbial ecosystems, comprised of 100 trillion organisms (mostly bacterial), that is 10 times more one-celled microbial organisms in the lumin of our gut than the total human cell mass of our body, which is at 10 trillion.

Where doctors had previously isolated only a few hundred bacterial species from the body, HMP researchers now calculate that more than 10,000 microbial species occupy the human ecosystem. Moreover, researchers calculate that they have identified between 81 and 99 percent of all microorganismal genera in healthy adults.

HMP researchers also reported that this plethora of microbes contribute more genes responsible for human survival than humans contribute. Where the human genome carries some 22,000 protein-coding genes, researchers estimate that the human microbiome contributes some 8 million unique protein-coding genes or 360 times more bacterial genes than human genes. (MacDougall, R. NIH Human Microbiome Project defines normal bacterial makeup of the body.  NIH News, June 13, 2012)

Actually, each human gene is capable of producing three different proteins where as each bacterial gene only can produce one protein, so that helps the totals a bit for human derived proteins—now its 66,000 to 8,000,000 bacterial proteins.  As they say it is mind blowing.

Just think, genes produce proteins, and proteins are the building blocks of metabolic pathways, enzymes, receptor site molecules, messenger molecules, structural molecules, neurotransmitters and hormones.  The new understanding is that the collection of proteins that run our bodies comes not only from our human cells but also from our microbial selves, our own unique microbiome.  The sum total of our human cell genome and our microbial genome is called our metagenome.  Our gut is awash with proteins from our human cells and microbials cell.

Our adult bodies harbor 10 times more microbial cells than human cells. Their genomes (the microbiome’s) endows us with physiological capacities that we have not had to evolve on our own and thus are both a manifestation of who we are genetically and metabolically and a reflection of our state of well being. (NIH)

This brings us  to the door of the probiotic product world, a door that we will open over the next couple of weeks.  In the last few years alone there has been alone 482 peer-reviewed papers published regarding  lactobacillus and human health, catalogued within the US National Library of Medicine at NIH.  Stay tuned.
 

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

Clinical Note:
 

The Last Quiz Answer:

Check out the Orangutan Foundation International. There mission is to support the conservation, protection, and understanding of orangutans and their rain forest habitat while caring for ex-captive orangutan orphans as they make their way back to the forest.

Furthermore, OFI educates the public, school children, and governments about orangutans, tropical rain forests, and the issues surrounding orangutan and forest conservation and protection.  Our support can help them save the orangutans, and save their magnificient jungle habitat in Borneo.
  

I went to The 350.org National Tour opening last Wednesday night in Seattle at the Benaroya Hall.  There were 2000 people there.  I'm way in the back right corner.  It is a critically important movement.

On Thursday they were going to Portland, Friday to Berkley, Saturday to San Francisco and Palo Alto and Sunday to LA. This week they will be doing the East Coast.  

The Lecture is entitled Do The Math.  It is very important for you to go if you can. Check out their calendar and agenda.  Here we are:

P.S.  Have you wondered what Al Gore is doing?  Well wonder no more.  Beginning this evening, Wednesday night Nov. 14th at 8:00pm EST, Gore et al is rolling out The Dirty Weather Report International.  It's 24 hours of non stop commentary on the world man-made weather crisis.  Tune in on line by going to Climate Reality Project.org.  If it's Nov. 15th, it is happening live right now.
                   
                     ©2005 – 2012 BioImmersion Inc. All Rights Reserved

Dear Friends,

What’s the leading cause of mortality in the world today?

According to WHO (the World Health Organization), Chronic Disease is the leading cause of mortality in the world representing 63% of all deaths.

The cause is multi-factorial, too much pollution, increasingly virulent pathogens, unrelenting stress and poor lifestyle choices.  The cure is making corrections on all fronts.  Let’s look at pollution this week and be sure to read Clinical Notes (below) as we offer solutions to help our bodies, minds, and spirits!

Pollution:  Just how toxic is our world?

One of the most toxic industries in the world is the textile industry, in the mills and factories that that make our fabrics for our clothing, seating, drapes and carpeting. About one half of the world’s waste water problems are linked to the production of textile goods, and many of the chemicals used to dye or finish fabrics are known to harm human health.  Yet, the finished product for the clothing, the rugs we walk on, the chairs we sit on are considered “safe” for use in our homes.

For example:  William McDonough + Partners is a design firm of architects, planners and support staff specializing in environmentally sustainable design and growth.  This firm is a powerhouse for transforming our world’s environment into a healthy place.  They are one of my heroes and definately a force to get to know about for many good reasons. Their link to their website is in Green Facts.  Check them out!!!

At any rate, Rohner Textils, a textlle factory in Switzerland, made a decision to correct their toxic waste problem.  They brought in McDonough + Partners to help them create a manufacturing process without using toxic chemicals.  McDonough has studied 8,000 chemicals commonly used in the textile industry.  Their measuring criterion: “chemicals” that are safe enough to eat.  Of the chemicals they tested 7,962 failed.  Only 38 chemicals were considered safe.  In the case of Rohner Textils, the trimmings (the cloth not used on the chairs) was considered by the Swiss government to be hazaardous waste.  It couldn’t be disposed of in Switzerland and was shipped to Spain for burial.  The good news was that the safe 38 chemicals were used to create a complete line of fabrics, containing every color except black.  And, the botton line is that when the Swiss government came to check the water flowing out of the plant, there were absolutely no toxic chemcials in it.  Amazingly, the cost of manufacturing was 20% less for Rohners (Heath & Heath, 2010).

