Metabolism and Meniere’s disease – How is it related?
This is the third article in a series related to the endocrine system and Meniere’s Disease.
The hormones responsible for regulating metabolism are mainly produced by the pancreas and thyroid gland. These glands are part of the endocrine system.
Both thyroid dysfunction and endocrine disorders have been linked to Meniere’s disease, so too has metabolic disorder. Metabolic disorders can stem from the endocrine system and the thyroid being out of sync.
Metabolism is the process your body uses to get or make energy from the food you eat. Food is made up of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Natural chemicals in your digestive system break the food down into sugars and acids, your body’s fuel. Your body either uses this fuel straight away, or it stores the energy in your body tissues, such as your liver, muscles, and body fat.
A metabolic disorder occurs when abnormal chemical reactions in your body disrupt this process. When this happens, you might have too much of some substances or too little of others that you need to stay healthy. This can happen when the thyroid, adrenal glands or other organs and glands in the endocrine system are out of sync and sending out the wrong hormonal signals. Estrogen mimickers that make their way into our bodies mainly through toxins in foods and water are prime examples of endocrine disruptors that create abnormal chemical reactions.
There are numerous studies and medical papers suggesting that metabolic abnormalities may be a contributing causative factor in Meniere’s.
Metabolism and Meniere’s: Studies
In a study of Meniere’s patients at the Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in 1976,
it was found that there were Carbohydrate abnormalities in some and a significant number of patients were found to have lipid abnormalities. It was suggested that dietary management in these cases was believed to be helpful in the medical management of the patients .
Cambridge University Press published a paper in ‘The Journal of Laryngology & Otology’ in 1979 titled ‘Metabolic Investigations in Meniere’s Disease’.
It stated that both hyper and hypoglycaemia have been said to result in inner ear dysfunction. It was pointed out that diabetes can result in both progressive sensorineural hearing loss and Meniere’s Syndrome.
The authors referenced studies that found 42% of a series of 19 Meniere’s patients were suffering with reactive hypoglycaemia when tested. In this particular test it was suggested that insulin sensitivity, possibly a result of adrenal insufficiency could account for the hypoglycaemia.
It stated that hearing loss can be related to hypothyroidism, Finally it was noted that hearing loss and vertigo may be among the first signs of myxoedema (typical of patients with under active thyroid glands) and are “reversible with treatment.”
Tell that to the doctor ‘treating’ your Meniere’s, the next time you are told there is nothing more to be done and learn to live with it. Although we do not see dietary changes and supplementationas either a treatment nor a cure, the testimonials of multiple thousands who have greatly reduced or eliminated their symptoms this way suggests the body can balance itself out when given the correct fuel.
It is all about bringing balance to your body systems from micro DNA level to macro muscular skeletal level, through cellular nutrition to cervical spine realignments for example. When everything is in sync, disease states are starved and the immune system is functioning enough to deal with any inflammation, preventing dysfunctions, disorders and disease. Some might call this ‘preventative medicine’, I call it good old fashioned common sense.
A study presentation at a Symposium at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Laryngological, Rhlnological and Otological Society in 1972 stated the following:
Metabolic dysfunction is one of many factors mentioned as a primary or contributing cause of Ménière’s disease.
The symptoms of Ménière’s disease often become manifest during periods of stress. The adrenal pituitary axis plays a vital role in man’s reaction to stress. For this reason, hypoadrenal function was suggested as an etiology in some patients with Ménière’s disease.
In this study two tests were used to measure adreno-cortical reserve: ACTH plasma cortisol stimulation test and insulin stimulation test.
After evaluation of 98 patients with Ménière’s disease, we concluded the following:
1. The five-hour glucose tolerance test is helpful in identifying hypoglycemia, which may be a contributing factor in Ménière’s disease.
2. Non-myxedematous hypothyroidism may play an important role in some patients with Ménière’s disease.
3. Further endocrine studies will be necessary to determine the significance of the lowered adrenocortical reserve as shown by the ACTH plasma cortisol stimulation test.
We have long preached the importance of blood flow at Meniere’s Help and know how managing this through either diet and supplementation and/or spinal manipulation (where necessary) can make a huge difference. The study below backs up the importance of blood flow:
Published in Sage Journals the study ‘Metabolic Management in Menière’s Disease’ stated the following:
Extract: Pollution in the bloodstream by abnormal amounts of metabolites (sugar, insulin, triglycerides and cholesterol) over an extended period of time will have an adverse effect upon the small blood vessels.
If the microcirculation of the inner ear becomes afflicted, it may produce endolymphatic hydrops. Control of blood pollution can usually be achieved by intelligent dietary management.
Fifty consecutive cases of Menière’s disease were studied for abnormal levels of metabolites. Thirty-eight (76 %) of these cases had either an abnormal glucose tolerance test or at least borderline insulin levels: a) abnormal insulin levels, 35 cases; b) borderline insulin values, 3 cases; c) abnormal glucose tolerance with normal insulin values, no cases; d) both normal glucose tolerance and normal insulin production, 12 cases.
The number of studies and papers on this subject are numerous but how do you get metabolic disorders? As discussed in the articles on Thyroid dysfunctions and endocrine disorders at length, there are many toxic chemicals and pollutants found in the environment, water supplies and in foods that can accumulate in the body over a long period of time that can cause these problems.
For a healthy metabolism consider the following:
Use chili peppers in cooking, eat berries, eat more protein and less carbohydrates.
Help other Meniere’s Sufferers. Tell us all about your experiences with Meniere’s and Metabolism. Use the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
What links endocrine disorders to vertigo, dizziness, hearing loss, tinnitus and Meniere’s disease?
The connection between endocrine disorders and Meniere’s Disease has been discussed and studied since late 1950’s and early 60’s. The thyroid is part of the endocrine system and as I pointed out in my recent lengthy article, Thyroid Dysfunction Connections to Meniere’s Disease , according to studies over one 3rd of Meniere’s sufferers have thyroid issues.
Add to this fact that there has been a 600% increase in Meniere’s cases in Fukushima following the disaster at the nuclear power plant in 2011, adrenal and metabolic issues have been linked to Meniere’s and we see a pattern through the endocrine-thyroid-immune system with many cases of Meniere’s.
In addition to this, we have long preached the importance of dietary considerations, nutrition and keeping the immune system strong and healthy in order to stay symptom free, regardless of the particular root cause(s) of the inflammation within the ear (there are several possibilities and every case is different).
By joining the dots, we can see that it is vital to keep everything in balance. For example, adrenal stressors such as stress, allergies, poor nutrition, toxins, lack of sleep, gut irritating foods, some prescription drugs and caffeine have been linked to Meniere’s either as triggers or root causes.
The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system. Stressed adrenal glands can result in endocrine imbalances, thyroid dysfunction and can possibly ultimately result in the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease. As with all possible root causes of Meniere’s, it can lead to a domino effect and underscores the difficulty for the medical community in pinpointing a definitive cause. That is because there is no one definitive root cause. There are many, but as I point out in the book Managing Meniere’s Disease, that doesn’t mean you can not find yours and eliminate it from your life though.
Studies suggesting links between endocrine disorders and Meniere’s disease
In a 1977 German study published on Pub Med it concluded “This would result in reduced generation of the receptor potentials as well as in decreased activities of the first order afferent neurons as it was supposed earlier by other authors. This mechanism may be combined with a decompensation of active ion transport processes due to microcirculation disturbances. Finally it will be pointed out that true ruptures of the endolymphatic walls cannot be the usual mode of reversible lesions in Menières disease but a diffuse leakage of the perilymph-endolymph barrier.”
Blood flow is also an issue with Meniere’s Disease. Prescription drugs or supplements have been used to treat Meniere’s symptoms by promoting good blood flow. “Microcirculation disturbances” are an issue with Meniere’s.
A study was published in 2011 from The Department of Otolaryngology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan titled “The relevance of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis-related hormones to the cochlear symptoms in Ménière’s disease”.
The study was done to investigate the association of the HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical) axis-related hormones with the progression of cochlear symptoms in patients with Ménière’s disease.
Their reported conclusion was: “Our results suggest that the cortisol levels influence the endolymphatic homeostasis resulting in a deterioration of hearing at high frequency with upstaging of Ménière’s disease.“
In layman’s terms, the balance of fluids within the endolymphatic system was affected by hormones produced by the adrenal gland and endocrine system.
Why would the endocrine system not function as it should and what can you do about this?
Something that disrupts the endocrine system can affect the adrenal gland, thyroid and metabolism causing all kinds of related health issues that doctors have difficulty finding the root cause of. All of the above have been linked Meniere’s Disease.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that throw the endocrine system out of balance and as this system is the main hormone regulator, as stated above this can cause all kinds of knock on effects, dysfunctions and disorders, including ultimately the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease.
