Homocysteine Levels

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

There has been a dramatic rise in cardiovascular disease in this country. Arterial hardening or the loss of elasticity of the artery wall is a leading cause of heart attack deaths, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Dr. Kilmer McCully originally reported in 1969 that elevated homocysteine levels were associated with advanced atherosclerosis (plaquing) of the arteries and premature death. He based the findings on a study of children born with a genetic disorder called homocystinuria. These patients had genetically induced super high levels of homocysteine, and they often died at very young ages with advanced hardening of the arteries.

Homocysteine is an inflammatory amino acid that is produced as a byproduct of metabolism of the protein methionine. During metabolism of methionine, significant levels of B₆, B₁₂, folate, B₂ and magnesium must be present in order to be synthesized properly into glutathione. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that protects against oxidative stress.

Germaphobe

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

Are you a germaphobe?  Must you have antibacterial soaps, wipes and hand sanitizers available at all times?  Do you really believe that if you touch a germ you will get some cold, virus or disease?  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you don’t live in a germ free bubble.  These bugs are around you at all times.  In order for a particular germ to invade your defenses, there needs to be a weakness to exploit.  In other words, the ground(your body) needs to be fertile(weak) before you can ‘catch’ anything.

The use and abuse of antibiotic wipes, sanitizers, creams and soaps are a hazard to your health.  Triclosan and Triclocarban are the most common chemicals added to cutting boards, lunch boxes, mattresses, and hand sanitizers.  The attempt to control microbial spread has been a categoric failure. 

A growing body of evidence now suggests that the over application of triclosan is a leading cause of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.  It is bioaccumulatory in fish and other organic organisms.  Animal studies show that triclosan may alter the way hormones work in the body.  Triclosan is very good at killing off weak bacteria, which allows the virulent bacteria to thrive in their absence. 

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

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

One of the most common surgeries performed by orthopedic surgeons is a meniscectomy – or trimming of the torn meniscus and smoothing the jagged edges of what remains. Most times, it is just assumed that this tear is what is causing the pain.

This arthroscopic surgery is performed some 700,000 times a year costing $4 billion. Several studies over the last 10 years have given rise to the question of necessity of this surgery for the most common cause, wear and tear.  80% of meniscal tears develop over time from simple wear and tear.

The latest study out of Finland, examined 146 people with degenerative meniscal tears (caused by wear and tear, not acute injury). One group received standard surgery and the other a “sham” or fake surgery. After one year, both groups reported equally favorable outcomes, which was primarily less knee pain. In the end, the researchers concluded that the real arthroscopic surgeries had no better outcome than the fake ones.

Discs

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

It’s been awhile since I’ve written on a chiropractic specific topic. There is a lot of misinformation about intervertebral discs from many sources. Most doctors believe that once a spinal disc or nerve is damaged, you need surgery or are forced to live with pain, weakness and organ malfunction for the rest of your life.

The truth is that while the spine can and does easily degenerate, it can also regenerate. Conditions once thought to be permanent can many times be stopped, and sometimes reversed. Chiropractic, like medicine, is becoming more specialized all the time. The special training necessary to physically change your condition by fixing your postural problems is not to be found at every office, nor is every patient a candidate to be fixed. The process of rehabilitating a degenerated spine is time consuming and requires significant active participation from the patient. Not everyone is willing to put in the time and effort necessary to achieve a better spine.

Fiber

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

The recommended daily intake of fiber is between 20 and 30 grams per day. Most adults don’t eat half that much. This isn’t surprising, since health fibers are processed right out of our largely refined food diet.

Unless you regularly eat whole fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, you are probably missing out on the healthiest forms of fiber. You may think your diet of bran muffins and cereals has you up to capacity, but that may be a big mistake.

There are major health benefits from eating adequate fiber regularly. Soluble fiber helps control your blood sugar by slowing the breakdown of carbs and sugar.

There is an inverse relationship to heart disease. The more fiber in your diet, the less incidence of heart disease, up to a 40% lower risk.

Fiber helps manage weight loss due to increased bulk in the stomach and a more satiated feeling.

Krill vs. Fish Oil

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

The headlines of the last week read, “Doctors now recommend against taking vitamin supplements.” Really? Our food and diet is that good? Of course, that is from the corporations and FDA that want to regulate vitamin and herb production in this country. They have as their goal to make vitamins and supplements prescription only! So, the same guys that poo-poo vitamins want to regulate and dispense them. C’mon man!
 

Now I can go on to this weeks article with that off my chest.

Most people have heard of supplementing with fish oil for various health deficiencies. It was reported to be good for heart health and help lower triglycerides and cholesterol. I am going to show you why you should kick the fish oil to the curb, and start taking krill oil instead. It’s not that fish oil is necessarily bad for you, but krill oil is much better for the job at hand.

Chicken or the Egg?

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

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We now have an answer based on scientific facts. In February 2010, British scientists reported that a protein found only in a chickens ovary is necessary for the formation of the egg. According to scientists, the egg can only exist if it has been created inside a chicken! The protein is the basis for development of the shell. Those with inquiring minds are now asking, “well where did the chicken come from initially?” Hint: read your Bible.

Where am I going with this? Knowing where the chickens are raised, how the eggs are handled, and how they are transported and stored are very important when deciding where to purchase your eggs.

In 2007, it was found that 83% of fresh, whole broiler chickens bought nationwide contained campylobacter or salmonella, the leading causes of food borne disease. Prior studies have shown organic, pastured chickens are far less contaminated with the antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. In fact, conventional chicken products were found to be up to 460 times more likely to contain antibiotic resistant strains than antibiotic free chicken products.

This means the precautions on handling grocery store chicken products is wisely heeded.