In the Fall of 2006 a piece was written on the front page of the Los Angeles Times entitled, U.S. Rules Allow the Sale of Products Others Banned Chemical-laden Goods Outlawed in Europe and Japan are Permitted in the American Market.   The article said that warehouses on the LA docks were filled to the ceilings with formaldehyde-laden plywood (a cancer-causing chemical) destined for homes in America with enough material to build 2 million kitchen cabinets.  China exported to the US more than half a billion dollars worth of hardwood plywood.  One birch plank from China, bought at a Home Depot Store in Portland, gave off 100 times more formaldehyde than is legal in Japan and 30 times more than allowed in Europe and China.

Also in June of 2006, the Environmental Defense Organization in Canada put out a study entitled, Polluted Children, Toxic Nation.  Children, parents and grandparents from five Canadian families of diverse demographics provided blood and urine samples that were tested for 68 toxic chemicals.  The laboratory tests detected 46 of 68 (average) in the 13 family members who were studies.  In total 36 carcinogens, 23 hormone disruptors, 12 respiratory toxins, 38 reproductive/developmental toxins, and 19 neurotoxins were detected in the study volunteers.

PBS Evening News report pointed our attention to the clear-cut timber lands in Oregon where the timber companies use helicopters to spray pesticides over the cropped areas so that only Douglas fir is able to grow back.  The residents in the communities around this forested area have begun to raise a stir about this, and it was found that 100% of the populus had 2,4-D and Atrazine in the urine (September 12th, 2012).

The good news is that we are aware and we are cleaning up our collective act. Lets do even more!

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

Even if you are being diligent in eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, and taking your supplements, the toxic burden on our bodies today requires a massive effort on all fronts to reduce the load.

We need supplements that are clean, potent and intelligent.  Nothing speaks to our body’s health holistically like food.  Our food system globally must change to one that provides clean, high actives foods.

The Therapeutic Foods Line helps our bodies to clean, detox, and heal.  The wildcrafted Phyto Power helps the liver detox (phase I and II), helps the kidney excrete and filter, helps purifying the blood (take two capsules daily).  The organic Cruciferous Sprouts stimulates Phase II enzymes production, protects against carcinogens (take four capsules daily).  The organic Chlorella helps to chelate heavy metals, supports the liver and cleans the blood (take four tablets daily).

The Last Quiz Answer:

Have you ever seen this awesome creature?  Here’s the Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) in action! And, some amazing features:  (1) It breathes air and water. (2) Its frog like eyes allow for superb all round vision. (3) It spend as much time in the water as on land. (4) On land they breathe through their skin—called cutaneous breathing. (5) They hear sounds on land. (6) They are opportunistic carnivores.  Eating anything they can get into their mouth and swallow. (7) Captive mudskippers my become tame enough to be fed by hand.

Who is William McDonough?  Time Magazine recognized him in 1999 as a “Hero for the Planet,” stating that “his utopianism is grounded in a unified philosophy that- in demonstratable and practical ways- is changing the design of the world.”  His beautiful, eloquent website spells it out.  Check out his investment fund!

Dear Friends,

What does activisim have in common with the Phyto Power? Read on.

The 13th Annual Westen Price Foundation Conference is coming up on November 9th thru the 12th in Santa Clara. It’s entitled, Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts.  Here’s the link: check it out.

If you are not familiar with the Westen Price group, it is definately an important group for you to get to know.

The Foundation is dedicated to restoring nutrient-dense foods to the American diet through education, research, and activism.  They believe in organic and biodynamic farming, pasture feeding of livestock, community supported farms, including the establishment of universal access to clean, certified raw milk and a ban on the use of soy formulas for infants.

A new book by the Center for Ecoliteracy has just come out, August 16th, 2012.  It’s entitled:  Eco Literate:  How Educators are Cultivating Emotional, Social and Ecological Intelligence. Here’s an excerpt:

A tender and exquisitely planned teachable moment opens our new book, Ecoliterate, coauthored by renowned psychologist and bestselling author Daniel Coleman and the Center’s Lisa Bennett and Zenobia Barlow. Ecoliterate introduces an integration of emotional, social, and ecological intelligence that advances student success and helps engage young people in today’s ecological challenges. It offers inspiring stories of educators and other leaders from the Arctic to Appalachia and New Mexico to New Orleans who are using these capacities to creatively address food, water and energy issues. Reviewers are calling the book powerful, eloquant, and a treasure and urgently important.

Click here to read furthers excerpts from the Introduction.

When one asks how do I get involved in hands on training to be a positve activist, these are the two groups, Westin Price and Eco Literacy, that fill the bill.  Here’s one more:

This organization comes right from my own neighborhood—the San Juan Islands, in Washington State.  On beautiful Orcas Island resides one of the premier permaculture sites in the world—The Bullock’s Permaculture Homestead. You can go for just an afternoon tour, or even sign up for an intensive week long stay and practical training in permaculture farming methods. I must confess that I haven’t been up there myself, and I have no good excuse. I will take pictures when I go for all of us!  I promise.  From all I’ve heard it is a phenomenal place.

So we’ve gone, in the last couple of weeks, from introducing you more fully to our new Phyto Power, a product built with wildcrafted berries and herbs derived from the wilds of Alaska, to looking at hands on opportunities with life changing farming communities like Bullock farm and seminars like those of the Westin Price Foundations and the Center for Eco Literacy.