Chemicals like BPA and phthalates are surprisingly used all around us in daily life and can infiltrate our body in many unsuspected ways. Most people are completely unaware of the toxins and health damaging chemicals that saturate our environment and directly enter our bodies everyday.
One of the reasons for this is the proliferation of plastics used today. Everything from food containers and drink bottles, to cosmetic and skin care product containers. Plastic is one of the main sources of endocrine disruptors. But it doesn’t stop there. Substances and materials used in paper receipts, tin cans, electronics and even money are common everyday items that contain endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Efforts by the European Union have been made to ban endocrine disruptors in all products but with the power of Billion dollar corporations whose only concern is profit the going is very slow. With the introduction of recent global “trade deals” such as TTP it may become increasingly difficult to control the use of such harmful toxins in our lives.
Endocrine disruptors are commonly found in personal items, medicines, and cleaning products. Things we use to protect ourselves from harm can actually be harming us in different unintended ways. Sunscreen is a classic example.
The reproductive organs are part of the endocrine system. A recent study found a chemical in sunblock has been linked to infertility in men, and another noted that phthalates in toys cause many of the same issues.
Dr Edward Group of the Global Healing Center in Texas explains how endocrine distruptors are such a huge health problem:
“Constant exposure to endocrine disruptors is like putting a drop of water in the gas tank of a car. One drop may not have a major impact, but drip by drip, the car soon breaks down.
Endocrine disruptors do the same thing to the human body. Unlike the car, before the body breaks down its main systems go haywire and present symptoms such as infertility, weight gain, cardiac disease, dementia, and so much more. That’s because hormones from endocrine organs, such as the thyroid, pituitary gland, testes, ovaries, pancreas, adrenal glands, and even the gastrointestinal tract, control every function in the body.”
Endocrine disruptors to avoid:
Organophosphate Pesticides
The overuse of pesticides in modern forced food production is discussed elsewhere on this website. It doesn’t take a genius to put 2 and 2 together to realize that the explosion of degenerative diseases over the past half century or so coincides with the introduction and proliferation of forced farming techniques that have robbed the soils of their mineral content and consequently resulted in the over use of chemical fertilizers and more and more pesticides.
Pesticide residue on vegetables and fruits are one of the most common ways we consume dangerous chemicals. Organophosphate pesticides have been shown to cause infertility in men, slow brain development in children, and have even been shown to affect thyroid function.
The only way to avoid these toxins is to eat organic. If that is impossible then regular detoxing and/or using quality, clean, safe dietary supplementation would seem very wise.
17a-Ethynylestradiol
Estrogen mimickers abound in consumer products these days, causing all kinds of problems but 17a-Ethynylestradiol is a synthetic form of estrogen and the only one that remains active when taken orally. Currently, this synthetic hormone can be found in all forms of oral birth control.
Perhaps its most dangerous side effect is increasing the chances of breast cancer. Even the US government ( not known for over protecting its consumer public much in recent times) has had to acknowledge the dangers of this chemical.
PBDEs
PBDEs are fire retardants used in mattresses and other furniture and household goods. Normally exposure is associated with dust but according to a study published in the USA in 2009 one of the major sources of exposure to PBDEs was red meat and poultry! The study analyzed data from 2004 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
The study found serum levels of 5 different PBDEs were associated with eating poultry. People who ate more poultry had higher levels of the PBDEs. Poultry fat was the greatest contributor to the body’s burden of PBDEs.
Red meat intake was associated with two of the measured PBDE levels. Seafood and dairy were not associated with any changes in the PBDE levels in serum.
Vegetarians had 23-27 percent less PBDEs circulating in their serum as compared to meat-eaters.
The highest levels of PBDEs were found in males, the youngest age group examined (12-19 yrs old), the poor and the underweight (subjects with lowest BMI).
This study indicates that food is a more important route than previously thought. A number of scientific studies have suggested that PBDE levels in food supplies are rising.
The toxic garbage that ends up on our plate in the form of meat is the subject of a whole book but why is this all significant to the Meniere’s sufferer?
PBDEs, or polybrominated diethyl ethers, disrupt thyroid function by blocking the uptake of iodine, eventually taking its place in the thyroid. Because of this action, they also mimic and disrupt thyroid hormones.
As already stated above, over a 3rd of Meniere’s sufferers have thyroid issues and this may contribute to the root cause. Read about the importance of iodine and thyroid dysfunction connections to Meniere’s Disease here.
Phthalates
Phthalates are chemicals used as plastic additives for durability and flexibility. The negative health effects of these chemicals have been constantly reported in various studies all across the world. They can easily leach into water so people drinking water from pet-bottles are the most susceptible to chronic exposure. Again the proliferation of pet-bottle use for water over the past 30 years can be correlated to the rise in so many serious diseases and health conditions.
These chemicals have been linked to infertility in men, obesity, diabetes, and thyroid conditions. Returning to the old ways of storing foods and liquids in glass whenever possible would seem wise, or choose phthalate-free varieties if possible.
BPA
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well known health hazard yet they still manage to permeate their way into our food and environment. Its use has continued in plastic bottles, dental sealants, cell phone protectors, water pipes and it even coats store receipts.
This toxin easily leaches from containers and can absorb through the skin on contact; studies have found people who handle receipts have this chemical in their urine just a few hours later. According to government research, 93% of Americans have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies.
Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.
First synthesized in 1891, bisphenol A came into use as a synthetic estrogen in the 1930s. Later, chemists discovered that, combined with phosgene (used during World War I as a toxic gas) and other compounds, BPA yielded the clear, polycarbonate plastic of shatter-resistant headlights, eyeglass lenses, DVDs and baby bottles.
BPA is another estrogen mimicer. When it enters the body the endocrine system thinks it is estrogen and this throws hormonal balance out of sync.
Geneticist Patricia Hunt wrote in ‘Scientific America’ in 2008 of her studies into BPA, that with one dose of exposure in lab mice, “We’re actually affecting three generations simultaneously.” She explained, “With hormones (and estrogen mimicers like BPA), she says, high doses can sometimes “shut down” the body’s response, and low doses are enough to exert effects.”
It would seem wise to choose BPA-free storage containers and use glass whenever possible.
Perchlorate
Primarily used in rocket fuel, explosives, fireworks and fertilizers, yet water contains the highest concentrations. According to the Water Research Foundation perchlorate contamination was found in ground water, surface water and drinking water in at least 26 US states as well as Canada. Although at very low levels it can be found naturally occurring, for a number of mainly industrial reasons high levels of contamination have been found everywhere from India to the UK.
Similarly to PBDEs, perchlorate replaces iodine in the thyroid and leads to decreased thyroid activity. Symptoms of decreased thyroid activity include weight gain, poor energy, depression and of course most importantly for readers of this website, decrease thyroid activity is linked to Meniere’s Disease.
The best solution to prevent damage from this endocrine disruptor is to ensure you are getting enough quality iodine on a daily basis and to use a high-quality water filter may also help filter out perchlorate and other contaminants.
Arsenic
This highly toxic element naturally occurs in trace amounts deep within the earth’s crust, but can enter water supplies through mining, industrial practices and agriculture.
The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly states that it is hazardous to human health. Scientific American published an article in 2011 with headlines, ‘Many U.S. Drinking Water Wells Contaminated with Arsenic, Other Elements‘ stating it is a national problem, scattered in every region.
Exposure to arsenic can result in insulin resistance, immune system suppression, slowed cognitive development, cardiovascular damage, and weight gain/loss. The best way to protect against arsenic is to install a water filter, one that specifically contains the ability to remove arsenic.
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)
It’s estimated that 99% of Americans have PFC accumulation in their bodies. PFCs are commonly used to make non-stick pans. During cooking, some of these chemicals escape into your food and have the power to accumulate in your body. Once it’s there, it can be very difficult to remove.
PFCs disrupt hormone function and have been tied to infertility, ineffective sperm, heart disease, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and low birth-weight in babies. In a study for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2010 it was confirmed PFCs, especially PFOA and PFHxS, negatively affect thyroid hormone levels.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the CDC, PFCs can among many other things, alter thyroid functions and the immune system. They state that completely preventing exposure to PFCs is unlikely, however, if you live near known sources of PFC contamination, you can take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to PFCs. Minnesota, Michigan, and Alabama have issued advisories cautioning consumers to either stop or limit eating fish from waters contaminated with PFOS or other PFCs.
Avoiding non-stick cookware, checking packaging and clothing labels may help you to avoid PFCs, and a deep and thorough cleansing may be helpful for removing built up levels of PFCs in the body.
Mercury
Mercury toxicity is a well known possible root cause of Meniere’s Disease, usually from leakages in amalgam fillings.
