NUTRI-WEST 2024 Annual Symposium Recap on Longevity
SEMINAR TOUR
Lynn Toohey
PhD
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IN FEBRUARY 2024, I HAD THE HONOR of attending and speaking at the Nutri-West Annual Symposium (themed “Longevity”) with six other speakers and 146 attendees in Phoenix, AZ. It was such an epic event that I must share some highlighted moments in the hope that readers will enjoy a vicarious experience of one of the most incredible educational seminars I’ve ever witnessed. But don’t take my word for it! The phenomenal feedback encompassed the feeling of camaraderie, nutritional awareness, speaker awe, reverence for knowledge, a new feeling of awareness, and appreciation for symposium benefits.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
NUTRI-WEST received so much praise for an outstanding symposium for many reasons. Michele Ediss, owner of NUTRI-WEST, was lauded for the event’s organization, providing attendees with gourmet food for breaks, cocktail parties, and receptions and handing out giveaways that ranged from stress balls and high-quality thermos bottles to a free Longevity Test Kit complete with sample products highlighted by each speaker.
Several doctors spoke of a life-changing experience and their elevation to a higher understanding of longevity because of the seven expert speakers’ presentations on the topic. James Forster, DC, described it as a “tsunami of time; ly, critical information taught by the best in the country. ”
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The Vicarious Experience Straight from the Horses’ Mouths
We asked the speakers what they thought was the main take-home message from their lecture
In December 2023, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a blockbuster study pertaining to longevity. By doing eight things, researchers believed that men could optimize a healthy lifespan by 24 years and women by 23 years. The symposium allowed me the opportunity to do a deep dive into each of the eight factors. Coupling these factors with the survival versus longevity advice pertaining to vitamins, minerals, and supplements from expert Bruce Ames (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) created a priceless combination for all interested in this topic.
Lastly, understanding why endogenous molecules termed resolvins are critical players in human physiology — from COVID to chronic back pain — is critical for healthy longevity. Understanding resolvins and how we get more of them was the “icing on the cake” for my presentation.
Author’s Note: Dr. Murphy was amazing as usual and did not disappoint when it came to being awed at the amount of clinical research backing up an engaging talk concerning longevity tips and protocols. The title of his talk was “Unlocking the Fountain of Vitality: Knowledge for Lifelong Wellness and Longevity Strategies.” From lifestyle and diet to supplements that research supports for longevity, Dr. Murphy brought it home to a fascinated audience.
The 2024 symposium was loaded with first-class participants as well as speakers and vendors. The enthusiasm and appreciation for this production were amazing. I think the most profound message to the audience was that, when comparing the “doctor of the future” quote by Thomas Edison and where the chiropractic industry is today, we now operate in the future prognosticated by Edison. To that end, the message went on to demonstrate what we, as chiropractors, are capable of accomplishing with our abilities to affect structure (adjusting), chemistry (nutrition), and emotions through functional neurologic assessments.
Author’s Note: Many of the positive symposium comments centered around the appreciation for Dr. Ediss’s ability to make the research practical. At the time of this printing, Dr. Ediss will have appeared in a June seminar in Colorado with Dr. Murphy, where he specifically targets Dr. Murphy’s research and applies it to kinesiology examples. Many doctors are registering from all states. Dr. Ediss is a frequent contributor to The American Chiropractor, and his recent June article explains ankle sprains/strains and practical protocols for recovery. Interestingly, the theme of the 2025 Nutri-West Symposium will be “Doctor of the Future: Neurological Advances.”
The most profound message for me was how to assess true biological age and function through lab tests, such as inflammatory markers, stool testing, and methylation status, to name a few. I have a whole algorithm to assess someone’s health status and vitality score using labs and some simple questions about diet and lifestyle. The other big takeaway is how important relationships are in our whole-body health. People with better interpersonal relationships live longer and happier.
Finally, how few people utilize all of the nutraceutical advancements in mitochondrial processes that are supported by recent scientific literature to positively affect life and health span. Things like grape seed extract and alpha lipoic acid were once thought to just be useful for blood sugar support and normal arterial pressure, but now they can and should be used to achieve optimal health for a large portion of the population not suffering from any known ailments or dysfunctions.
Author’s Note. Dr. Lundell is an expert in functional/integrative medicine (FIM) and cracking the tough cases. He recently published an article for the July issue of The American Chiropractor. It was an intriguing case study of misdiagnosed hip pain where the patient was scheduled for surgery but avoided it by paying attention to what the body needed to heal. Dr. Lundell notes that the cornerstone of FIM is appropriate laboratory selection and interpretation. See the July issue of TAG for Dr. Lundell’s top 20 recommended lab tests and the nutrition that supported the turnaround in the case study.
All Rave Reviews!
