Are the two connected at all, is it all coincidence or are the two a result of the same root cause in some people?
A sizable number of Meniere’s sufferers who contact Meniere’s Help also suffer from Diabetes. Glucose metabolism, and insulin irregularities have both been linked to Meniere’s in some way or another.
The biggest problem with trying to link diabetes and Meniere’s is that the huge number of people suffering from diabetes means that by law of averages there will naturally be a sizable number of people suffering from both conditions.
According to the WHO: 422 million adults worldwide have diabetes. That is 1 person in 11. While type 1 is thought of as genetic, 90% of sufferers are actually type 2. These statistics are predicted to double over the next 2 years. Since 1980 the number of adults living with diabetes has almost quadrupled.
In the USA 2012 figures show us that at least 29.1 million Americans, or 9.3% of the population, had diabetes. 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year. In 2012, 86 million Americans age 20 and older had prediabetes; this was up from 79 million in 2010. These statistics are staggering; clearly this is not going away soon.
Although the main focus on the tackling of this rise of diabetes is aimed at the obesity epidemic, and rightly so, it has to be taken into account that diabetes is on the rise in places like Asia where obesity isn’t so prevalent. The rise of forced farming practices in recent years practically runs parallel with the increase of diabetes and many other avoidable diseases.
In the 2016 WHO ‘Global Report on Diabetes’ the director general of the WHO points out that diabetes is, “No longer a disease of predominantly rich nations, the prevalence of diabetes is steadily increasing everywhere, most markedly in the world’s middle-income countries.”
The globalization of fast food chains, growing global demand for wheat grown on soils depleted of its mineral content through the overuse of NPK artificial fertilizers and the demand for overly polished rice must all play its part.
White bread can turn to glucose inside the body faster than sugar! White, polished rice can turn to glucose very quickly also if not balanced with fats or proteins. Add to this the empty carbohydrates being proudly stuffed down kids throats throughout Asia where it is a sign of wealth to go to the most unhealthy fast food chains simply because they symbolize the monetary richness of the west.
Sugary sodas, alcohol, candies and the prevalence of processed foods are all contributing greatly to this problem. This bombardment of sugars strains the pancreas so much that it cannot keep up with the demand for insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
There are several aspects that link all of this to Meniere’s without looking at the diabetes connection itself. Firstly the pancreas is part of the endocrine system. Endocrine dysfunctions have been linked to Meniere’s. The thyroidis part of the endocrine system and has been linked to Meniere’s. T-cellregulation has been linked to Meniere’s. T-cells are regulated by the thymus which in turn is regulated by the thyroid. Metabolism has been linked to Meniere’s. High triglyceride and cholesterollevels have been linked to Meniere’s.
Are you seeing a pattern here?
Diabetes and Meniere’s Disease – studies
A multitude of studies can be found on each of the individual links stated above but not enough focus on the obvious solution to most of this. Diet. It really is that simple.
What you eat and do not eat makes all the difference in every case, and of course the same is true of diabetes.
Both hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) have been linked to and investigated in Meniere’s and vestibular diseases. This suggests that any alterations in insulin can cause issues. Insulin regulates both sodium and potassium retention, something very relevant in the functioning of the inner ear.
A 2009 study in the Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, ‘Blood glucose and insulin levels in patients with peripheral vestibular disease‘ found that:
“The four-hour glucose-insulin index showed 87.7% of patients with dizziness and suspicion of peripheral vestibular dysfunction having glucose and insulin metabolism alterations.”
The International Tinnitus Journal published a study in 2005, ‘Glucose and insulin profiles and their correlations in Ménière’s disease.’ It stated that:
“Changes in carbohydrate metabolism, admittedly one of the most prevalent etiologies of Ménière’s syndrome, can be diagnosed early by 5-hour glucose and insulin curves with a 100-g glucose load, a test more sensitive than those traditionally used in investigating impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus. This study investigated carbohydrate metabolism characteristics in 64 patients with typical Ménière’s disease. We demonstrated that 72% of them had some variable degree of hyperinsulinemia as shown by their plasma insulin curves, whereas alterations on the glucose curve (reactive hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia) were found for only 21%.”