Mercury also attacks the pancreas in the endocrine system, thereby affecting insulin production. It can also result in headaches. Many people with Meniere’s symptoms also suffer from Migraines. High mercury counts have been found in fish in recent years and the type of new CFL light bulbs contain dangerous levels of mercury. In fact, if one of these light bulbs break, it’s recommended you evacuate the area to prevent exposure.
A whole host of health problems can occur from mercury exposure depending on the source, if it is organic mercury, inorganic mercury or elemental and vaporized mercury. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, the immune system and cause hearing loss.
Mercury is known to be the most poisonous, non-radioactive, naturally occurring substance on our planet and The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is no safe level of mercury. Mercury toxicity from amalgam can take a long time to accumulate. It’s a scientific fact that toxic mercury vapor can continually be released from amalgam fillings. 80% of it enters the body and accumulates in it.
Many people have stopped all Meniere’s symptoms after removing amalgam fillings and detoxing. Exposure to mercury in general is known to cause nausea/vomiting, dizziness, ringing in ears, sinusitis, lack of concentration/brain fog, allergies and water retention (edema). All of these are knownMeniere’s symptoms or triggers.
It is also connected to these diseases related to the endocrine system: Hormonal dysfunction, Immune system disorders, Metabolic encephalopathy, Thyroid disease.
Dr Tom McGuire, a “Mercury free’ dentist has campaigned for years for the banning of the practice of using amalgam fillings and written several acclaimed books on the subject, including how to detoxify naturally.
Dioxin
Dioxin is recognized by the US government as an endocrine disruptor, yet the environment continues to be polluted. Research connects dioxin, a by product of many industrial processes, with heart disease, diabetes, reduced fertility, poor sperm activity and low sperm counts.
Meats and other food products which contain animal products provide the majority of exposure to Americans. It accumulates in fat and can remain for years, slowly poisoning us and slowly resulting in disease states.
Alcohol
Even if you never drink, alcohol can still be a relevant endocrine disruptor for you to consider. Alcohol has the power to negatively affect glands associated with the secretion and regulation of hormones, like the pituitary gland, possibly leading to complications with the body’s ability to maintain normal hormonal balance.
The pituitary gland, for example, synthesizes and secretes essential healing and repair hormones, such as human growth hormone (HGH). This gland has been shown to experience noticeable impairment from alcohol exposure.
Insulin, an important hormone that regulates blood sugar, can be severely impacted from prolonged alcohol consumption. Alcohol can also potentially impede the body’s ability to regulate and absorb calcium.
Even if you do not drink, topically applied alcohol can enter your bloodstream. The proliferation of alcohol (ethanol) hand cleansers means that more and more people are exposed to this endocrine disruptor. Consider the rubbing alcohol in your medicine cabinet as another example.
Other common sources include body lotions, cosmetic oils (even baby oils), aftershave, air fresheners, eye makeup, shampoos, insect repellants, hair dyes, dishwasher and laundry detergents, paint, perfumes, deodorants, and cooking oils.
In the case of hand sanitizers, one study that focused on hospital employees found that over 30% exhaled low levels of ethanol just one minute after using hand sanitizer. In one case, a one-month old baby suffering from lethargy was found to be intoxicated from an alcohol-soaked gauze used to treat the umbilical cord.
We already know that alcohol is a massive trigger for Meniere’s attacks so it would be prudent to avoid it completely, at least until you have recovered from Meniere’s.
The best way to minimize exposure is to avoid alcoholic beverages and check the ingredient lists of other products for alcohol, ethanol, ethyl alcohol, ethyl hydrate, ethyl hydroxide, and methylcarbinol. There are plenty of other non-alcoholic options available.
What can you do with so many toxins attacking your endocrine system?
While difficult, it is possible to take steps to avoid endocrine disruptors. If you eat meat or fish, choose organic, free-range, or wild sources. Buy fresh, organic produce as much as possible, and choose glass for food storage. Supplementing with the correct iodine to protect the thyroid can have dramatic results. Regular cleansing to help the liver remove toxin accumulation would also seem prudent given the information above.
Help other Meniere’s sufferers. What are your experiences with Meniere’s and endocrine/thyroid issues? What made it worse and what helped? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
Why some supplements may help you reduce your symptoms, while others may harm you
If you have ever searched for supplements to help reduce your Meniere’s symptoms, or for any other reason, you may have read the term ” Not all supplements are created equal”.
In recent years the focus of Menieres-Help.Com has been very much on identifying the root causes of Meniere’s symptoms and eliminating those causes and hopefully the symptoms from the sufferers life
We have always concentrated on triggers but in the formative years of this site being active we spread the word as much as we could about the concept of the right nutrition enabling sufferers to live free from symptoms and live a healthy normal life. This involves possible changes in diet, lifestyle and supplementing with quality nutriceuticals.
We have always put large emphasis on the word “quality” for good reason. Over a decade ago when we first started spreading the word about the supplements we use there was a lot substandard supplement products on the shelves of so called health food stores, supermarkets, high street pharmacies and spread all over the internet. You have to say it has gotten worse these days.
The US market is being flooded with supplements made in China that may have, shall we say, some ‘dubious’ ingredients.
That is not say China is any worse than the US, UK or other western countries. In fact there has always been a proliferation of these products that belong in the garbage can rather than in our stomachs. It is just now its even worse.
Moreover there are now reports of illegal copies of quality brands being shipped in from China and being sold online.
There are some fantastic products and brands out there but there are a whole lot more that are, ‘questionable’ to say the very least.
Way back in 2004 I checked the index chart results of independent quality testing for over a thousand products in the US, UK and Canada. In an index score of 300, most high street brands scores were pitifully low. One of the most popular brands in the UK at the time scored just 15 (out of 300!!) Another brand that most people would trust from the name alone scored a pitiful 5!!
The supplements we have been using with such success for over a decade scored the maximum 300. If you think about this, it make perfect sense why the results people get when using supplementation is so varied. In terms of controlling Meniere’s symptoms, some see no improvement at all, some see partial improvement while others live completely free of their symptoms. It simply depends on what you use and the quality of what you use. Indeed, all supplements are NOT created equal.
The tests mentioned above were done by ‘Nutrisearch’ and published in their Comparative Guide Nutritional Supplements. The most recent edition was published in 2017: NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements for the Americas (English). Not only do they publish their results but also give a thorough explanation of the importance of diet and nutrition to health and explain the relationship of oxidative stress and inflammation with the onset of disease and how what you eat and supplement with can prevent this.
For the 2015 edition their summary is as follows:
“The central roles of oxidative stress and inflammation in the onset of chronic degenerative disease are explained. The preventive roles of dietary antioxidants are discussed. The fundamental question of why we need to supplement is answered. The importance of supplementation with two ancient antioxidants, vitamin D and iodine, is highlighted.”
Why not all supplements are created equal
According to Dr Edward Group of the Global Healing Center in Texas,
“What people are not aware of is all vitamins are not created equal, and most are actually synthetic.“
He goes on to say,
“A healthy, organic diet should provide a good amount of nutrients that the body needs, but supplements can help ensure that we are getting a healthy serving of specific vitamins.
The problem is that many vitamin and mineral supplements are manufactured synthetically with chemicals and do not come straight from their natural sources. They are made to mimic the way natural vitamins act in our bodies. Natural vitamins are derived directly from plant material containing the vitamin, not produced in a test tube.
Many synthetic vitamins lack the transporters and co-factors associated with naturally occurring vitamins because they have been “isolated.” The Organic Consumers Association emphasizes that isolated vitamins cannot be used or recognized by the body in the same way as the natural version.
The natural form come in packages with other vitamins, enzymes and minerals that control the way the body recognizes, metabolizes and uses them to make what it needs.
Isolated vitamins can’t always be used by the body, and are either stored until you obtain or create the nutrients required to use them effectively or are excreted. Synthetic vitamins are also devoid of necessary trace minerals and must use the body’s own mineral reserves which may lead to dangerous mineral deficiencies.”
It is believed that today more than 95% of all the vitamin supplements sold are synthetic. When genuine quality supplements can do so much good, this proliferation both gives the concept of supplementation a bad name and puts many people off the idea due to poor results and bad press.
Synthetic vitamins contain chemical compounds that were not meant for human consumption and do not occur in nature.
Dr Group says,
“Fat soluble vitamins in their synthetic form are especially dangerous because they can build up in your fatty tissues and cause toxicity. The reason that the synthetic form is more dangerous is because you get a high, concentrated serving of the vitamin rather than the amount that you would get from a food-based form.”