My hope and prayer for all of us is to let nature come back into our lives, to develop a love affair with the natural world.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

“….everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission.  This is the Indian Theory of existense.”  Christal Quintasket (1888-1936) Salish.

We are presently, through our collaborating partners, making major inroads into relationships with the Native People of Alaska and the First Nation Peoples of Canada. Their elders intimate knowledge of the traditional use of the native plants is beyond exciting.  It is enlightening.

And, their attitude towards life, as expressed by Chief Seattle, bring healing to our souls:  ”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 belong to the earth.  This we know.  All things are connected like the blood that unites one family.  All things are connected.”

The Last Quiz Answer:

A young Gelada Baboon, resting.  He lives in the Ethiopian mountains as a part of a troups of approximately 400 baboons.  Geladas are a gentle species of baboon and it is possible to sit amongst them and not be harmed.  They are a large baboon, with adult males looking like a cross between a lion and a poodle.  Geladas are the most vocal of all the primates and can make 27 distinct noises.  They are very social animals, organized into harems with one dominant male and 4 to 6 females and their offspring.  Believe it or not they even raise feral dogs as pets.  Have a look!

During the past few months, there has been much emphasis on the crucial role that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform will have for the future of European agriculture.  Public interest is growing, but to help foster greater understanding of the significance of the reform and the gravity of the decisions being made not merely for agriculture but quality of life in general – Slow Food and other civil society groups are organizing a public march starting in mid-August and culminating in Brussels on September 19 with a conference at the EU Parliament.

Dear Friends,

Last week we critically examined the therapeutic value of Phyto Power, our newest Therapeutic Food, which contains 3 species of wildcrafted Alaskan rosehip, 4 species of dandelion and 4 species of blueberry.  We pointed out that consuming two capsules a day is equivalent to eating 6 rosehips, one dandelion salad and a small handful of blueberries. We focused last week’s newsletter on the actives within the rosehip and their therapeutic relevance. This week we will look at the dandelion.

There are four species of meadow dandelion, namely Taraxacum officinale, Taraxacum ceratophorum, Taraxacum lyratum, and Taraxacum phymatocarpam. Each capsule contains 200mg of the dandelion species blend with 90% being the aerial part with flowers included, and 10% being the roots.  Below is a typical, beautiful meadow from which our three foot tall wild dandelions are harvested.

The whole plant contains a long list of bioactive flavonoids, terpenoids and exceptional amounts of Vitamin A, B-Complex, C and D, along with the minerals calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper, iron, and phosphorous.

Peoples worldwide have historically used dandelion as a part of their traditional and medicinal food preparations. Generally the roots treat the liver, the leaves treat the kidneys and the flowers protect the eyes.  Researchers have paid particular attention to the diuretic, choleretric, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-hyperglycemic, analgesic, anti-coagulatory and prebiotic effects of dandelions.

Dandelion  Remedies:

• Indigestion:  Dandelion root as a mild laxative . It is effective in treating constipation and flatulence.
• Skin Care:  Dandelion is good for the skin.  The antibiotic and antifungal properties of this herb are utilized in treating various skin ailments such as acne, eczema, and ring worm infection.  Sap of the dandelion plant is used by folk medicine healers to treat skin diseases.  You can cure acne by drinking dandelion tea.
• Diabetes remedy:  Dandelion is beneficial for diabetic patients.  It stimulates insulin secretion thereby enhancing glucose absorption.  The mild diuretic property of dandelion increase urination thereby flushing out excess sugar from the body.  Dandelion, by eliminating sugar deposited in the kidney through its diuretic action, also prevents renal problems in diabetic patients.  People suffering from diabetes could benefit from drinking dandelion juice or tea every morning.
• Acts as diuretic:  The mild diuretic property of dandelion makes it suitable for treating inflammation associated with water retention.  Dandelion helps to remove toxins from the kidney.  The diuretic property of dandelion is also beneficial for treating hypertension.  Increase in urination helps to remove salt from the body, helping to bring down the blood pressure level.
• Improves liver function:  The plant nutrients that give dandelion its bitter taste, stimulates liver function.  Dandelion is one of the best foods for your liver.  This herb is used in traditional medicines for improving bile flow.  It is effective for treating jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis and other liver diseases.
• Immune system enhancement:  Dandelion has been show to restore experimentally-induced suppressed immune function in animals by enhancing cell-mediated, humoral, and non-specific immunity.
• Dandelion is safe for consumption.

Think about it—two capsules a day is the equivalent to eating one organic, wildcrafted dandelion salad a day.  Cheers and to your health!

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

What is the Therpapeutic Foods Paradigm?

Our bodies are so bombarded with pollution, pathogens and stress that they desperately need to be fed real food, sustaining food, energizing food, organic food with high actives.

Even if we eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, it’s good but it is not enough, we need powerful organic food, food that doesn’t add more pollutants to our body burden, but food that impacts our bodies therapeutically and makes them strong.

Here is the link to read further about the Therapeutic Foods paradigm.

Also, read about the World Today, the reason we need to fight for a clean environment.

The Last Quiz Answer:

There are over 2000 species of Praying Mantis in the world.  They are the ultimate predator, capable of killing species three times their size—feeding on other insects, on very small birds (ie humming birds), mice, soft-shelled turtles, etc.  They merge with their surrounding—camouflaged, laying in wait for prey. Lashing out with their long spiked front legs at twice the speed of a blinking eye, they easily grasp and impale their prey, pinning them down—dinner is served.  Their mandibles are strong enough to cut human flesh.  Like a cat after eating the Praying Mantis grooms itself.  It would make a rather fascinating pet, don’t you think?