It concluded that:
“These findings confirm the need to include 5-hour glucose and insulin curves in the diagnostic routine when investigating Ménière’s disease. In that way, an early diagnosis of hyperinsulinemia, the metabolic change most often involved in the pathogenesis of cochleovestibular disorders, can be made.”
An earlier study published in Acta Otolaryngologica in 1984, ‘Blood levels of glucose and insulin in Meniere’s disease‘ stated the following:
“It has been reported that a very commonly overlooked cause of vertigo is disorder of glucose metabolism. This may not be reflected in the glucose tolerance test alone, but becomes obvious when the insulin levels in blood are evaluated simultaneously.
Thirty-one patients with Meniere’s disease underwent a 5-hour glucose tolerance test with radioimmune assay of insulin. It was found that 67.7% of our patients showed some abnormality in the relationship between the blood levels of glucose and insulin.”
The studies above, in addition to several others connecting insulin and glucose to Meniere’s are all cited on PubMed.
More specific to diabetes is the 2013 study published on Science Direct from the Journal of Otology, ‘Effects of Diabetes on Hearing and Cochlear Structures’.
“Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic systemic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, with various pathogenic mechanisms. From absolute or relative insulin deficiency, patients with DM often demonstrate various levels of metabolic disorders. Major clinical manifestations of DM include metabolic disorders, vascular lesions, circulatory disturbances and neurologic complications. Along with advances in DM research, reports of DM related tinnitus and hearing impairment have increased continuously.
DM is closely linked to hearing damage. Both large and microscopic size blood vessels are affected in DM. Metabolic disorders, atherosclerotic changes and micro vessel diseases result in ischemia and hypoxia in neural tissues, leading to nerve damage. When such pathological changes involve the cochlea and auditory nerve, cochlear and/or neural hearing loss follows.”
Although this study does not mention ‘Meniere’s disease’ it shows us how blood flow, insulin and metabolic disorders can affect ear function.
It is a fact that Meniere’s help has received many emails from people who suffer from both Meniere’s disease and diabetes. In some cases diabetes preceded the symptoms of Meniere’s, while with others it was the other way round. So proving a link between Meniere’s and diabetes itself is hard to do. However, several of the factors that lead to diabetes can also be linked to Meniere’s.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you eat and do not eat. If the onset of Meniere’s is related to metabolism, endocrine disorders or thyroid dysfunction for example then the same reasons these problems occur could be the same reasons at root cause that Meniere’s symptoms manifest. Poor diet and lifestyle causes dysfunctions throughout the body that can lead to various conditions including both Meniere’s and diabetes.
We have received updates from Meniere’s sufferers in the past where, when they changed their diet, lifestyle and in many cases used a specific supplement regimen they not only reduced or eliminated their Meniere’s symptoms but also improved their condition related to diabetes.
This underscores the importance of the right nutrition. No remedy or drug can compensate for a poor diet. However a good healthy whole food (organic where possible) diet supported by quality supplementation can reduce the symptoms of, reverse or eliminate many conditions, Meniere’s and diabetes among them.
At precisely the same time I was writing this article The Express news paper online published a report, ‘Removing bread and pasta from diets ‘can reverse Type 2 diabetes’
Diabetes.co.uk, the world’s largest community of sufferers revealed that 7,000 Type 2 patients using a low refined carbohydrate dietary program saved £6.9 million on medication in a year. They claimed that,
“Slashing consumption of rice, potatoes and sugar has the potential to halt one of Britain’s biggest health epidemics. Switching to a healthier lifestyle could save the cash-strapped NHS £10 billion a year – the amount spent treating the condition – and change people’s lives in just 12 months.”
Co-author of the book this study is published in, Dr Aseem Malhotra said,
“The good news is it’s entirely preventable – but also reversible – and simple dietary changes through cutting refined carbohydrates can at the very least help patients come off medications. Simple diet changes have rapid and substantial benefits not just for patients with Type 2 but for high blood pressure and heart disease too.”
Charlotte Summers, of Diabetes.co.uk said,
“We are seeing phenomenal results from people taking a lifestyle first approach on the low carb program which is saving NHS budgets and lives.”