Vitamins A, D, E and K are all fat soluble
Fat soluble vitamins are found naturally in butter, fish oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables
Excesses of fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues
Most people do not get sufficient amounts of fat soluble vitamins from their diet
Supplement manufacturing does not come under the same strict regulations as pharmaceuticals so there is a lot of room to fool the consumer with misleading labels and ingredient lists.
The label may state “natural” but in fact this is often not the case. The vitamins only have to be 10% natural for the manufacturer to able to label their product “natural”, meaning 90% of what you are consuming may be actually synthetic!
Dr Group insists that most Vitamin C and B Vitamin supplements are synthetic.
Organic Consumers Association – Natural Vs Synthetic vitamins
The Organic Consumers Association published an ingredient chart to help consumers identify natural vs. synthetic vitamins. Check the labels when you buy and avoid these synthetic versions.
Vitamin E: dl-alpha tocopherol, dl-alpha tocopherol acetate or succinate
Note that the “dl” form of any vitamin is synthetic.
When you wonder about the huge disparity in the prices of some supplements. Supplements with all natural ingredients are produced by manufacturers who take great care in the process in which they extract nutrients and put the the supplements together. A few of the best companies choose to be regulated to pharmaceutical standards to ensure consumer confidence in the safety, potency and quality of their supplements.
Cheaper brands often have either useless or harmful fillers and binders in them. The consumer believes they are supporting or boosting their immune system and general health but in fact may be consuming toxic materials instead.
Avoid supplements with these toxic ingredients:
Magnesium stearate (or stearic acid)
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) disguised as “natural flavors”
Carnauba wax is used in car wax and shoe polish
Titanium dioxide is a carcinogen
On the one hand this information makes you realize why some people do not trust supplements and on the other makes me wonder how many people have tried cheap substandard brands and either gotten more sick or had no benefit whatsoever.
In both cases people have lost the opportunity to truly support their immune system adequately to enable it to deal with the inflammation causing their symptoms. They will have wasted time and money and ended up dismissing the very notion that nutrition actually matters so much. More importantly they will have continued to suffer needlessly.
I find this very frustrating and sad.
At the end of the day, although there are other important aspect to reducing your symptoms, the quality of supplements you might use, not only matters but can be vital in managing your Meniere’s symptoms and your general health.
What is your experience with supplementation and Meniere’s – good or bad? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
Can nutrient packed super foods help reduce the symptoms of Meniere’s?
Table of Contents
If you have spent much time on our main website Menieres-Help.Com you will know that a big part of managing your symptoms and living a normal life with Meniere’s is about diet.
What you eat, do not eat can have a huge effect, both positively an negatively. Supporting your immune system with the right quality dietary supplements and eating the right foods can often mean a reduction or even elimination of your symptoms.
This is not a cure, nor is it a treatment but rather you supplying enough of the right nutrients to your immune system, making it strong enough and balanced so as to deal with the inflammation within your ear (and elsewhere) and promoting healthy blood flow to the ear.
Dietary supplements work best in synergy with a healthy balanced (organic where possible) whole food diet.
A specific regimen of quality supplements in the vast majority of cases has worked in allowing sufferers to live free of symptoms. This has been successful for over a decade.
That said, not all of us can manage to eat and live as our body requires to stay healthy. We need that extra help cleansing our bodies of toxins, keeping our cellular environment healthy, producing good blood flow and strengthening our immune system enough to fight the unusual amount of inflammation that may be occurring to create Meniere’s symptoms.
In addition to this our endocrine system needs to be kept balanced so as not cause any dysfunctions that may also ultimately lead to the manifestation of Meniere’s symptoms.
What is a ‘Super Food’ and how might it help you?
Super foods are exceptionally nutrient-rich foods considered to be even more beneficial for health than normal healthy foods.
Chlorella
Chlorella has worked for many people by detoxing and helping the body’s natural immune system suppress the symptoms of Meniere’s. It tackles the inflammation within the ear, promoting blood flow and preventing degenerative disease states developing within the cells by alkalizing them.
As stated above, dietary considerations including supplementation can allow many people to live a life free of most if not all the symptoms of MD. Sufferers live a normal healthy life with lots of energy. The worst they may experience is a slight tinnitus. If the tinnitus increases for any reason, increasing the amount of flavonoids you eat in food or supplement with can help reduce it again.
We have received plenty of emails from sufferers who have used Chlorella in conjunction with other supplements successfully to keep the symptoms at bay.
I myself used Chlorella while in Japan around 2001 with some notable success. It worked wonders for a while but wasn’t quiet enough on its own at that time when my condition was at its very worst. What it did do was introduced me to the concept of nutrition and supplementation being able to help what I had previously been led to believe was a hopeless situation. Prior to that time I was completely ignorant and dismissive of the idea partly due to my treating doctors dismissing it as mere hearsay with no clinical proof.
According to ‘Japan Chlorella Treatment Association‘ they have received more than 1800 reports describing successful experiences with Chlorella and Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) in gaining relief from MD.
NOTE: *** See bottom of page for details on Eleuthero, which also may be considered somewhat of a super food***
Chlorella is in fact the most widely used supplement in Japan full stop. According to leading authority on nutrition, Dr Joseph Mercola, over 10 million Japanese supplement with it regularly.
Chlorella also detoxes the body of heavy metals. Its molecular structure, allows it to bond to metals, chemicals and some pesticides.
When Chlorella is taken into your body, its natural action will bind it to lingering heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides found in your digestive tract, which is your body’s pathway to your bloodstream where these harmful toxins are delivered and deposited into your cells.
This super food does not bind to the minerals your body naturally needs to function optimally like calcium, magnesium, or zinc.
Even NASA has studied using Chlorella as the one of first whole foods in space on the international space station!
Studies in Japan have shown Chlorella may help reduce body fat percentage, may be useful in fighting obesity and weight related diabetes. It may also help reduce both cholesterol and hypertension. Chlorella cleanses the bowel and other elimination channels, protects your liver and promotes clean blood. Clean blood helps cleanse the body tissues of metabolic waste.
One reason it is such a powerful detoxifier is because it is rich in chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll packed Chlorella has a lot of useful properties that are important to Meniere’s sufferers:
Helps you process more oxygen
Helps purify your blood and clean away toxins
Promotes optimal blood pressure
Support elimination of molds in your body
Boosts your immune system
Enhances your ability to focus and concentrate
Increases your energy levels
Balances your body’s pH
Normalizes your blood sugar and blood pressure
A three-year double-blind metal detoxification study with over 350 people participating was undertaken at a Russian metal foundry, where more than 20 natural compounds were used in trials to remove heavy metals from people who had been exposed at very high levels to four metals — antimony, lead, cadmium and arsenic.
‘Broken Cell Wall’ Chlorella combined with Cilantro eliminated ALL heavy metals, including mercury! With no reported side-effects!
One of the major possible causes of Meniere’s in some people is mercury laden amalgam fillings. Chlorella is said to be able to detox your body of heavy metals literally in weeks, which is incredibly powerful.
If your only root cause were leaky amalgam fillings (see link above), you had those fillings removed then followed this up with detoxing the mercury from your body using chlorella and cilantro in this case you could actually say that supplementation was indeed part of your ‘cure’.
How might chlorella help Meniere’s sufferers?
As stated above, by feeding your immune system adequate nutrients to keep it strong enough to deal with inflammation constantly
Promoting good blood flow in and around the ear and the body in general
Alkalizing the cells in your body to give them balanced pH levels therefore helping prevent degenerative disease states to develop
Boosting energy and mental clarity, preventing the extreme exhaustion and brain fog sufferers experience
Detoxing your body of potential harmful toxins, including heavy metals such as mercury
Spirulina
Spirulina and Chlorella are often compared to each other as they are both nutrient packed antioxidant filled algae. They are also both good sources of essential amino acids/protein.
As with Chlorella, NASA has also proposed using this algae as space food.
Spirulina is incredibly well balanced with B vitamins, minerals, omega oils, micro nutrients and even ‘healthy’ carbohydrates. Some claim it may be the single most nutrient-dense food on earth.
And just like chlorella, it is claimed to be a heavy metal detoxifier.
How might Spirulina specifically help with Meniere’s sufferers?
Packed with powerful anti oxidants and natural anti inflammatory properties. It also increases levels of antioxidant enzymes in the blood. Very important (see The Inflammatory Process)
Balances cholesterol levels and reduces high blood pressure, promoting good blood flow. Promoting good blood flow is a common treatment for Meniere’s.
Spirulina supplements have been shown to be very effective against allergic rhinitis. Sinus problems are a known trigger for Meniere’s sufferers. The number of email requests we get always spikes in the allergy seasons.
Moringa
The powerhouse Moringa Tree contains all the essential amino acids needed by the body. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins which are needed to grow, repair and maintain cells. Healthy cells, healthy body, that simple.