The Global Oneness Project is a very powerful group you want to get to know.  They have just produced a short film about the harsh environment of a Rhode Island mens prison where are group of 50 inmates are transforming their lives through meditation.  Here’s the link.  You’ll be so inspired.

Dear Friends,

Well, we are back from an eight day trip to the eastcoast: three days in New York City seeing our friends, and five days in the Washington DC area for Dohrea’s PhD program.  In this week’s newsletter both Dohrea and I will share with you a part of our adventures and discoveries in the realm of organic living.  Here’s Dohrea:

It is Monday afternoon in NYC; the temperature is high, humidity higher, and everyone is dressed with minimal clothing, wears huge sunglasses, and large hats. It is indeed summertime, a perfect season to further green our life. The warming trend is obvious over here in NYC and even more so in DC, where we will spend the whole week, me in seminars for my PhD (air-conditioned environment), and Seann, connecting with wonderful physicians like yourselves, and visiting special organizations who work towards the betterment of our earth.

Greening, as we all know, is our duty.  So, what we eat, drink, and of course use around the house (clealing products), our cars, and our personal grooming products, are all a part of the causation of the de-evolution pattern we are endeavoring to change. On a nice Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn (hot of course), Jessa Blades from Blades Natural Beauty taught us all about greening our personal and beauty routines. The experience was enlivening, and our time together deepened our resolve to not only green ourselves but help others think through the process. Check out Jessa’s blog, and share this great resource with your patients, they will thank you!

Here is a picture of Jessa and I, sitting and playing with a variety of beautiful products, all healthy, all fortifying, made by individuals and companies who care about our plant and us.  We think about cleaning and purifying our earth, changing farming methods, buying and supporting organic farms, and now, we need to think of supporting those who are working hard to bring us wonderfully thoughtful green personal products to keep our bodies humming in health. We learned from Jessa about individuals who are partnering up with different indigenous people in many parts of the world to harvest, sustainably, ingredients that create intelligent and profoundly active products for our skin, hair, and nails.

Jessa’s dream is to create a shop that carries many products that are locally unique to NYC, as well as bring products from different places around the globe. As you know, we believe in supporting organic/green local and global talent while we develop and encourage others to think about energy efficient life style. Take a closer look at this beautifully arrayed table: we have organic oils, creams, lip colors, sun screens that are rated well (you do already know of the Skin Deep rating system), powders, and even exceptional deodorants—all healthy, all beautiful—and each product has a story that is worth knowing.

Jessa Blades knows people from all over the world who love our earth and this love is communicated through the joy she brings into teaching people where to find and how to use organic, active products. She spent two hours teaching us how to green our personal routines and then taught me a few great application techniques (make-up) to look natural (and as I requested—glowing!). Simple routines, wonderful products to work with, and superb results—well worth the time. You can find Jessa if you live in NY or close by, and there are many eco-chic experts you can get in touch with or bring into your clinic to teach your patients about personal care. Check out this article at Glamour (yes, Glamour, is it not great that they are starting to advertise green living?) “70 New Reasons to live Green” and meet 70 eco-concious women whose mission is aligned with greening the earth. We respect their efforts and hard work.  Here is what these activists think:

What else can you do this year? Keep up the great green work—and try one new thing, or two or three (find dozens of easy ideas at glamour.com). Every little bit helps. Talk to others about what you’re doing; Mother Earth needs as many friends as possible. To inspire you even more, take a look at our 70 eco go-getters. They’re grassroots activists, CEOs and celebs, ages 17 to 66. Some run big-gun groups; others are building greener lipsticks and totes. But they’ve all recognized the same thing: “Future generations depend on our vigilance. We must care,” says Lisa Jackson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency. “Time and again, we’ve faced the frustrations of righting past wrongs.” So here’s to the environment—and greener years ahead. Virginia Sole-Smith

You have already met Annie Leonard who created the Story of Stuff Project. Review her Story of Cosmetics and offer this link to your patients: The Story of Cosmetics. It is a pleasure sharing our journey with you—I wish you a joyful summer!! And now, off to DC for my seminar, back to my books, and papers.

And, back to me:

We hit the motherload of culinary organic dinning in DC, but before I get into this jewel of a find, I must tell you about a very, very good organic/vegan restaurant in NYC—The Caravan of Dreams.  Their food is to die for!  It is Dohrea’s most favorite place to eat.  Here’s a quote from their website:

Founded in 1991 by Angel Moreno, a Spanish expat in New York [and he's a Sufi], who saw the restaurant as an opportunity to combine his passions for food, health, music, and community. It’s a place where Angel and others are reaching out to countless people and developing new ideas for a greater world, that all have at its core the Caravan of Dreams tenet: around good food and health, music and dance, and friends and family and lovers, lies the wellspring of happiness.

Now on to DC.  My instruction from Dohrea and one of her cohort, Susan, was to find a good organic restaurant that we could bring their special group of around six fellow students.  I found Restaurant Nora.

Nora Pouillon is a pioneer and champion of organic, environmentally conscious cuisine. Born in Austria, Nora promotes and embodies healthy, sustainable living. Her inspiration in the kitchen comes from her parents who understood the value of simply prepared seasonal foods. When Nora came to the US, in the late 1960s She was disturbed by the amount of processed and chemical-laden foods Americans were eating. That’s when Nora began her search for seasonal and organic food and her crusade for healthier living.

