Cholesterol and Statins

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

It’s been a while since I’ve hit the cholesterol and statin drug topic. There are new research articles coming out all the time. Right now there is even disagreement in the medical community as to who benefits from statins and even if they are needed at all in some people.

For 40 years the medical community and the U.S. government have warned that eating cholesterol rich foods like eggs would raise our LDL and promote heart disease. Decades of research since then have failed to produce any correlation.

The guidelines are still misleading and wrong because the basic premise is faulty. Dietary fat is indeed associated with heart disease; BUT it is the processed vegetable oils and margarines which are loaded with trans-fats and omega 6 fatty acids that are the problem, not the animal fats and saturated fats which are beneficial to the heart.

Got a Charley Horse?

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

Have you ever had a charley horse? You know the muscle cramp in your calf that makes you jump straight out of bed. Why do they occur? Is it a deficiency in magnesium, calcium or potassium? Could it be your medications or a sign of a deeper problem?

According to recent research, about 1 in every 3 adults is affected by muscle cramps of the lower limbs. In most cases the pain is temporary and goes away on its own. Some people have severe regular cramping that interferes with sleep, daily activities and quality of life.

In a study of 500 people over 60 years old, 31 percent reported being woken up by muscle cramps and 15 percent had cramps more than 3 times each month.

Diet Soda and your Health

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

It feels like summer is fast approaching and we are thinking of fitting into swimming suits once again.  Some might feel that switching to diet soda is a way to cut calories, yet still enjoy the beverage.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news yet again, but it doesn’t work that way.  All soda has negative health effects, and should be consumed very sparingly, if ever. 

 

Pepsi has announced that Diet Pepsi will be switching from aspartame to sucralose, as the artificial sweetener.

So why is Pepsi Co switching?  As many studies over the years have shown, aspartame is just hazardous to your health. It is carcinogenic in many ways, and people are rejecting its use.

Dark Chocolate

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

Since we are approaching the Easter season, many people celebrate with gifts of chocolates and candies. First, let’s remember why we have Easter celebrations. Secondly, we can look on the bright side of some of the candy we may consume.

Obviously, most candy is nothing but sugar and generally not what we look to eat regularly or in any serious amounts. Sugar in general is just not healthy and most candy is just that, not healthy.

What if I told you there is a sweet treat that is tasty and healthy? Of course I’m talking about dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains a high amount of cacao seeds, which is the secret to its healthfulness. The darker the chocolate the higher percentage of cacao, and the healthier it is. 

Actually raw cacao is the best option, but it is very bitter and not tolerated by most people. Choose a dark chocolate with 70% cacao or more for the best health benefits.

Gallbladder

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

Most people know someone who has had gallbladder issues.  It is a common ailment causing many digestive problems from indigestion, heartburn and abdominal discomfort to vomiting, diarrhea and severe pain.

The gallbladder stores bile produced by your liver, and regulates the release of bile into the digestive tract, as needed. Bile emulsifies the fat we eat for better absorption in the bowel. It is the same mechanism for why we use soap detergent to clean greasy dishes. Without soap emulsifying the fat, it would never come off the dishes, right? The same goes for the bowel; unless the fat we eat is broken down, it is not absorbed and used to fuel our bodies. You are wrong if you think this sounds like a good diet plan; we need essential fats for fuel. In fact, most people should be eating more good fats to lose weight and for better health.

Low Dose Naltrexone part 2

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

In the last article, we introduced Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) as an important therapeutic breakthrough for those with diseases whose origins are rooted in a failed immune response, or autoimmune diseases, and other immune dysfunctions. LDN boosts the immune system, activating the body’s own natural defenses. (Go to my website TryChiropracticFirst.com to find the last article under 2 Cents 4 Health.)

LDN has demonstrated efficacy in thousands of cases and diseases. In all these cases where “the immune system plays a central role in the development of the disease, low blood levels of endorphins are generally present, contributing to disease associated immune deficiencies,” says the nonprofit website LowDoseNaltrexone.org.

Low Dose Naltrexone part 1

Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.

There aren’t many times when I’m excited for the possible uses of a prescription drug. Most medications have too many unintended consequences and treat symptoms rather than the cause of a particular disease. Health and recovery come from treating the causes of disease, whether that is inflammation, lack of essential nutrients, or physical inactivity. Obviously not all disease can be treated this way and medications are a necessary option if no others exist. Most times though, other options exist.