Sometimes described as the “miracle tree,” its leaves are packed with an incredible amount of nutrition: protein, calcium, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium… pretty much everything. It has been used as food and medicinally for at least 4,000 years.
Ayurvedic medicine associates moringa with the cure or prevention of about 300 diseases. Moringa seeds are said to work better for water purification than many of the conventional synthetic materials in use today.
Why is moringa a ‘powerhouse’ and referred to as a super food?
It has 9 times more protein than yogurt
It has 10 times more vitamin A (beta carotene -pro vitamin A) than carrots
It has 15 times more potassium than bananas
It has 17 times more calcium than milk
It has 12 times more vitamin C than oranges
It has 25 times more iron than spinach
Moringa leaves are packed with antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid, has been shown to slow cells’ absorption of sugar, preventing diabetes.
According to the ‘Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention’:
“The leaves of the Moringa oleifera tree have been reported to demonstrate antioxidant activity due to its high amount of polyphenols.
Moringa oleifera extracts of both mature and tender leaves exhibit strong antioxidant activity against free radicals, prevent oxidative damage to major biomolecules, and give significant protection against oxidative damage.”
In a study of women taking 1.5 teaspoons of moringa leaf powder daily for three months, blood levels of antioxidants increased significantly.
Anyone who has read about the supplement regimen we write about on Menieres-Help.Com will know how important antioxidants are in fighting oxidative stress and therefore inflammation.
Moringa can lower blood sugar levels. One study found women who took seven grams of moringa leaf powder daily for three months reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5 percent.
Separate research revealed that adding 50 grams of moringa leaves to a meal reduced the rise in blood sugar by 21 percent among diabetic patients.
It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. The isothiocyanates, flavonoids*, and phenolic acids in moringa leaves, pods, and seeds all have anti-inflammatory properties.
*Flavonoids are an important ingredient in all nutritionists recommendations for Meniere’s.
According to the Epoch Times:
“The tree’s strong anti-inflammatory action is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers. Moringa oil (sometimes called Ben oil) has been shown to protect the liver from chronic inflammation. The oil is unique in that, unlike most vegetable oils, moringa resists rancidity”
Moringa balances cholesterol levels. One study found its effects were comparable to those of the cholesterol-lowering drug simvastatin.
As noted in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology:
“Moringa oleifera is used in Thai traditional medicine as cardiotonic. Recent studies demonstrated its hypocholesterolemic effect.… In hypercholesterol-fed rabbits, at 12 weeks of treatment, it significantly (P<0.05) lowered the cholesterol levels and reduced the atherosclerotic plaque formation to about 50 and 86%, respectively. These effects were at degrees comparable to those of simvastatin.… The results indicate that this plant possesses antioxidant, hypolipidaemic, and antiatherosclerotic activities, and has therapeutic potential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.”
The leaves and seeds of moringa may protect against some of the effects of arsenic toxicity, which is important given that studies show that there is contamination in common staple foods, such as rice. Contamination of ground water by arsenic has also become a cause of global public health concern.
One study revealed that using moringa seed powder when arsenic is present could significantly protect from oxidative stress and reduce tissue arsenic concentration.
There is speculation that moringa’s ability to attach itself to harmful materials may also happen in the body, making moringa a potential detoxification ‘super food’
How might Moringa help Meniere’s sufferers?
It is packed with anti-oxidants, strengthening the immune system
Has anti-inflammatory properties to fight the inflammation inside the ear.
Powerful detoxifier (e.g. leaked mercury from amalgam fillings)
Helps keep the blood healthy and promotes good blood flow(common treatment aims with Meniere’s)
Contains flavonoids and high levels of vitamin C (both used to reduce Meniere’s symptoms)
Has high amounts of potassium. (Potassium levels are depleted by some drugs used for Meniere’s. This can cause dizziness in itself.)
Beets
Beets (Beetroot) sales according to the UK newspaper The Daily Mail in 2014 were up 20% over the past four years. It seems people are catching on to the fact that this purple root vegetable, that my father ate all the time and I hated as a kid, is indeed a super food.
Beetroot is a good source of iron and folate (naturally occurring folic acid), nitrates, betaine, magnesium,manganese and other antioxidants (notably betacyanin).
As far back as 1940 a study showed people with Meniere’s disease experienced decreased symptoms after receiving 10 to 20 intravenous infusions of magnesium.
According the UK National Health website a 2013 study showed beetroot lowers blood pressure and a 2012 study showed it may increase blood flow to the brain.
Beets are especially rich in a micronutrient called betaine or trimethylglycine (TMG). Betaines are helpful for the elimination of toxins and the reduction of the amino acid homocysteine, linked to improved heart health. Betaine has been documented by the University of Maryland to help in the decrease of high homocysteine levels. High amounts of homocysteine can damage red blood vessels, causing strokes, blood clots atherosclerosis and heart disease.
One of the major benefits of beet juice is that it contains the antioxidant pigments called betalains mentioned above. These are components that help to boost the immune system, but also act as anti-inflammatories, antifungals and detoxification aids.
The betalains in raw beet juice are one of the best blood purifiers. Beet juice can greatly assist in the process of detoxification from harmful pollutants, heavy metals and chemicals in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink.
In my research for the book The Need for Balance I discovered the levels of toxins entering our bodies from all sources is, quite frankly, shocking! Is it any wonder cancer rates are up 1000’s % in some cases over the past 50 or 60 years? You don’t have to be a genius to figure out why.
It is sad and worrying to realize we live in a very toxic environment, we fill our bodies with toxic ‘food like’ substances from the processed food, snacks and candy shelves in the supermarket. Even food we believe is healthy fresh produce is often laden with toxic pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, defoliants and chemical industrial run off. And don’t get me started on junk food! The secret is in the name ‘junk’.
There has never been a more pressing need for clean, naturally balanced, nutrient rich organic food. What we get instead is morons in position of power being fed bad pseudo science and fabricated scaremongering (and a whole lot of money) to agree to GMO’s and highly toxic pesticides, but I digress.
Beets, and especially the juice from beets, also helps to detoxify the body via an increase in glutathione production. Glutathione is a master molecule that binds with toxins and pollutants that enter the bloodstream and eliminates them through the bowels.
Beets also boost the immune system because they contain significant amounts of vitamin C. In addition, they are particularly known for their high amounts of folic acid and are therefore recommended for pregnant women for proper spinal cord development of the baby. Folic acid also helps to manufacture red blood cells.
The nutrient content in beets is impressive:
Betaine
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Calcium
B Vitamins
Iron
Manganese
Potassium
Copper
Magnesium
Choline
Folic Acid
Sulfur
Silica
Boron
Phosphorus
Fiber
Nitrates
Other Betalains
Lutein
Zeaxanthin
How might Beets (especially juiced) help Menieres Sufferers?
Helps with inflammation
Increases blood flow
Increases supply of oxygen to the brain and body
Strengthens the immune system
Purifies the blood and liver
Reducing high homocysteine levels
Increases glutathione
All in all beetroot detoxes, fights inflammation and helps blood flow. All of these being of various levels of importance to the sufferer, depending on your root cause.
Green tea
What make Japanese Green tea a super food?
Japanese evidence suggests that more than three cups a day may ward off the recurrence of breast cancer. Studies have shown that people who drink five cups a day are 16 per cent less likely to develop heart disease.
The results of a Swiss study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggest that an extract from green tea may help with weight loss by speeding up fat oxidation. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
After studies, it has been suggested that green tea protects against Alzheimer’s.
Green tea prevents cancer on a number of fronts: by protecting against damage to DNA, where the trigger for cancer is, and by shutting down a key molecule in the body that plays a significant role in the development of cancer. Swedish research has shown it inhibits the formation of new tumors.
Green tea also repairs damage to livers caused by alcohol, protects against diseases such as Parkinson’s and rheumatoid arthritis, and restricts the build-up of cholesterol in the blood. Female tea drinkers have stronger bones than non-tea drinkers, and this reduces the risk of osteoporosis.
Why?
Green tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that inhibit the growth of cancer and protect externally against DNA damage induced by ultraviolet light. It also contains bioflavonoids, which protect us against infection and as stated above is also used for dietary treatment of Meniere’s.
Green tea keeps its special health-giving properties as apposed to English tea because of the way it is processed. The caffeine content in green tea is less than coffee. Large amounts of caffeine can trigger attacks for Meniere’s sufferers simply because it is a stimulant that may be too much for already over sensitive nerves leading to or connected to the hearing and balance nerves.
Having spent 15 years living in Japan, I sometimes would have a day where I only drank green tea instead of English tea or coffee. I recognized two things when I drank it. Firstly I would pee a lot more and secondly I would feel very “clean” inside, and very light. My urine would also be very clear.