Nora made a lifetime commitment to nutritionally wholesome food, balanced eating and sustainable living that is based on the premise that you are what you eat, drink and breathe, and that it is important to take responsibility for one’s own health. Her approach also includes a daily exercise routine that strengthens and focuses the body and mind.

Nora opened Restaurant Nora, in 1979 and was immediately recognized for her ability to create not only healthy but also delicous organic dishes. In 1999, twenty years later, the restaurant became the nation’s first certified organic restaurant. Only three other restaurants have since achieved this goal.

We had a wonderful evening.  The food was perfect for all—from paleo to vegan.  Restaurant Nora is eloquent, and was packed with all kinds to very interesting people.  Needless to say, we were very pleased and proud  of our organic family—thanks to Nora.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

What is the Therpapeutic Foods Paradigm?

Our bodies are so bombarded with pollution, pathogens and stress that they desperately need to be fed real food, sustaining food, energizing food, organic food with high actives.

Even if we eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, it’s good but it is not enough, we need powerful organic food, food that doesn’t add more pollutants to our body burden, but food that impacts our bodies therapeutically and makes them strong.

Here is the link to read further about the Therapeutic Foods paradigm.

Also, read about the World Today, the reason we need to fight for a clean environment.

The Last Quiz Answer:

Flying fish make the tropical waters spanning the globe their home.  During my two year living in Micronesia I witnessed their amazing feats of flight.  One always wondered what was lurking under the water’s surface that was chasing them—tuna, mackeral, marlin, swordfish, or the more scary thoughts of possible hunting baracudas and sharks.  Flying fish can cover an amazing distance in flight, having been recorded of flying over the distance of three football fields.

The Story of Change just came out this week on Wednesday and here is the link.  As our world spins into greater pollution, greater inequity, greater starvation and chronic illness, and moves ever closer to the next mass extinction, there is, believe me, hope!  And, Anne Leonard, is one of those points of light—enjoy this link and pass it on.

Dear Friends,

Our ultimate goal as activists is for the whole world, every last person, to be fed with local organic food. I assume most of you would subscribe to such a goal. Some will ask you: Why organic food?

Last friday I opened up a new account for BioImmersion with a local community bank. As I was explaining our business model to our new team of bankers, I was asked the question, “Why is the focus on organic food so important for you?” It is a very good question.

My first thought is the known fact (to us in the holistic medical industry) that organic food is simply better food for our bodies, higher in nutrient values, less poisons, better for our health—a focus on the therapeutic value of food. My second wave of thoughts, which I shared with them (and surpised myself, as it is technical), had to do with the soil—it builds the soil, makes it healthy, increases the organic matter (the humus) in the soil, gives the soil more body, less vulnerable to erosion, provides a healthy environment for worms, microorganism and insects, all partners in making for healthy plants. Without healthy soil, we can’t grow healthy plants and without healthy plants we can’t grow healthy humans. Additionally, healthy soil pulls CO2 out of the atmosphere, reducing global warming. The fact of the matter is that if we only use organic farming methods around the world, we would not have a greenhouse gas crisis, the food chain would be properly supplied, and a billion people would not be starving as they are today. The chronic diseases pandemic that plagues the worlds today would be a thing of the past.

The foregoing stimulated quite a discussion, one of our new bankers said that he was a marathon runner. The net result is that they are very excited to have our business and work with us and be a part of the vision for a healthier planet.

It is well established that when cultures destroy their soil through faulty agricultural practices, the offending human cultures whither away. Good soil is foundational and a priori to our existence. Our industrial agricultural practices of today are destroying top soil worldwide at alarming rates. We need to gather ourselves to work with nature, not against her—our survival depends on it.

Fortunately, the forces for working with nature, for learning from nature are mounting and it is time for all of us to join in and become activists for this change. Here’s are three heavy weights with links to their website and more:

• La Via Campesina is the international movement which brings together millions of peasants, small and medium size farmers, landless people, women farmers, indigenous people, migrants and agricultural workers from around the world. It defends small-scale sustainble agriculture as a way to promote social justice and dignity. It strongly apposes corporate driven agriculture and transnational companies that are destroying people and nature.
• Biomimicry 3.8 is the global leader in biomimicry innovation consulting, professional training, and educational program and curricula development. Our mission is to train, equip and connect engineers, educators, architects, designers, business leaders and other innovators to sustainability that emulates natures 3.8 billion years of brilliant designs and strategies.
• Permaculture is an ecological design system for sustainability in all aspects of our lives. Permaculture teaches us how to build natural homes, grow our own food, restore diminished landscapes and ecosystems, catch rainwater, build communities, take care of waste and much more. The philosophy within permaculture is one of working with rather than against nature, and of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than premature and thoughtless action. Permaculture design techniques encourage land use which integrates principles of ecology and applies lessons from nature. It teaches us to create settings and construct ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and the resilience of natural ecosystems. In the spirit of sustainability, it also teaches us to allow natural and designed ecosystems to demonstrate their own evolutions.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

What is the Therpapeutic Foods Paradigm?

Our bodies are so bombarded with pollution, pathogens and stress that they desperately need to be fed real food, sustaining food, energizing food, organic food with high actives.

Even if we eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, it’s good but it is not enough, we need powerful organic food, food that doesn’t add more pollutants to our body burden, but food that impacts our bodies therapeutically and makes them strong.

Here is the link to read further about the Therapeutic Foods paradigm.

Also, read about the World Today, the reason we need to fight for a clean environment.