Type in “diabetes diet” or something similar into your search engine and you will find a plethora of diet plans online for diabetics.
Can type 2 diabetes be reversed?
In a simple 12-minute presentation to the U.K. Parliament, Zoe Harcombe, Ph.D., who spent years researching dietary guidelines as they relate to nutrition and obesity, succinctly demonstrates how bad science supports rising rates of diabetes and other nutritionally triggered diseases.
For Meniere’s the right diet and supplementation can help the immune system deal with the inflammation causing the symptoms. Dealing with the cause of the inflammation on the other hand often needs more than simply the correct diet. This depends on the root of the problem and there are several for you to consider.
Finding the root cause or causes of Meniere’s in your own individual case can be done though. If you find your root cause, you have found the key to your cure or solution, whichever words you choose to use. Eliminate or correct the root cause and you can overcome Meniere’s completely. This is something we have constantly seen among sufferers over the past 13 years of support work.
Finally, it is important that if you are both a diabetic and have Meniere’s you should be careful using steroids as a treatment for your Meniere’s. Increases in blood glucose are common among people taking prednisone and other steroids. These steroids are referred to as ‘glucocorticoids’. Perhaps of even more significance is the fact that long term use of these steroids can produce “Steroid induced diabetes” and a host of other very serious conditions.
According to a study ‘Steroid-induced diabetes‘ cited on PubMed.gov in 2014, “Glucocorticoids have various common metabolic side effects including hypertension, osteoporosis and diabetes. As the therapeutic benefits of glucocorticoids continue to expand across medical specialties, the incidence of steroid-induced or steroid-exacerbated diabetes will continue to rise.”
There are plenty of ways to reduce inflammation naturally to tackle your Meniere’s symptoms. If you have the choice of steroids or the right foods, which will you choose?
Help other Meniere’s sufferers. Do have experience with Meniere’s and diabetes? Tell us all about it in the comments boxes below or email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com
Stopping tinnitus and regaining hearing often seem the two most difficult things to achieve for some Meniere’s sufferers. But it can be done.
Audiologists are now accepting that prevention is possible through the correct diet but restoring hearing is a whole different matter. I was told by ENT doctors and audiologists that restoration of my hearing was impossible. I was told with each vertigo attack the nerve endings inside the ear were being destroyed and I would have to accept the fact I would be deaf. How deaf would depend on the level of hearing at the “burn out stage” of Meniere’s disease.
There is only a ‘burn out’ stage if the symptoms of Meniere’s are allowed to continue long term and even then there is no guarantee it will actually burn itself out. In fact I received an email days ago from a lady who had been suffering for 5 decades! Most of what I was told in the early days of my Meniere’s has been contradicted since or been simply proven to be wrong.
Sufferers who contact Meniere’s Help almost always tell of similar gloom and doom prophesies from their treating medical professionals.
However, before we go into the science and evidence in medical studies that contradict these passively accepted ‘beliefs’, I have to point out that many success stories tell of sufferers regaining their hearing and completely freeing themselves of Meniere’s, period.
In my own case, the return of my hearing was a long time coming, full of contradictions and paradoxes. For the first 5 years of my Meniere’s ‘experience’ my hearing had fluctuated greatly from terrible to almost perfect as pressure, dizziness and tinnitus increased and subsided and full blown vertigo attacks came and went. I then made the mistake of having an endolymphatic shunt implant. It was not only ultimately unsuccessful (and expensive at around $10,000) but following the surgery my hearing no longer fluctuated but remained at a very low level.
I like many other people found relief from the vertigo and dizziness through dietary changes and the use of a quality supplement regimen. I was free of all the symptoms of Meniere’s except a very slight tinnitus. My hearing was better but nowhere near the levels on good days prior to the shunt implant. This was the case for ten years.
Other people using the same supplement regimen regularly contacted me with their success stories (some of which you can read elsewhere on this blog) and many would tell stories of how their hearing had returned. I was excited for them but rather envious too. I cursed the day I had decided to have that shunt implant. Knowing that so many others were regaining their hearing on the same regimen I was using and knowing how my hearing worsened following the implant, I was certain I was doomed to a life of deafness in my left ear.
