Dr. Turner estimated that one in ten Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have tinnitus. With very few treatment options and nothing that can be done medically or surgically it has created a monumental problem for about 25 million people. Disease Free by the editors of Prevention

What do we know about tinnitus?

• It is caused by stimuli inside the head or ear and not as a result of external sound waves such as we hear from normal sounds.

• Noise is the most common cause

• Head trauma is the second most common cause

• It consists of a constant ringing in the head (one that no one else hears)

• It can accompany hearing loss

• One theory is that the tiny hairs within the inner ear are overwhelmed and begin to misfire

• Stress increases the occurrence of tinnitus

• Can be caused by an aneurysm, narrowing blood vessels, high triglycerides or even excessive ear wax.

• It can be temporary.

• Can be caused by a common cold, Meniere’s disease, hypertension, or diabetes.

• Can be caused by a vitamin deficiency.

• In some cases it is loud as 70 decibels

• It can consist of a ringing, hissing, whistling, or buzzing and can be constant or intermittent.

• Can be cause temporarily by taking bismuth subsalicylate.

Some things that may bring relief:

• About 50% of cases treated with white music have found relief with the ringing sounds being more tolerable.

• Two thirds of those who have tried hearing aids have found relief. Doctors are not sure if it because they can now hear other sounds better or because the electronic circuitry cancels out the tinnitus.

• Biofeedback improves patients ability to sleep and relax.

• Smoking constricts blood vessels and aggravates hearing problems

• Caffeine also constricts blood vessels.

• Keep a diary of foods and beverages to find out if what you consume is related to your attacks.

• Aspirin is the most prevalent drug that effects tinnitus attacks so should be avoided.

• Aminoglycosides (often used to treat pneumonia) are also offenders according to Dr. Seidman*

• Sometimes there is a medical cause linked to your tinnitus so get a check up and ask the doctor if there is a medical cause.

• Avoid loud noises, especially for prolonged periods. Safeguard your hearing.

• Make a recording of the shower and listen to it on your ipod.

• Distract yourself by doing things you enjoy.

• *Take a multi-vitamin which includes:

  • 500 mg. of calcium

  • 100 I.U. Vitamin D

  • 500 mg. Magnesium

  • 20 mg. Zinc

  • 30 mg. Beta carotene twice daily

The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph. D recommends the following herbs:

• Gingko Biloba

• Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

• Black Cohosh

• Golden-seal

• Lesser periwinkle

• Spinach

Herbs to avoid:

• Willow bark

• Meadowsweet

• Wintergreen

• Black haw

• Uva ursi

• Cinchona

Please use this information as intended, to enhance your medical care and assist yourself and your physician with caring for your health. Take care and stay well.

* Prevention’s Healing with Vitamins

1. Heart disease: Garlic is a superb natural supplement to your diet for combating heart disease. Not only does garlic work to lower bad cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, but garlic also helps protect the aorta in the heart by slowing the aging process of the aorta. Basically, garlic has natural anti-clotting and blood thinning properties.
2. Impotence: This one might be for you guys. And yes, garlic helps with impotence. How? First, garlic helps with blood circulation, and that’s important for … well, you know what it’s important for if you’re an adult. But garlic also stimulates the male body to create a nitric oxide synthase enzyme, an enzyme needed for males to reach an erection.
3. Low-weight birth: Studies done in Great Britain have shown that garlic taken by pregnant women helps the unborn to gain weight. Also, to add, if you are concerned about the bad breath garlic can give you, there are available at most pharmacies and grocery stores garlic supplements (usually in a pill form) that don’t leave you with the bad breath.
4. Infections: Natural, raw garlic works as an antibiotic. It can even kill some harmful bacteria, including that from staph infections, that are resistant to modern medical antibiotics.
5. Allergies: Take at least one garlic pill a day, or eat a tea spoon of garlic a day, to help ward off allergies, especially allergies caused by changes in weather. Your best bet is to begin taking the garlic at least a few weeks before a new allergy season kicks in. It’s the antiviral properties of garlic that help with this.
6. Tooth aches: Sore tooth? Rub some garlic oil on it. Or place a crushed garlic clove on the tooth and around the gums. Give it a few minutes. The pain should begin to ease.
7. Cold sores: Crush a clove of garlic into a glass of slightly warm water and drink it twice a day. The anti-viral and anti-bacterial benefits of garlic can help to lessen the effects of and help to defeat cold sores and other forms of herpes. Be warned, however, not to apply garlic directly to sores on the skin because in some people this can cause a burning sensation. Also, some people have allergies to garlic and should not apply garlic to their skin. To be safe, always check with your doctor.
8. Cancer :Studies have shown that regularly partaking of garlic helps to lessen carcinogenic compounds in the body, especially helping to prevent stomach, colon and esophagus cancer.
9. Food poisoning: Garlic is loaded with an anti-bacterial chemical called allicin (which also causes garlic’s unique smell). Allicin is a great natural compound for fighting bacteria, which includes bad bacteria that can build up in the stomach due to food poisoning.
10. Common cold: Garlic helps to kill viruses in your body, especially cold viruses and other harmful bacteria when the garlic is eaten raw.