“I have been in practice for over 38 years and have been using NUTRI-WEST nutritional products for that long. I have always want-
ed to attend the symposium and found excuses not to go. Not this year! Some of the brightest minds in the field of chiroprac-
tic, cutting-edge nutrition, and genetic and functional medicine as it pertains to alternative health fields were present at this year’s NUTRI-WEST Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. I was extremely impressed by the knowledge presented and the courteous help all the vendors and NUTRI-WEST staff provided. The entire weekend was thoroughly enjoyed and immediately usable at my clinic the next day. I will definitely make this an annual event. Will not miss it again!”
Vincent Turosky, DC
“I have been in practice for over 38 years and have been using NUTRI-WEST nutritional products for that long. I have always wanted to attend the symposium and found excuses not to go. Not this year!
Randi Kirchofner, ACN, NTR CPC
I would have to say that the highlight of the presentation was when the audience realized the profound importance of vagus nerve function on overall health. I could see it on their
faces and by the quality of their questions. I then demonstrated that vagus dysfunction is easy to assess and correct, as well as the importance of nutritional support for acetylcholine function. I went on to tap into my 40 years of experience to add fun and interesting clinical cases and anecdotes. It resulted in a fun presentation for all.
Author’s Note: Dr. Belli is the renowned chairman and past president of the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK). The audience always appreciates his extensive background and how he applies it to symposium themes (diplomate functional neurology, fellow neurochemistry, and certifications in nutrition and functional medicine). He has treated audiences around the world to his thorough and practical methods for integrating chiropractic techniques into his lectures. The audience loved the hands-on demonstrations of vagus nerve stimulation and the correlations that were made to clinical outcomes and case studies. For more detail on vagus nerve connections, please see the article in the October 2022 issue of The American Chiropractor.
The most significant new discovery I learned while studying longevity was that most variants in genetics that impact longevity positively or negatively have a direct effect on the ability of cells to cope with stressors. Good genetic coping skills equals optimal aging. Adding the body’s natural ability to cope with stress by decreasing the overwhelming burden of stressors is the best solution to support longevity in the 21st century. Gene variants (also known as SNPs or single nucleotide polymorphisms) in FOXO3 and APOE have the biggest, impact, while mitochondrial inflammation is another contributor with variants in MnSOD.
Author’s Note: “FOX03: A Major Gene in Longevity” was the title of a research paper focusing on aging aspects (Gerontology. 2015; 61(6): 515525). APOE has long been associated with memory and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). It is a manganese-dependent gene responsible for scavenging the highly reactive superoxide radical (SO), thereby offering antioxidant properties important for longevity. Dr. Allomong is a respected authority in methylation pathways, DNA variants, and relevant protocols to bring out the best in our DNA. Dr. Allomong’s protocols individualize treatment based on questionnaires, intake forms, and genetic reports. Check out the upcoming September issue of The American Chiropractor for an article by Dr. Allomong about improving clinical outcomes by integrating genetics into protocols.
My biggest revelation that I wanted to share at the symposium was discovering what foods and supplements affect stem cell growth. Stem cell growth is necessary not only for longevity (quantity of life) but also for quality of life, such as when stem cells are involved with bone. I was interested to find that the chiropractic adjustment affects the vagus nerve, which can stimulate mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), the multipotent stem cells found in bone marrow that make and repair skeletal tissues. MSCs can convert to fat cells without support, so I went over support protocols for stem cells in detail, including the OTC drugs that inhibit stem cells and the individual nutrients that best support them. For a list of those nutrients, simply refer to the article in the January issue of The American Chiropractor titled “Fighting Back Against Osteoporosis.”
In conclusion, the 2024 Nutri-West Symposium was definitely a unique, thoroughly satisfying, stimulating educational event that left no disappointment. To quote Duane Meyers, DC, it was the “best run convention ever - nice job! I’ve been to a lot of these kinds of events, and this was the best one I’ve ever attended.”
Hopefully, even more professionals will attend in 2025 when the symposium’s theme will be “The Doctor of the Future: Neurological Advances.” It will be held at Venue8600 in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Nutri-West will attempt to top this seemingly unbeatable seminar.
Lynn Toohey received her PhD in nutrition summa cum laude from Colorado State University. She is an author and lecturer and has represented Nutri-West for over two decades.
More information about Nutri-West history, the owner Michele Ediss, and excellence in nutritional formulation can be found on their website: NutriWest.com. Inquiries can be made to: [email protected], or reach us by phone at 1-800-443-3333.
SEMINAR HIGHLIGHTS
One of the top comments was that everyone enjoyed the personal touch of being invited to the Saturday night reception at the Ediss home. The warm welcome extended to all was reflective of the recognition that this was not just a seminar, it was fun, it was friendly and it was a demonstration of customer appreciation.