The stories of others regaining their hearing didn’t really surprise me. Shortly after my audiologist in London had told me my hearing would never return, I went into remission naturally and suffered no symptoms at all for about 9 months. My hearing returned completely at that time.
Several years later (after the surgery) I suffered a head injury playing football. I broke my eye socket and cheek bone on the side of the affected ear. Within minutes of the injury, blood and clear fluid poured down through my sinus and out of my nose. Very quickly I noticed my sinus and my ear felt clearer than I could ever remember and suddenly I noticed I could hear very clearly through my affected ear. It was strange moment; in agony from the broken bones but elated because I could hear again.
The hearing slid back down again over the following weeks but this experience threw up many questions, the answers to which both challenged and contradicted conventional ‘beliefs’ among the mainstream medical community regarding Meniere’s. Answers that eventually resulted in the understanding as to why there is such widespread passive acceptance by ENT doctors and Meniere’s ‘specialists’ that there was no known cause of Meniere’s and no known cure.
It is important to understand that there is no known ‘definitive’ cause and therefore no known ‘definitive’ cure. The reasons for this are simple. There are several root causes and therefore several routes to finding your individual cure. Although the resulting symptoms are the mostly the same, the roots of these symptoms can be very different in each individual case. So the answers for each case will be different.
So then, regarding the prevention and yes, the restoration of your hearing – it can be done, has been done and is being done all the time; just as sufferers can free themselves of Meniere’s completely, have done and are doing so all the time.
In my case, after living free of all other symptoms for 10 years through dietary means, it wasn’t until I was worked on by an excellent chiropractor in Japan in 2012 that my hearing returned to normal and I could say with full confidence that I no longer had ‘Meniere’s Disease”. I no longer need that expensive supplementation, though I do eat healthily and help run an organic fruit farm.
If your treating doctor has told you, ‘there is nothing more to be done, take the drugs and lean to live with it‘ then it is down to you to get proactive, informed, and take the appropriate action needed in your individual case. This could be something you do yourself or by seeking out the appropriate health professional depending on your own individual case. Often, the roots of your symptoms can be where you least expect it and not in the realms of consideration or knowledge of ENT doctors.
After years of supporting sufferers and preaching the benefits of diet, my focus for the past 8 years of research and writing has been almost totally on root causes and how to correct them.
I have over 20 years association with this condition. 7 years of suffering, 13 years of support work and now nearly 8 years of research and writing about solutions for Meniere’s sufferers. I formally studied clinical nutrition for 4 years prior to starting serious research, corresponded with and spoke to health professionals and thousands of other sufferers who were able to live symptom free through lifestyle changes and dietary changes, including supplementation. So I know the importance and significance of what we eat and drink.
The studies and information cited below regarding prevention of hearing loss, restoration of hearing and ear health in general underscore the importance of what you eat.
When asking yourself if it is indeed even possible to restore hearing, apart from the success stories that prove it is, consider the study of epigenetics. Long before the focus became on modification, epigenetics showed us that DNA can repair itself naturally.
Just as in the study of cellular biology shows us that cells regenerate either healthily or unhealthily depending on their environment. Both of these factors are influenced by what we eat. In fact they rely on it. The DNA and cells in your ear are no different in this respect. You can restore your hearing, provided no destructive surgery has taken place.
What helps to restore hearing
In 2014 PubMed.gov published the findings of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002 in the USA regarding ear health.
In the paper titled: ‘Healthy Diets, Healthy Hearing’ It was established that “a significant relationship between dietary nutrient intake and susceptibility to acquired hearing loss is emerging.”
The results of the survey showed, “we found a significant negative relationship between dietary quality and thresholds at higher frequencies, where higher dietary quality was associated with lower hearing thresholds.”
It concluded that, “The current findings support an association between healthier eating and lower high frequency thresholds in adults.”
Nutritional imbalances are increasingly thought to be a causative factor in hearing loss, tinnitus and in many cases Meniere’s in general. Nutrients found to be especially beneficial for protecting and improving hearing are astaxanthin, vitamin A, folate, zinc and magnesium.