The Last Quiz Answer:

The elephant shrew (Elephantulus rufescens) is a lightning-quick mouse-like creature that makes its home in the shrublands of Kenya. Four inches is length from snout to rump, these busy little creature are always hungry, and running through their maze of interlinking trails in their hunting grounds. They are monogamous, often time choosing for their home the abandoned burrows of rodents. Their foods are worms, termites and other insects. They are the food of snakes, and lizards. In the video clip, a sengi runs for its life from a hungry lizard—with a successsful outcome for the sengi.

Permaculture is making its impact in Africa. Here are two links to permaculture education in South Africa and another in Tanzania..

Dear Friends,

Happy Fourth of July to you! We are half way through 2012, and I propose a new tradition—to have a Fourth of July resolution. We produced the Therapuetic Foods with a resolution to promote the restoration of our soil and food through organic farming.

Transforming our world’s food system to one that mandates farming practices such as permaculture, biodynamic farming, and the One Straw Revolution will without question transform our world to one of abundance. It is a worthy goal, an imperative for our very survival as a species. It’s that simple, it’s that urgent.

It makes sense for our 4th resolution to be something like, what can I do better for America, or perhaps better yet, what can I do for freedom. How would you answer that?

I’ll share with you my brief thoughts, and the thoughts of two of my favorite activists: Anne Leonard and Chris Hedges.

As you know from our weekly newletters we have a passion for issues of social justice. To us that is what America is supposed to offer the rest of the world—a beacon of light. We have a long, long, long ways to go to make that become a reality. In fact, much of the hardship of the world today is our direct doing. But we still have the freedom to make our voices heard. So my Fourth Resolution is to strengthen my acitivist spirit through finishing my book by December, so that I can use it in 2013 as a platform to promote the Therapeutic Foods paradigm (see Clinical Notes below).

Annie Leonard, the author of The Story of Stuff, wrote in her 4th of July website’s message:

Cicero said: ‘Freedom is participation in power.’ The Declaration of Independence wasn’t forged so we could be free to sit on our couches, free to choose from hundreds of TV channels, as climate change worsens, industries keep churning out toxic pollution and income inequality hits record highs. The Declaration of Independnece was created so we could participate in our own governance and build a better future. So, let’s do it. Let’s execise those citizen muscles.

To read Annie’s full 4th message and see her up and coming new film, The Story of Change, click on the link above.

Chris Hedges has just come out with his most recent book, which he wrote with the cartoonist Joe Sacco. It is called, “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt” (2012). Hedges and Sacco traveled to the most depressed pockets of poverty in the US. He calls them “sacrifice zones” where corporate capitalism (corporate greed) has run amuck. It is an extremely impacting book. Here is a link to an interview with Chris Hedges about his book. Here’s a quote from the interview:

The sacrifice zones are growing all across the country because when everything becomes a commodity, the natural world becomes a commodity, human beings become a commodity, that are exploited until exhaustion, we collapse. We are destroying human capitol and we are destroying the natural world.

So my good friends what is your Fourth of July Resolution? I would love to hear them.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

What is the Therpapeutic Foods Paradigm?

Our bodies are so bombarded with pollution, pathogens and stress that they desperately need to be fed real food, sustaining food, energizing food, organic food with high actives.

Even if we eat seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, it’s good but it is not enough, we need powerful organic food, food that doesn’t add more pollutants to our body burden, but food that impacts our bodies therapeutically and makes them strong.

Here is the link to read further about the Therapeutic Foods paradigm.

Also, read about the World Today, the reason we need to fight for a clean environment.

The Last Quiz Answer:

This beautiful creature is a hummingbird. They are found only in North and South America. South America has the largest variety of hummingbirds with Ecuador having 163 different species. They range in size, some not much larger than a bumble bee, with the giant hummingbird being 8 inches in length, about the size of a large blackbird—amazing isn’t it? Hummingbirds are not only the smallest bird but are the smallest animal with a backbone. In normal flight they beat their wings 80 times per second. However, they can fly up to 60mph, with wings flapping 200 times per second. This happens during their courtship dives, they’re charged up!

On July 17th Annie Leonard and her team at The Story of Stuff Project are coming our with their newest movie (video): The Story of Change. Check out this trainer. The Story of Change urges viewers to put down their credit cards and start exercising their citizen muscles to build a more sustainable, just and fulfilling world..

Dear Friends,

A major purpose for our Forward Thinking Newletter is to connect the dots, to introduce you to the people who are working effectively towards bring about a world that is socially equitable, environmentally clean and economically sustainable.  In this week’s newsletter I want to focus on one of my favorites, the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI).

Last week RMI came out with their Spring 2012 journal.  Here is a link to it.  Do take the time to read the different articles.  It will just take a few minutes and it will truly inspire you with hope for a future that is good for all humankind.  I’ve highlighted a few gems from it for you below, but here is your direct link: RMI eSolutions Journal- Spring 2012.

A couple of quotes from Amory Lovins’ (RMI’s co-founder, Chairman and Chief Scientist) article Practicle Transformation:

Most of the world’s biggest economic entities are no longer countries but companies, and many central governments are stagnating while private enterprise innovates. Therefore turning scarcity by inattention into abundance by design requires fundamental change that some of the world’s biggest, most complex, and most entrenched industries can lead.

This certainly is true.  We know that the food industry worldwide is controled by a handful of transnational corporations we group under the Industrial Agri-Food Complex (Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, Monsanto, General Foods, etc) and of course there is Big Oil controling our energy use and choices.  The tendency is for us to say that these are our enemy.  But Rocky Mountain has taken a different approach, and I think the enlightened approach.

