A summarized expose' on the foods and substances that
can cause auditory and communicative problems, Readers
may direct hearing health questions by going to "contact
us", or by sending an email to: digicarenet@aol.com. All
inquiries must be accompanied with the person's name,
address, and telephone. Replies are for educational
purposes only, and are not to be construed as medical
advice or opinion.
THE TEN MOST (UN)WANTED ENEMIES OF GOOD HEARING HEALTH
by
Max S. Chartrand, M.A.,
DigiCare Hearing Research & Rehabiliation
One of the banes of today’s modern society is the mass
production and commercialization of food preparation. In
short, today’s “Taste Wars” have given us food, or
rather “food substitutes”, which can be so unhealthy and
toxic to our bodies. While many non-affluent populations
in the world are genuinely starving, those of us in this
affluent society are starving in a different way. Our
bodies are groaning under overprocessed foods laden with
high sodium (salt), sucrose (refined sugars), petroleum-
and plastics-based food additives to give shape, body,
and consistency, and yet other additives to preserve,
add taste, and color. Add tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, in
huge abundance, and what we get comprises up to 80% of
our nation’s health bill:
o Compromised immune systems
o High LDL cholesterol & triglycerides
o High rates of high blood pressure, stroke
o Diabetes & all shades of gray conditions
o Kidney & liver dysfunction
o Chronic anemia and nutritional deprivation
o High rates of high disease, cancer, vascular disease
o Obesity in epidemic proportions
o Rampant allergies of all kinds
o ADD/H in the young/AD in the old
o Tinnitus, vertigo and hearing loss
Today’s adult tends to eat half-again as many calories
as they burn in an average day of physical activity,
much of it in the form of undigested proteins from high
animal fat consumption. This causes a prolonged pH
imbalance, high uric acid levels, and, coupled with a
propensity toward dehydration, a highly toxic state of
health. Little wonder, then, that many of the conditions
listed above are uniquely American, and are only found
in other populations to the degree to which they emulate
our dietary habits.
Now, you’ve bumped into something in your health that
has gotten your attention: hearing health. Tinnitus is
“the pain of the ear”, screaming out to us 24 hours
‘round the clock that something is wrong. Let’s talk
about some of the things we take into our bodies that,
if they were common criminals, would be considered the
“Top Ten Most Unwanted”:
#1 Tobacco
Several years ago it was determined that tobacco caused
up to 1/3 of all healthcare costs in the U.S.---That
makes tobacco use the single largest cause of serious
health problems in the nation! With recent increased
smoking rates among young females in the U.S. we are
seeing epidemic proportions of disease that were once
the domain of males. Smoking does up to 50% more damage
to females than males as a general rule, and is creating
a whole generation of babies born to smoking mothers
with unprecedented rates of learning/physical
disabilities. More than 80% of cancers in our population
are credited to tobacco use.
#2 Caffeine
This relatively innocent substance contributes mightily
to attentional problems in our young and central
nervous/limbic system problems in our not-so-youngs. For
those suffering with chronic tinnitus, it acts as an
amplifier. Anyone serious about reducing tinnitus will
avoid caffeine in all its forms, especially in coffee,
soft drinks, and chocolate.
#3 High salt
High rates of hypertension have their roots firmly
established in diet laden with high salt. While salt is
necessary to maintain electrolytes, it is estimated that
the average adult consumes approximately 60% more salt
than is necessary to maintain good health. The extra
salt simply makes the body’s cells more toxic, and
increases the need for prescription medication.
#4 High Sugar
High sugar in our diet causes the pancreas to work
overtime secreting insulin. When insulin is released
into the blood stream to control sugar intake it is
virtually impossible to burn fat calories. Instead,
calories are burned from muscle and systemic proteins.
Hence, high rates of obesity, diabetes mellitus II, and
eventually neuropathy and muscle wasting. It is much
better to take sugars in their most natural form, in
honey, fruits, unconcentrated and unprocessed. Better
yet, by striving for a high protein diet with few simple
carbohydrates, the sugar problem is resolved altogether.