The nutrients listed above support hearing health by, among other things:
Protecting against oxidative stress in the cochlea
Preventing free radical damage
Improving blood flow, thereby reducing cochlear damage related to a compromised vascular system
Improving homocysteine metabolism
Vitamin A and E
In 1984 a European study reported a 5 to 15 decibel improvement in patients with age-related hearing loss when given vitamins A and E. Other research concluded that vitamin A deficiency results in a decline in the number of sensory cells in the nose, tongue and inner ear.
In 2009, Japanese researchers found that adults with the highest blood serum levels of vitamin A and carotenoids have the lowest risk for hearing loss.
In 2014, researchers determined that vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy, especially during the early stages of fetal development ‘may predispose offspring to inner ear malformations and sensorial hearing loss.
Zinc
Research has shown zinc may be useful for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Although this is not considered Meniere’s of course, the interesting thing is, SSNHL is thought to be viral in origin, and over half of SSNHL sufferers regain their hearing.
Zinc has anti-viral properties, and studies have shown it can prevent common cold viruses from replicating or attaching to your nasal membranes. Zinc also has immune-boosting properties, allowing your body to mount a stronger first response at the onset of a viral infection.
A study published in Laryngoscope and on PubMed in 2011 had this to say about zinc:
“There was a significant correlation between serum zinc level changes and post treatment hearing thresholds by correlation analysis, as well as between changes of serum zinc levels and percentage of recovery in the zinc group.
Zinc supplementation may enhance the hearing recovery of SSNHL patients. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce the oxidative stress of the cochlea in SSNHL, implying a new direction in the treatment of this disease.”
This is significant for its relevance to the ear in general but also in that the root cause of Meniere’s in some people may be viral related.
Note: Excess zinc can cause problems, so it should be obtained through a well balanced diet and/or the use of quality, balanced supplementation in the form of multi vitamin/minerals. Indiscriminately taking zinc supplements can lead to nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, increase the chances of prostrate cancer in men and interfere with your body’s ability to absorb other minerals, which may lead to anemia.
Some good dietary sources of zinc are: pumpkin seeds, ground sesame seeds, cashews, almonds, crimini mushrooms, spinach, sea vegetables and cheddar cheese.
Medical News Today reported in 2014 that a study showed:
“48 percent of SSNHL patients achieved recovery after receiving intravenous magnesium in combination with carbogen inhalation (a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen gas). Another 27 percent experienced significant improvement.”
It has to be noted in this study it was stated that the effectiveness of the treatment was reduced in patients who had vertigo. The article linked to above explains why magnesium can be so important for Meniere’s none the less.
Folate
Folate (Vitamin B9) has been shown to lower tinnitus. Folate also lowers your homocysteine, and having a high blood level of homocysteine has been linked to ‘age-related’ hearing loss.
Dr Mercola explains,
“There is good reason to consider getting your folate from food rather than folic acid supplements. In order for folic acid to be of use to your body, it must first be activated into its biologically active form — L-5-MTHF. This is the form that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
It’s been estimated that nearly half of all adults have difficulty converting folic acid into the bioactive form because of a genetic reduction in enzyme activity. For this reason, if you take a B-vitamin supplement, make sure it contains natural folate rather than synthetic folic acid.”
Good sources of folate are: Asparagus, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, beans and lentils.
Christopher Spankovich, who has been studying the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002 mentioned above states that,
“Some work that I did (Spankovich et al., 2011) demonstrated a relationship between vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and lycopene with better auditory function and higher cholesterol and fat with poorer auditory function. Gopinath et al. (2011b) found a significant relationship between increased odds of hearing loss with higher dietary cholesterol intake. There also is research data showing increased odds of hearing loss with higher carbohydrate and sugar intake (Gopinath et al., 2010).”
Spankovich was also quoted in 2013 in the International Journal of Audiology as stating:
“a significant relationship between dietary nutrient intake and susceptibility to acquired hearing loss is emerging.”
An Australian study published in the International Journal of Nutrition in 2010 showed that diets high in sugar and carbohydrates detrimentally impacts hearing.