Lovins, in his article, calls it a Jûjutsu like approach.  That is you use your apponents strengths, redirecting them into accomplishing your desired goals.  RMI is working with the biggest of the big, and they are bit by bit changing, getting the message. As Emory says,

This gentle trimtab steers incumbents’ strength and force from blocking change to driving change. Jûjutsu-like, its suppleness can overcome superior force by subtly redirecting it—turning opposing weight and strength into an advantage through fluidity, centeredness, leverage, and up-close, hands-on engagement. Fighting with an opponent turns into dancing with a partner.

From our perspective, it is not about manipulating, but working together, as partners, to bring about changes.  Read his article.  The momentum is beginning to shift.  It’s truly exciting.

Michael Potts is Rocky Mountain Institute’s President and CEO.  In his article RMI’s Trademark Approach he states,

First, we focus on solutions, not problems. We find that decision-makers and practitioners don’t respond well to preaching or scare tactics, but are challenged and energized by a fact-based path to efficiency and renewables. Second, we base our work on solid research and analysis, anchored in industry expertise and informed by fresh thinking and novel questions. This earns us a seat at the table where pivotal decisions are made. Third, we connect and convene leaders across sectoral and disciplinary boundaries to spread innovation and speed adoption across industry and civil society.

Michael highlights in his piece RMI’s recently published (Fall 2011) Reinventing Fire:  Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era.  Reinventing Fire gives a business led roadmap to get the American economy off of oil, coal and nuclear power, and to use one-third less natural gas by 2050.

Have you heard of the Dutch Postcode Lottery Funds Diverse Groups?  I certainly hadn’t. Molly Miller (RMI) enlightens us about this wonderful group in her article, A More Charitable World:  Dutch Postcode Lottery Funds Diverse Groups.

This year the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the Netherlands’ largest charity lottery, will distribute a record 284 million euros ($376 million) to 85 organizations, including such annual recipients as UNICEF, Amnesty International, and Médecins sans Frontières. Together with the Postcode Lotteries in Sweden and the UK, this Dutch fundraising machine is the third-largest private charitable donor in the world.

Sustainability is not the sole important focus for the lottery, which also funds global humanitarian organizations. “Our money is often used as leverage or for projects that are harder to raise funds for, like disasters that do not get a lot of media attention,” says van Schaik. For example, the lottery supports Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), which provides emergency medical assistance to populations in danger in more than 70 countries. The lottery’s contribution is used for as projects as HIV/AIDS treatment in Burma, Congo-Kinshasa and Ethiopia, and support for refugees in Darfur and South Sudan.

This year RMI received $1.2 million from the lottery.  Since 2009, they’ve received more than $4 million in unrestricted revenue from the Postcode Lottery.

Lottery’s Managing Director, Marieke van Schaik, said “We are very proud to support Rocky Mountain Institute.  The world needs organizations working for a better and more efficient use of our natural resources. RMI is able to combine this objective with market-oriented solutions, which creates much needed transformation in both the corporate and the private sphere.”

RMI presents a great example for us on the holistic path, and that is not to demonize our apponent.  It causes me to think again about those activists in our movement who’ve gone on to accept high level positions in giant corporations, companies whose philosophies and actions are at the causative core of our ecological problems, the very companies we need to change.  Maybe they, our comrads, too are practicing Aikido. What do you think?

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

When it comes to probiotics we believe in diversity.  We presently give you seven different probiotic formulas to choose from. Here’s a combination we find very effective.  Add one teaspoon of Number 7 Systemic Booster and one heaping tablespoon of the Beta Glucan Synbiotic Formula to a large glass of water.  The combination gives you 12 different strains of lactic acid bacteria plus 15 grams of soluble fiber.  The good bug count is 40 billion. Plus, you are getting beet, pomegranate, tart cherry, cranberry, pineapple (all organic), carnitine, carnosine, Vitamin D3, folate and fructoborate.

The Last Quiz Answer:

The Japanese macaques are the most northerly-living non-human primates. In the forested and mountainous region of Japan where they’re found, some populations have been known to bathe in hot springs during the freezing winters and swim during the sweltering summer heat. Japanese macaques have become famous for washing their food in saltwater before they eat it. This skill has spread through the population and down the generations. For fun these macaques make snowballs, just like us. (BBC Nature)

Forging Food Sovereignty with Farmers:  Dismantling the Industrial agri-foods complex at the local food system level must be accompanied by the construction of alternatives that suit the needs of small scale producers and low-income consumers, worldwide.  Check out Food First.

Dear Friends,

We are beginning to wake up.  We desperately need fresh air!

We are awakening to the understanding that life on earth has the power, in the way that it behaves, to alter the very composition of the gasses that make up the troposphere (the troposphere being the blanket of air covering the earth where all the weather takes place).

Furthermore, being the self-conscious, reflective animals that we are, we’ve come to understand that the way in which we have conducted ourselves on earth since the industrial revolution, has brought us into a crisis point that in all likelyhood, unless we get a hold of ourselves, will lead us to our very extinction, along with that of most other higher, high oxygen requiring creatures—the Sixth Mass Extintion.

When comparing the atmospheres of our closest neighboors in our solar system, Mars and Venus, to the earth’s atmosphere, Dr. James Lovelock (founder of the Gaia Hypothesis)  contends that, the Venusian atmosphere yielded figures of 95-96% carbon dioxide, 3-4% nitrogen, with traces of oxygen, argon and methane. The same analysis for Mars returns 95.3% carbon dioxide, 2.7% nitrogen, 1.6% argon, only 0.15% oxygen and only 0.03% water. In comparison the Earth’s atmosphere at present is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen with traces of carbon dioxide, methane and argon.