Related links

10 Health Benefits of Vinegar

10 Health Benefits of Cinnamon

10 Health Benefits of Tomatoes

More people are jumping on board the supplement bandwagon and taking zinc supplements these days – but too much of a good thing isn’t always better. Taking zinc supplements can potentially cause serious problems and even lead to a deficiency in another element needed by the body – copper. Unfortunately, few people are aware of this problem. What are the health risks of taking zinc supplements?

What is Zinc and Why Do You Need It?

There’s little doubt that zinc is important. It’s involved in hundreds of different reactions in the human body and when a person doesn’t get enough, it can lead to problems such as poor growth, delayed sexual development, decreased immunity, poor wound healing, and decreased fertility. Low zinc levels can also affect sperm counts in men and hormone levels in women.

Do Most People Get Enough Zinc in Their Diet?

Most experts believe that the average person gets enough zinc in their diet as long as they eat a relatively healthy diet and aren’t malnourished. Two groups of people who are more prone to zinc deficiencies are vegetarians and the elderly. The best sources of zinc are animal sources including meats of all types. Many whole grains have respectable amounts of zinc, but it’s not as readily absorbed as zinc from animal sources – which is why vegetarians are often deficient in zinc. Elderly people have more difficulty absorbing zinc and mild zinc deficiencies are also common in this population.

What are the Risks of Taking Zinc Supplements?

The major concern with taking zinc supplements is that too much can lead to a copper deficiency. As is often the case, when you get too much of one nutrient it has an impact on another. Such is the case with zinc and copper. When a person takes excessive amounts of zinc through supplements, it decreases the absorption of copper which can lead to anemia, decreased immunity, hair loss, fatigue, abnormal heart rhythms, and reduced thyroid function. There have been cases of copper deficiencies resulting from heavy use of denture creams that contain zinc. It doesn’t take high doses of zinc supplements to cause a copper deficiency – as little as three times the RDA can do it. 

Who Should Take a Zinc Supplement?

Most people should not take zinc supplements because of the risk of copper deficiency. Vegetarians should consider taking zinc, but should use a multi-vitamin that has zinc in it to avoid getting too much. A multi-vitamin also has B12 which many vegetarians need – since B12 is only found in meat and dairy products. Elderly people should also consider taking a multi-vitamin with zinc – although they should choose one without iron unless they’re known to have an iron deficiency.

The bottom line? Zinc is important, but too much can be a problem. Don’t overdo it with the zinc supplements. Get your zinc through diet instead.

Many people are more than willing to go out and spend money on expensive skin creams in hopes of getting smoother skin – but few are willing to change their diet. Designer skin creams do little to change the damage that smoking, too much alcohol, and a poor diet has on the skin – not to mention time spent in the sun without a sunscreen. One vitamin that’s important for smoother skin is vitamin C because it stimulates collagen production which keeps skin looking young and firm. Now a new study shows that another nutrient – lycopene – may help to promote smoother, younger looking skin.

Benefits of Lycopene: Better Skin?