Research reported in the December 2010 issue of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery indicates that deficiencies in folic acid and B12 impinge on hearing by harming the nervous and vascular systems and perhaps even damaging the coating over the cochlear nerve.
Studies have shown that resveratrol found in grapes and wine dramatically lowered the amount of COX-2 in the inner ears of rats after exposure to 24 hours of noise. COX-2 is a protein that causes inflammation and may contribute to hearing loss. This may be one reason why Meniere’s sufferers have such positive results with grape seed extract.
The American Journal of Otolaryngolgy published a study in 1993 suggesting Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
The results of the study showed, Patients with tinnitus and NIHL exhibited vitamin B12 deficiency in 47% of cases. This was significantly more compared with NIHL and normal subjects who exhibited vitamin B12 deficiency in 27% and 19%, respectively.
The author concluded that:
“These observations suggest a relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and dysfunction of the auditory pathway. “
In 2008, researchers at the University of Michigan reported that a study showed the use of Vitamins A,C and E improved hearing loss by 80%.
A 2010 paper from the University of Western Ontario, ‘The effects of magnesium supplementation on sensorineural hearing damage’ concluded that magnesium supplementation is generally associated with a reduction in hearing damage caused by noise exposure and/or idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in adults.
In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2013 by doctor Yoon-Hyeong Choi and others, they reported that
“there was a lower degree of hearing loss in the American population among those who took Magnesium and Antioxidant Vitamins. Though Dr Choi studied hearing loss, his results also apply to tinnitus.”
A 1993 study reported in ‘Science’ found that vitamin A can stimulate the regeneration of mammalian auditory hair cells.
Neurotrophin-3 (NT3)
Medical News Today reported in 2014 that the protein Neurotrophin-3 (NT3) was used to restore hearing in mice.
It was explained:
“This allows researchers to activate genes in particular cells by administering a drug that prompts the cells to ‘read’ additional copies of a gene that have been inserted into them. For this study, the team used the technique to activate additional NT3 genes that had been introduced to the supporting cells of the inner ear in mice that had been partially deafened by loud noise.
The drug tamoxifen was introduced to the supporting cells in the inner ear, which prompted them to produce extra NT3 protein … The researchers found the mice that had experienced boosted NT3 production regained their hearing over a 2-week period, compared with mice that had not had additional NT3 production …
[T]hey now plan to … identify drugs that produce the same effect as the protein, offering the potential to restore hearing loss in humans. The researchers note that the gene therapy technique used in this study has the potential to work in humans, but that a drug-based method would be ‘simpler’ and a drug could be repeatedly administered for as long as it takes for hearing to be restored.”
However, a Chinese study cited in 2012 in The African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology showed that the nutrient astaxanthin raises NT3 expression meaning the need for drugs is not necessary.
The two main sources of natural astaxanthin are the microalgae that produce it, and the sea creatures that consume the algae, such as salmon, shellfish and krill.
One study shows that supplementing with 1,200 mg of NAC per day for two weeks significantly decreased noise-related hearing loss of the subjects.
Another study found that taking a NAC supplement did not completely prevent hearing loss, but it did significantly reduce it after prolonged exposure to noise.
Since NAC does not naturally occur in foods, it would appear that you have to take this as a supplement if you want to help your hearing. But if you eat poultry or yogurt, you can get a good amount of cysteine your body can use to make NAC.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in 2010 that suggested that increased intake of Omega-3 fatty acids could reduce age related hearing loss.
What do all these studies have in common?
Virtually all the studies above have three things in common:
The growing understanding of the importance of nutrition in ear health
How antioxidants tackle the vastly under reported problem of free radicals in inflammation and therefore in disease states.
The fact that so many people regained their hearing while using the supplement regimen I used is therefore not so surprising after all. The regimen is packed with antioxidants and nutrients that promote blood flow and cardiovascular health.
Such a regimen may compensate somewhat for poor lifestyle choices and poor diets but cannot replace a healthy balanced (preferably organic whole food) diet. The clue is in the word ‘supplementation‘. This form of nutrition is supposed to be used to ‘supplement‘ your diet, not to replace it but rather support it and work in synergy with real whole foods.