The catechin polyphenols are said to cleanse the liver and green tea is a natural diuretic. Diuretic drugs are given to Meniere’s sufferers as part of treatment in mainstream medicine. If you are peeing more than usual then dehydration is a consideration. Dehydration has been linked to triggering attacks so drink plenty of water too.
Given the choice though, using a natural diuretic full of beneficial nutrients is a much more attractive option for me than synthetic drugs any day of the week.
Beneficial Nutrient content in green tea:
Potassium
Protein (small amount)
Vitamin C
Calcium
Riboflavin (B2)
Niacin (B3)
Vitamin B6
Folic Acid (Folate)
Magnesium
Manganese
Panthothenic Acid
How might green tea (green tea extract) help Meniere’s sufferers?
Contains bioflavonoids
Contains antioxidants
Is a natural diuretic
Detoxes and cleanses
Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a nutrient packed superfood with detoxification properties . Like Chlorella, it is packed with Chlorophyll; in fact it is 70% Chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll is the molecule that gives plants their green color, and which helps them to photosynthesize (convert sunlight into chemical energy).
In humans, chlorophyll is a powerful blood cleaner and builder. It delivers a continuous energy transfusion into our bloodstream, increasing and replenishing our red blood cell count while increasing our hemoglobin levels so that our red blood cells can deliver us increased amounts of oxygen. Since destructive bacteria cannot exist in the presence of oxygen, eating more chlorophyll-rich foods like wheatgrass can help guard us from a host of serious diseases.
Wheatgrass contains a large number of digestive enzymes (substances that help reduce toxic and indigestible materials in food), and is known to treat several digestive conditions.
A 2002 study published in the ‘Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology’, showed that wheatgrass juice could help treat ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease similar to Crohn’s.
The UCLA Brain Research Institute found that wheatgrass can help improve indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.
Wheatgrass is a good source of potassium, a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.
Although it is a good source of these nutrients, broccoli and spinach on balance probably contains as much if not more. The real power of wheat grass that makes people claim it is a superfood is the huge percentage of Chlorophyll in its make up.
How might it help Meniere’s Sufferers?
Contains Chlorophyll
Detoxes
Has multi-vitamin levels of nutrients.
Good source of potassium
Promotes gut health possibly aiding metabolism
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is what is termed as an ‘adaptogen’. Adaptogens have the ability to help the body cope with both external and internal stresses from toxins.
In India, ashwagandha is known as the “strength of the stallion” since it has traditionally been used to strengthen the immune system after illness. Sometimes referred to as ‘Indian ginseng’ it is reported to have the ability to enhance stamina and have extraordinary stress relieving properties.
A pretty impressive list of benefits, some of which directly help with Meniere’s symptoms.
Ashwagandha’s biggest claim to fame as a superfood is probably its ability to balance hormones and therefore improving the health of the thyroid.
Adaptogenic herbs work with your body to bring you back into balance whether your levels are high or low, therefore it can help both over active and under active thyroids.
There are currently millions of people who struggle with thyroid problems (many of whom don’t even know it). Ashwagandha is a very important food to consider for this problem.
Ashwagandha has also been proven effective in supporting adrenal function helping you overcome adrenal fatigue and chronic stress. Another (food) herb packed with anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Your adrenal glands are endocrine glands that are responsible for releasing hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) in response to stress on your body.
If your adrenals are overtaxed due to an overabundance of emotional, physical and mental stress, it can lead to a condition known as adrenal fatigue. The adrenal gland is part of the endocrine system and disorders in either are linked to Meniere’s in some people.
Medical studies have shown that ashwagandha improves cortisol levels, improves insulin sensitivity and naturally balances hormones. A case study reported a case of a 57-year-old woman with non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. She was treated with ashwagandha for six months, and after her treatment she saw improvements in four adrenal hormone markers, including corticoosterone and 11-deoxycortisol, which decreased by 69 percent and 55 percent respectively — a major improvement!
*This hormonal improvement was also accompanied by a noticeable reduction in hair loss.*
Recent research has proven ashwagandha is more than a stress reliever, it also protects the brain from degeneration and improves symptoms of alzheimer’s, depression, and anxiety.
Recent research on Ashwagandha conducted at the ‘National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology’ in Japan found that the leaves of Ashwagandha can selectively inhibit cancer cells.
A study published in Phytotherapy Research explains:
“Several studies have revealed that natural antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene, may help in scavenging free radicals generated during the initiation and progression of this [Alzheimer’s] disease. But we found Ashwagandha afforded lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects more potent than commercial antioxidants.”
Researchers at the National Brain Research Center found that mice with Alzheimer’s were unable to retain what they learned, but after 20 days of supplementing with ashwagandha, this improved significantly.
Both thyroid problems and adrenal/endocrine problems have been linked to Meniere’s.
How might ashwagandha help Meniere’s sufferers?
Improve thyroid and endocrine function
Helps reduce anxiety, stress and depression
Increases energy levels
Boosts the immune system
Contains anti-oxidants
Contains anti-inflammatory properties
Turmeric
Finally, Turmeric has been accepted as one of the most beneficial spices on earth and certainly deserves its label as a ‘super food’. It contains powerful anti-oxidants and the benefits to health are too long numerous to mention in this article.
It wouldn’t be unfair to say cellular inflammation is at epidemic levels in today’s world of convenience foods and toxic overload coming from every direction. It is the fundamental cause of degenerative disease in our society. Turmeric has been shown to reduce inflammation & oxidative stress as well as any food or herbal medicine ever studied.
Turmeric root is incredibly rich in curcuminoid polyphenol anti-oxidants that give it a classic yellow-orange color. The principal crucuminoid is curcumin which is responsible for much of the health benefits attributed to turmeric. The other 2 curcuminoids are desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin.
It is the 4th highest anti-oxidant rich herb with an extraordinarily impressive ORAC score of 159,277. These anti-oxidants such as curcumin are very powerful modulators of oxidative stress.
Blood sugar imbalances and insulin resistant cell membranes are critical factors that promote inflammatory conditions in the body. Curcumin has been shown to stabilize blood sugar and reverse cellular insulin resistance by increasing the number of insulin receptors and improving the receptor binding capacity to insulin.
Turmeric also boosts levels of natural cellular anti-oxidants such as glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. These molecules are critical for the body to limit oxidative stress continuously throughout the day. The greater the surplus of cellular anti-oxidants the less stress and damage occurs inside the body.
It stabilizes blood pressure and improves cardiovascular function. This extra super ‘superfood’ improves blood flow and reduces brain inflammation, thus making you cognitively sharper while protecting against Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and every other neurodegenerative disorder. It has been shown to speed up wound healing from cuts & burns while reducing inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.
Unfortunately, because of the huge influence on mainstream media by the ‘big pharma’ corporations anything natural that can not be patented, profited from and monopolized gets either pretty much ignored or slandered, creating an over reliance on synthetic drugs that we are pushed to use to ‘treat’ medical conditions .
Cures and natural medicine is not profitable and therefore undesirable to those that pull the strings of the media, medical schools’ funding and politicians.
In the case of turmeric though even Fox news had to concede that, “modern science is beginning to recognize its worth.” That is nice to recognize something that has been known for its medicinal power for over 4000 years in Asia.
According to ‘ethnobotonist’, author and “Medicine Hunter” Chris Kilham,
“Turmeric is one of the greatest, beneficial medicinal plants in the entire world, It’s also one of the most researched medicinal plants in history.”
There are nearly 5,000 studies and articles on curcumin or turmeric listed in the National Institutes of Health PubMed database, which is considered one of the top directories for medical research (as of 2015).
There has been research and testing of the effects of turmeric on everything from achy joints to blood sugar management and finding various promising results. Among its many benefits, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-parasitic, wound-healing and anti-malarial properties.
In sharp contrast to many pharmaceuticals only positive side effects have been recorded.
Kilham points out,
“Let’s say you take ibuprofen for pain, There is a cascade — a downward cascade of negative consequences. That cascade may include kidney failure, or increased risk for heart attack and stroke if you take too much. For other drugs, the risks and side effects differ. These things “aren’t what you asked for, When you take turmeric for pain, however, you get this upward cascade of benefits you didn’t necessarily ask for, such as anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidants.”
Turmeric contains:
Folates
Niacin
Pyridoxine
Riboflavin
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
As with ginkgo which is used for helping Meniere’s symptoms, if you are on blood thinners such as warfarin or aspirin you should consult a physician before supplementing with turmeric or eating large amounts. Turmeric has blood thinning properties already, which is one of many reasons why it so good for the heart and blood flow.
How might turmeric help Meniere’s sufferers?