Chemically speaking, life enables the atmosphere to exists in a state far from equilibrium.  Conversely, if there was no life on earth its atmosphere would resemble that of Mars and Venus with levels of CO2 well over 90%, and oxygen being negligible.  Basically, reaching a state of equilibrium.  Life exists far from equilibrium.

So, the rising CO2 levels are very alarming, especially since they haven’t been at 380 ppm since 2 million years ago.  The more they rise the hotter the planet gets, the hotter the planet gets, the more the ice caps melts, the oceans rise, and the higher species die.  We’ve been here before, five times. This time, extinction, will be of our own doing.

Fortunately, we see help coming from all corners of the earth.  It is literally happening all around us, and the goal with our Forward Thinking is to help connecting the dots of positive movements so we can be encouraged and motivated to participate in quickening the change.  The following are a couple more points of light for us to know about:

Number One:  It’s happening in our very own neighborhoods.

On Tuesday afternoon Dohrea and I drove to Seattle to one of our new favorite food coops, the Madison Market.  As we arrived to our destination I noticed right across the street the most gorgeous wooden office building going up. I had to take a picture, so I took out my trusty cell phone and took these two shots. As you can see in the second picture it says the Bullitt Center.  Would you like to know what the Bullitt Center is up to?  It’s very exciting!

Their goal is to be the greenest commercial building in the world. They have entered into the Living Building Challenge.  To be certified as a Living Building a structure is required to be self-sufficient for energy and water for a least 12 continuous months and to meet rigorous standards for green materials and for quality of its indolor environment.  The Living Building Challenge requires a project to meet 20 specific imperatives within seven performance areas.

For the Bullitt Center, meeting the imperatives will include the following:

• Site:  The location will support a pedestrian, bicycle, and  transit-friendly lifestyle.
• Water:  Rainwater will be collected on the roof, stored in an underground cistern and used throughtout the building.
• Energy:  A solar array will generate as much electricity as the building uses.
• Health:  The building will promote health for its occupants with inviting stairways, operable windows and features to promote walking and resource sharing.
• Materials:  The building will not contain any “Red List” hazardous materials, including PVC, cadmium, lead, mercury and hormone-mimicking substances, all of which are commlonly found in building components.>
• Equity:  Unlike many office buildings, large operable windows will offer fresh air and daylight to all the people who work in the Bullitt Center.  The goals of Seattle’s Community High Road Agreement will guide selection of the construction team.

Their website is trendously informative, an important resource.  It will take you into a whole new world of enlightened building design.  Click here or above at the Bullitt Center.

Number Two:  It is happening all over the world.

350.org is building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.  They have a fabulous educational site, that will arm you with all the information you needs to grasp and to speak on behalf of the issues regarding global warming.

They just completed an online project called Climatedots.org where people from all over the world took videos and photos of climate changes occuring in their part of the world.  Check out the link.  Communities gathering from all over the world—Brazil, London, Florida, Afghanistan, Egypt, Kenya, Micronesia, etc—it’s grassroots and people are getting involved.  I will let these links do the talking.

The coral reefs of our Maldivian island is bleaching and breaking apart because of climate change, threatening our community, country, and culture. Photo By: Mohamed Fahumee.  These islanders are standing on the dead coral at low tide.  Very sad.

Sincerely yours,

Seann Bardell

BioImmersion.com

Clinical Note:

Energy Sustain:  organic quinoa, amaranth, chia, buckwheat and millet, all especially milled to make their nutrients available.  There is no gluten, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, or excipients and additives of any kind.  They are clean and pure. They are kosher. Cruciferous Sprouts:  broccoli, daikon radish, red radish, watercress, kale, mustard, cabbage.  All freeze dried sprouts harvested on the third day when their glucosinolates are at their heights.  Phyto Power:  whole and very potent multi-species of wildcrafted Blueberry, Dandelion and Rosehips—just think of the red, blue and green power.  Ultra Minerals:  72 nano sized, negatively charged plant derived minerals from Deep Time—predating humans destructive involvement with the land.  Original Synbiotic Formula:  good lactic acid bacteria and organic inulin from chicory root.

The Last Quiz Answer:

Lynx are masters of deep snow and cold winters. In Washington, they are at home among the boreal habitats in Okanogan County, where winter persists for much of the year.

Their down-like fur protects them from the cold, and their large paws (the size of a cougar’s foot) and small weight (similar to a 25-pound bobcat) enable lynx to float on the deep fluffy snows of the high elevations of northern Washington. These large feet act as snowshoes for lynx to pursue their primary prey, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus).

Excessive numbers of fires in the past decade may be a threat to the species’ survival in Washington … In the past decade, more than 50 percent of these spruce and subalpine fir forests along the northeastern Cascades have been burned. (from a talk by Gary Koehler, wildlife research scientist, Washington Deparment of Fish and Wildlife).

I just picked up a book, that just came out, at our new food coop in Bellevue called Local Dollars, Local Sense:  How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street and Achieve Real Prosperity.  It has received some very high endorsements from authors I respect.  For example John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman (a must read) said, This long awaited book is a masterpiece and a field guide to a much needed journey into creating the kind of economy our children will be happy to inherit.  Future generations will praise Local Dollars, Local Sense as one of those seminal works that helped transform human societies.