The ‘placebo’ effect, at least in my own case and many others is highly unlikely, in fact I believe impossible. Like many, back in 2002 when I first tried supplementation, I did so purely out of desperation, believing I had exhausted all other avenues for relief. I knew nothing of what I know now and frankly didn’t trust or believe in the idea at all. I was so desperate that I would have drunk kitchen bleach if there was a chance it might help.
Ultimately, as I wrote above, it wasn’t until I corrected the root cause of Meniere’s in my case that I regained my hearing. That was not the case for many others though, who regained their hearing purely through the application of nutrition.
Using high end, quality supplements is not cheap and something that usually needs to continue for sufferers to stay symptom free, at least at some level. There are those who would say that is a wise thing because it will help keep you generally healthy, disease free, and full of energy.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the money to even try these supplements in the first place, let alone continue with them long term. It would be very frustrating for me in years gone by when I would get mails from people such as single mothers on welfare suffering so badly with no hope at all of affording such supplements.
When I knew the regimen was helping so many others and yet far more people were either unable to afford them or just didn’t believe in them, something had to done to help these people. This was one of the many reasons 8 years ago I decided to research full time and make it my life’s work to identify root causes and ways to deal with these causes. Helping sufferers free themselves of Meniere’s disease, regain their hearing and regain their life should not be so selective. Everyone deserves the chance and should receive all the help they can get. I believe and the evidence from readers suggests it is so, that although my research never ends, I achieved my goal somewhat when I published my second book, The Need for Balance – Dealing with the Causes of Meniere’s.
Regenerating hair cells to treat hearing loss – video
Jeffrey P. Harris, MD, PhD, FACS discusses regenerating hair cells in cases of hearing loss.
Success stories
You can read success stories elsewhere on this blog but below are a selection of email extracts from people who have overcome Meniere’s and specifically regained their hearing. You can do the same, and don’t let anyone tell you “there is nothing more to be done, learn to live with Meniere’s.” I say, learn to live without it.
“After 3 days my attacks went from one per day to none, after 2 weeks my hearing was back and after 4 weeks my tinnitus could only be heard barely at night.”
“Approximately 8 months I have had no symptoms – have hearing test results that show my hearing loss has improved “
“For the first time in years I can be in loud places, train hard, play Candy Crush and so forth, two tinnitus tones are gone and my hearing improved.”
“Thanks Mike. I’ve been symptom freefor 3 years now. So far so good“
“I bought your 1st book and learned a lot from it. Symptom free for about a year and a half.“
“The “fog” I was living with has subsided and my tinnitus has decreased as well. Earlier this year my hearing was so bad that I was unable to hear the fan that is placed right next to my head at night. For years I have not been able to speak on the phone with my right ear and now I am able to.”
“My husband is now living symptom free.“
“My mother has been very lucky, her Menieres has been cured.“
“Thank you Mike. All of my symptoms have gone away.“
“The pressure did indeed back off which resulted in more low range hearing coming back.“
“I turned to locally grown herbs which are cheaper and I came across morning herb. Using it made a big improvement helping me regain my balance, a good percentage of hearing and no vertigo but slight tinnitus.”
“Duane has noticed that his hearing fluctuates (occasionally) but has improved greatly.“
“By the way, something I did not expect was the fact that I have regained some of my lost hearing. It has been four years since I was able to listen to a telephone conversation in my left ear. I had a conversation with my wife several weeks ago and at the end of the conversation I told my wife I listened to her with my left ear, she could not believe it. I am scheduled for another hearing test and I am excited about the upcoming results. I was not a candidate in the past for a hearing aid, I hope I don’t even need one now.”
“Within one week i had a massive remission of the deafness in my right ear”
All emails used with permission.
So, is preventing deafness and restoring hearing in Meniere’s disease possible?
From the experiences of many Meniere’s Help readers and my own personal experience, I have to say yes it is possible, but it is obviously dependent on many factors and each individual case is different.
Help other Meniere’s sufferers. Do you have experience of your hearing returning? email Mike at meniereshelp@gmail.com or tell us all about it in the comments boxes below.
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
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