Anti inflammatory properties
High levels of Anti oxidants
Strengthens the immune system
Can help reduce stress and depression
Promotes good blood flow
Reduces nerveinflammation and headaches
So there you have it. 7 of the most powerful super foods for you to consider adding to your diet that may help reduce your symptoms enough for you to enjoy a ‘normal’ life.
*** Footnote*** In the report mentioned above from Japan Chlorella Treatment Association that stated 1800 sufferers showed positive improvements , Chlorella was used in conjunction with Eleuthero.
Eleuthero contains powerful phytochemicals like sterols, coumarins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Each of these compounds have unique healing potential, and when combined, they increase oxygen availability at the cellular level, encouraging blood flow, immune response, and antioxidant effects that protect your DNA.
The benefits of Eleuthero include:
Improves immune system response (relevant to Meniere’s)
Antioxidant protection (relevant to Meniere’s/ fight inflammation)
Reduces irritation
Better memory and recall (relevant to Meniere’s/reduce brain fog)
Increases libido
Improves mental clarity (relevant to Meniere’s/reduce brain fog)
Better focus (relevant to Meniere’s/reduce brain fog)
Alertness (relevant to Meniere’s/reduce brain fog)
Strengthens bones
Reduces outbreaks in individuals infected with Herpes (relevant to Meniere’s in some people)
Encourages more restful sleep (relevant to Meniere’s/good sleeping patterns needed
Summary
If I have learned one thing from my experience with Meniere’s, it is not to underestimate the importance of what you eat and don’t eat. Regardless of your root cause, supplying your body with the right nutrients can allow your immune system to take care of the inflammation that, unchecked, ultimately results in your symptoms
When you consider that people have had success with chlorella alone and we know how much the anioxidant packed supplement regimen we and multiple thousands have used for over a decade has helped so much, just adding a few of these superfoods to your diet, supplementing with them or juicing them can only be a good thing. Not to mention the many other health benefits mentioned above as a bonus.
So in conclusion, incorporating superfoods into your diet can only be a good thing. Alternatively, try organic juicing powders that contains all 8 of the above mentioned super foods plus more for easy quick source of powerful nutrition every morning.
Tell us all about your experience with any superfoods you have used. Help other sufferers understand the power of good balanced nutrition in allowing your body to stop the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease . Use the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
How Thyroid Dysfunction may affect Meniere’s disease and what to do about it
Table of Contents
Thyroid dysfunction, Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism and Thyroid autoimmunity have all been linked to Meniere’s Disease.
If you understand the importance of the immune system it makes complete sense for this to be the case in many people. It makes perfect sense when you consider the success so many people have had in ridding themselves of their symptoms over the past decade or so using quality dietary supplementation and/or change of diet.
When you starve disease states of toxins and antigens (the bad stuff) and feed the immune system all the nutrients it needs, and the body needs in general (the good stuff) then balance returns to hormonal systems and the immune response is strong enough to deal with inflammation, toxins and antigens.
Yet despite the numerous clinical studies and papers written giving evidence to this fact the link to Meniere’s disease remains relatively ignored.
Do you have Meniere’s disease and thyroid dysfunction?
Have you been tested?
It seems some within the medical community are unable to join the dots or seem unwilling to look at any possibility beyond their specific field of medicine. “Take the drugs, and learn to live with it, there is nothing more to be done” seems the mantra of far too many treating ENT doctors or general physicians. If you are a Meniere’s sufferer I am sure there is a very good chance you either have been or will be faced with this demoralizing attitude at some point.
Learn to live with it? I have never known anyone who could possibly just learn to live with Meniere’s disease. I have known thousands who decided to learn without it, took action themselves and now live symptom free.
In our modern society, culture and in this case to be more specific the medical community, ‘compartmentalization’ often means one department has no clue what another department is doing. We have our specific role in our jobs and do not know what is happening in the office behind us, let alone in the organization we belong to as whole. This creates an inability to see the bigger picture, join the dots and an inability to come to any other conclusion except what we are ‘told’ to think by perceived authority.
Stick a white coat on somebody to make them look like a scientist or doctor and the general public will literally do anything they are told. This blind faith in perceived authority has actually been tested by psychologists with some shocking results on how far people will go against their own better judgement.
In all professions, some are great at what they do, while others are not. The medical profession is no different. We are all human after all.
During my research for the book The Need for Balance I had a conversation with a doctor in Japan who worked in immunology. I asked her what she believed to be the most important aspect of the immune system. After pausing and looking a little uncomfortable she answered, “probably hemoglobin or bone marrow”. No surprise there, both are of course vital to the immune system.
When I asked her how important the Thyroid gland was and how was it connected to the immune system, she looked a bit surprised and told me the Thyroid is not connected to the immune system, it regulates hormones.
I suggested that surely the thyroid is connected, as everything is connected inside the body and a problem in one area can have a knock on effect and cause dysfunction elsewhere. People with thyroid dysfunctions have weakened immune systems.
So if the immune system were weak then the Thyroid could be affected and result in hormonal imbalances and that would in turn result in illness. The Thyroid regulates the Thymus and the thymus is responsible for T-Cells (white blood cells vital for immune protection) so the Thyroid must be important.
Alternatively if the body’s metabolism was out of sync then vital nutrients might not be getting to where they should, including the Thyroid. Either way, it has direct links to the immune system whether it be in a causal or effected manner. (read about the relevance of T-cells to Meniere;s here)
She tacitly agreed and said she would have to study the Thyroid more.
Her specific area of expertise was hematology and was unable to join immune system and thyroid function. Unable to join the dots as a result of focusing all her time on blood work within her compartmentalized field of expertise.
According to PubMed.Com the US official government medical website, in a paper from 2006 titled, ‘The immune system as a regulator of thyroid hormone activity.’ It states, “thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) can be produced by many types of extra-pituitary cells–including T cells, B cells, splenic dendritic cells, bone marrow hematopoietic cells, intestinal epithelial cells, and lymphocytes”
It also states that “functional significance of those TSH pathways historically has been largely ignored“
It goes on to state, “There is now, however, evidence linking cells of the immune system to the regulation of thyroid hormone activity ” and “the immune system may act to modulate neuroendocrine function during times of host stress”
It may be that the Thyroid is an under appreciated part of the puzzle in many illnesses and the number of people not diagnosed correctly as a result might be very large indeed. The Thyroid is part of the endocrine system and among many other things secretes hormones that regulate metabolism. Sometimes referred to as the “master gland or the ” heart” of the endocrine system.
As one of the largest endocrine glands, it manages important body processes, including protein creation, energy levels, regulation of body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure and secretes hormones that regulate metabolism.
The thyroid gland is located in the lower neck and secretes hormones into the blood, which are then carried into the body’s tissues. The thyroid gland mainly produces a hormone called thyroxine (T4), which is then converted by each of the body’s organs to the active form triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are vital for regulating all of the above mentioned functions in the body.
Blood flow, metabolism and endocrine have been linked in studies to Meniere’s. Whatever is going on in the endolymphatic sac in the ear that is causing Meniere’s symptoms may be, at least in some cases, the end result in a line of different dysfunctions through the endocrine system and thyroid.
To emphasize how the knock on effect can be relevant, consider that Pituitary dysfunction can mean the pituitary gland cannot send a message to the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone when needed. Everything is connected and the need for balance in all areas is important.
A 2008 clinical study published on NIH ‘Possible association between thyroid autoimmunity and Menière’s disease’
It stated, “Overall, our data demonstrate a significant association between MD and thyroid autoimmunity, which suggests that an autoimmune factor is involved in the aetiopathogenesis of this disease. 38% of the MD patients had significant autoantibody levels.
Furthermore, 14% of the MD patients were hyperthyroid. In conclusion, our data show a significant association between thyroid autoimmunity and MD, confirming the possible immune pathogenesis of the latter disorder”
‘Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction in Patients With Meniere’s Disease’
The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) reported in 2004 on this clinical study that concluded,
“Ménière’s disease is associated with corrected hypothyroidism.“
Along the same lines, a 2014 study published on Medscape.com concluded that their findings suggests that circulating antithyroid autoantibodies may represent a risk factor for developing vestibular dysfunction.
It would seem clear that for at least some people there is a connection with Thyroid dysfunctions and Meniere’s Disease symptoms.
How to keep your Thyroid healthy through dietary considerations
Considering the possibility that your Meniere’s disease symptoms may be a result of endocrine and thyroid dysfunctions, it makes sense to keep your thyroid and immune system healthy and balanced.
Environmental and dietary toxins can be a major reason for Thyroid dysfunction. Toxins are present in our environment, and there’s not much we can do to eliminate all of them in the short term. They are here and we have to deal with it. We can, limit our exposure to toxic compounds, reducing the likelihood of experiencing issues with our thyroid.