#5 Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
A word to the wise: Avoid MSG like the plague. This
microcrystalline form of sodium/glutamic acid goes from
the tongue to the inner ear fluids in 20 minutes
flat---wreaking destruction on the ear’s delicate
chemical (pH) balance. Tinnitus roars, vertigo swoons,
and hearing levels drop. Add rising blood pressure and
increased risk of stroke---the cause of which too often
eludes the sufferer staggering out of their local
restaurant. Buffalo wings, Cheetos, KFC Spicy, Marie’s
Calendar’s, frozen TV dinners, flavored chips…these and
myriad other “foods” have turned today’s “Taste Wars”
into hard battle against America’s good health.
#6 Aspartame/Nutrasweet
Numerous anecdotal studies and individual patient
reports point to the serious health consequences that
have been well hidden from public view for many years.
There is absolutely no clinical evidence that this
deadly toxin offers any health benefit, yet it has shown
to contribute mightily to liver damage, kidney failure,
and cochlear stroke. Sufferers of tinnitus and
cochlear-based hearing loss should avoid this artificial
sweetener at all costs. In fact, all artificial
sweeteners pose a problem for proper hormone secretions,
and can actually cause weight gain in non-insulin
dependent diabetics.
#7 Artificial Food Additivies
Artificial flavorings, colors, pesticides, hormones and
steroids used in food production today comprises an
extremely long list of potentially dangerous substances.
Some are outright poisons, which the healthy human body
is usually able to eliminate with little difficulty.
Some people, however, due to ill health, medications, or
inherent weaknesses to which allergy is the most common
response. These additives range from petroleum-based
flavors in ice cream to plastic mixed with beef and
other meats to make them hold together during cooking.
Hormones that are fed cattle and chickens to make them
grow fast and bulkier do the same for humans, if enough
is ingested over time. Though it is nearly impossible to
totally avoid all these substances in the modern diet,
it behooves all health-conscious consumers to minimize
foods with artificial flavorings, preservatives,
emulsifiers, and binders wherever possible. A good of
thumb: The further food is processed from its natural
state, the less nutritious and potentially more toxic it
becomes to your health.
#8 Saturated/Polyunsaturated Oils
These are found primarily in red meat products, lard,
and in some dairy cheeses, such as Cheddar and Brie.
Most vegetable oils, while claiming to be low in
cholesterol, actually trade-off that benefit with a load
of bad eicosinoides and a type of fat that does not
digest well in the body. The main oto-related issues
with the foregoing is their tendency to cause
hyperlipoproteinemia or hyperlipidemia, which can cause
a marked reduction in the microvascular circulation of
the inner ear. This is problem is likely the greatest
single contributing factor to presbyacusis hearing loss
for most sufferers.
#9 Impure water
Volumes have been published on the importance of clean
water in the diet. Free calcium, overload of certain
trace minerals, and ototoxicity are all documented in
the literature. Furthermore, are a host of bacteria,
amoeba, and protozoa that can keep patients perpetually
ill. We recommend that one’s primary drinking water
always be filtered. Range of quality and price make it
possible for all to enjoy good, clean water as a main
part of their daily diet.
#10 Elemental Iron additives (for males)
Some years ago, federal government studies focused on
overcoming the high rates of anemia found in babies born
to mothers who were on government assistance. The core
of their studies were nearly always with sufferers of
alcoholism and drug addiction. The notorious “crack
babies” and “fetal alcohol syndrome” were common in this
group. To allay that problem the researchers recommended
the addition of supplemental iron in the infant formulae
supplied through government assistance programs.
However, time and evidence has shown that 1) the vast
majority of infants subsequently entering these programs
were not malnourished nor were they born to mothers with
substance addiction, 2) that alarming side-effects began
showing up in many otherwise healthy babies as a result
of iron-overload (increased allergies, otitis media with
effusion---OME---, developmental delays and severe
indigestive problems were among them), but 3) most
alarming were the later studies confirming life-long
damage (primarily cardiovascular) caused to infant
males. Many of the above symptoms have been relieved
simply by stopping use of iron-supplemented formulae.
Also, at the other end of the age spectrum, it has been
confirmed in extensive longitutudinal studies that
supplemental iron-overload, such as in certain
nutritional supplements, may also shorten the life of
older adult males, as well. Iron-poor blood was
primarily a female condition, and rarely found in males.
Note: the above is not meant to be medical opinion or
advice, but only as a public education service. Only you
and your health practitioner can determine your dietary
and health needs. |
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