The worst toxins for thyroid health
Fluoride Almost 70 percent of the U.S. water supply is fluoridated to help prevent cavities. However, what very few people know according to Journal of Clinical Endocrinology is that fluoride was actually prescribed as a remedy for an overactive thyroid during the first half of the 20th century. According to some reports, 2 to 5 mg of fluoride per day over a period of months was all it took to lower thyroid function; that’s about the same amount people drinking fluoridated water are exposed to daily. This would explain a LOT wouldn’t it? A 2015 study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in the UK concluded that locations with fluoridated water were 30 percent more likely to have high levels of hypothyroidism.
PFCs The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reports that a higher level of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in the blood could affect thyroid function in women. PFCs are used in the manufacturing of lots of common things, from your mattress to fast food containers! Even though the use of the chemicals is being phased out in the U.S., imported products could still be a concern.
Pesticide Thanks to ‘big Agra’ (no names mentioned) India has seen a rise in thyroid disorders , but there are measures in place to make sure much of the population has sufficient access to iodine, something essential for thyroid function. One recent study reported in the Times of India suggested this spike is due to pesticide and other chemical exposure, with experts noting almost 60 percent of cases aren’t connected to iodine-deficiency. While the idea of pesticide exposure and thyroid problems is nothing new, maintaining iodine levels and avoiding pesticides could be the perfect combination according to The American Journal of Epidemiology.
Perchlorate According to studies published in Pharmacology Review.. Any number of nasty toxins could be the cause of an unhealthy thyroid, perchlorate is a strong candidate. But while there are numerous studies linking it with thyroid problems, the FDA still approved it for use as an anti-static agent in food packaging, making avoiding it a lot more difficult.
Bromine Studies in the Journal of Clinical Pathology confirm that Bromine is an endocrine disruptor and toxic to the thyroid, but you will find it in everything from pool cleaner to pasta, . Often, even healthy patients can have high levels of the flame-retardant substance in their bodies. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are even finding their way into the breast milk of American women according to a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives. One common source of bromine is brominated vegetable oil—which is still found in many drinks—so it would be wise to check labels.
BPA BPA is an endocrine disruptor and can affect hormone levels and thyroid balance. There are many studies documenting BPA’s effects on the thyroid in adults and children.One study published in Environmental Health Perspectives looked at newborn babies and their mothers. The study suggested higher levels of BPA cause a decrease in thyroid function in women. All of the baby boys, though, had an increase in thyroid function causing problems from the higher levels of BPA.
While your family history can also play a role in endocrine problems, avoiding toxic exposure would appear to be a very wise move.
Looking after your thyroid and preventing thyroid conditions
Treat the Underlying Causes
Identify and treat the underlying causes of hypothyroidism, like food allergies, heavy metals, nutritional deficiencies, and stress. Eliminate the foods that cause you digestive distress, most commonly gluten and dairy.
Nutrition
The thyroid needs very specific nutrients to maintain proper function. First and foremost is iodine. Selenium, iron and zinc have also been recognized as important elements for thyroid function.
Try eating these foods to support your thyroid:
Seaweeds Dulse seaweed, arame, kombu, nori, sea palm and wakame are all quality iodine and nutrient sources. Dulse seaweed in particular has the most consistent and highest concentrations of iodine, is full of potassium and is an excellent source of protein.
Fish Fish can be a great source of dietary iodine, plus omega-3 fatty acids which have been found to contribute to a healthy heart. Deep sea fish such as cod and haddock contain the highest densities of dietary iodine
Coconut Oil The oil from coconut is an age old healing food. Coconut oil contains essential fatty acids needed for proper metabolic function. These fatty acids are easily assimilated by the body and contribute to thyroid function, thyroid hormone production and regulating the metabolism.
Beans Beans are a good source of zinc and iron. They also provide quality proteins and are an excellent source of B vitamins and vitamin C
Eggs Eggs would be the best source for iodine from dairy food as they contain nearly 16% of the recommended daily value. Milk and yogurt also contains iodine but as some people suffer from digestive problems and intolerance from dairy food, organic eggs might be the way to go in these cases.
Liver and Kidney Meat Although not appropriate for vegans or vegetarians, these organ meats, especially beef liver, provide iron, zinc and selenium as well as high-quality proteins. They also provide a more complete, nutrient-dense source of calcium, potassium, Vitamins A, C and D, and the B vitamins than most fruits and vegetables. Again, if you go this route, select products from organic, vegetarian-fed animals
Almonds Almonds are a potent source of nutrients needed by the thyroid. Almonds contain iron, selenium and zinc with essential B vitamins and high protein content.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables Spinach, kale, collard greens, swiss chard, mustard or turnip greens are all a great source of iron, B vitamins (needed for hormone creation), Vitamins A, C and D, magnesium and their incredible antioxidants. These superfoods not only supply the nutrients the thyroid needs, they also help protect overall health.
To underscore the importance of what you have read above, the connections between the Thyroid gland, the immune system and Meniere’s, consider these two shocking facts;
According to studies released by Soma General Hospital and Tohoku University in Japan, in April 2015 following the Fukushima nuclear disaster the number of cases of Meniere’s Disease and vertigo has increased by up to a staggering 600%
Similar studies showed an increase of up to 69% in hearing disorders following the Chernobyl disaster and a 100% increase among workers at the power station.
What is the accepted truth that exposure to nuclear contamination results in? Thyroid dysfunction! This is why iodine is used to treat people who have been exposed. It is all about joining the dots and understanding the need for overall balance inside our bodies. Low grade radiation also attacks the pituitary gland which is part of the endocrine system. The Thyroid is part of the endocrine system. Anything affecting the endocrine system is likely to affect the Thyroid. Read about the connections between Endocrine disorders and Meniere’s here.
What is the big deal with iodine?
Some thyroid imbalances stem from a genetic condition, such as autoimmune thyroid disease. But should the thyroid be deficient in iodine, then all the other above mentioned problems can occur. Given the possible knock on effect for Meniere’s disease sufferers it would be a good idea to make sure your thyroid is healthy.
Iodine is not only the most vital mineral for thyroid function but it is utilized by every cell in the body!
How big a problem is iodine deficiency?
A 1998 report from ‘The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism’ reported that rates of iodine deficiency had dramatically increased in the United States over the past 20 years. The number of U.S. residents with low intake of iodine increased four fold. It was suggested that lowered rates of iodine intake could be traced to dietary changes…..”burger and fries anyone?”
An even more staggering statistic from the World Health Organization estimates that around 1 billion people will suffer from some form of health issue due to a lack of iodine in the diet. Estimates on Latin American countries show up to 25% the population at risk for goiters due to faulty thyroid function from a lack of dietary iodine.
Scientists agree that iodine deficiency is still a serious global health issue, and that insufficient levels of iodine in the thyroid is the most common cause of global brain damage. Estimates show that approximately 1.6 billion people are at risk for brain damage due to lack of iodine, and that these numbers fall heavily on unborn fetuses and children. Globally, a lack of iodine will effect around 50 million children.
Given this statistic, it is fair to say at least some people will grow from birth with a higher possibility of thyroid dysfunction through lack of iodine that will have the knock on effect in later life of developing Meniere’s disease.
There is a delicate relationship between the thyroid gland, iodine levels, and overall health. Without iodine, energy levels plummet, hormones can become imbalanced, and physical and emotional states can suffer.
If you have read this far then I am sure you are easily joining the dots and understanding why there is a need for balance throughout the body. Thyroid dysfunctions are related to Meniere’s in at least some of us and it could be simply a lack of iodine at the root cause.
A qualified doctor or nutritionist can detect current iodine levels through a simple urine test. A small percentage of people are iodine sensitive so in the case of iodine supplementation you should begin in small amounts to prevent a thyroid flare-up.
The best form of iodine to supplement with is nascent iodine or natural sea iodine It is much purer and biologically accepted by the body. Dr Edward Group of the Global Healing Center recommends everyone supplement with nascent iodine on a regular basis.
How does Nascent iodine help:
Keeps thyroid iodine levels in balance
Improves thyroid and endocrine system function
May improve emotional disorders by balancing glandular systems
Helps regulate hormone imbalances associated with weight gain
Works as a moisturizing expectorant for the respiratory tract
Helps protect the thyroid from absorbing radioactive isotopes
Assists in improving brain development
May assist in reducing or preventing goiters
Aids in the improvement of autistic children
Helps aid digestion, transit time and normal bowel function
Increased energy and stamina have been reported
Supports breast milk production and quality
Helps balance body odors (vaginal, foot, underarm, etc.)
Helps detoxify harmful halogens like bromides, fluoride, and chlorine
What are your experiences with thyroid/endocrine issues and Meniere’s? Tell us all about it in the comments box below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
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