In a study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, researchers gave twenty-five young adults a lycopene rich diet for four weeks followed by a 25 milligram lycopene supplement for another three months. A the end of the four month period, they looked at the participant’s skin using spectroscopy and found they had higher levels of carotenoids, including lycopene and beta-carotene, in their skin. Carotenoids are strong antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation – which may have a positive impact on skin aging. A previous study published in the same journal found that higher skin lycopene levels were associated with smoother skin.

What are Lycopenes?

Lycopenes are a type of carotenoid found naturally in foods that are red. Fresh tomatoes are a source of lycopenes, but the highest levels are found in tomatoes that have been processed into tomato paste, tomato sauce, or ketchup. Red fruits such as watermelon, apricots, pink grapefruits, and guavas are other good sources.

Benefits of Lycopene for Smoother Skin: How Does It Work?

When skin levels of lycopenes are higher, it helps to reduce oxidative damage that occurs from daily exposure to the sun and other environmental pollutants. As a study showed, higher levels of skin lycopenes reduces skin roughness. Higher levels of lycopene in the skin also block ultraviolet rays to some degree – although not enough to make a sunscreen unnecessary.

How Much Lycopene Do You Need for Better Skin?

Most experts recommend getting between 25 to 75 milligrams of lycopene each day. A half cup of tomato sauce has around 22 milligrams of lycopene and one cup of tomato juice has 20 milligrams. With a little planning, it’s not hard to get at least 25 milligrams of lycopene a day without supplements which was the amount the study participants received during the last three months of this study.

Benefits of Lycopene for Smoother Skin: The Bottom Line?

If you want smoother skin, add more processed tomato foods to your diet and supplement them with red fruits such as watermelon and apricots. The secret to better skin? Say goodbye to the expensive skin creams and eat more lycopenes instead.  

Time strapped moms and dads sometimes depend on the convenience of fast food to feed their hungry family quickly. While an occasional fast food meal is unlikely to lead to long term health problems for a child, there’s little doubt that the easy availability of “happy meals” and soft drinks is contributing to the growing problem of childhood obesity. Unfortunately, kids and fast food isn’t a match made in heaven – at least when it comes to good health. The effects of too many hamburgers and high fat French fries can come back to haunt a child later in life in the form of diabetes and heart disease. Is there a way for parents to make healthier food choices for kids?

Kids and Fast Food: Nutritional Information Leads to Healthier Choices

According to a study conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, prominently displaying nutritional information for fast food may help parents make better food choices. When parents were given calorie counts on fast food menus at McDonald’s, along with pricing information, when making food selections for their kids, they chose lower calorie meals that had an average of 102 calories less than when nutritional information wasn’t displayed.

Healthier Fast Food for Kids

If parents consistently chose fast food meals with 102 less calories for their kids, this would have a significant impact on a child’s weight over time. Of course, it’s healthier for children not to eat fast food, but having nutritional information on fast food menus might cause parents to think more about the food choices they make for their kids. This study shows that parents are willing to make healthier food choices when they’re aware that a particular kid’s meal is high in calories.

Kids and Fast Food: Obesity in the Making?

The reality is that children get around a third of their calories from food purchased out of the home – which includes fast food. Having nutritional information for fast food readily available on menus could be an important step towards taking control of the childhood obesity epidemic in this country.

The Bottom Line?

Some areas of the country are already requiring that fast food restaurants display complete nutritional and calorie information – although it may only be found on a restaurant’s website – which few parents bother to access. McDonald’s was one of the first fast food restaurants to unveil a nutritional labeling program that displayed nutritional information right on their packaging. Currently, only a little more than half of fast food restaurants prominently show nutritional information for fast food, but more will likely follow. Will it help to reduce the obesity problem among kids? It’s certainly a step in the right direction.

Money is tighter now than ever but a you gotta eat, right? One sure way to put aside a few extra bucks is to skip the fast food and cook at home; it’s both cheaper and healthier. Before the first trip to the market,  do a little preparation. It saves money to plan your menu a week at a time rather than shopping daily.  Don’t forget to plan breakfast and lunches as well. In most cases, you will have enough food left over from your dinner to use for lunch the next day. If you have to pack a cold lunch, think ahead about what you most enjoy eating. You will be more likely to stick with packed lunches if you are looking forward to the meal. Two final tips, eat before you go and stick to the list.

At the store, think basics. The lower on the food chain that you shop, the healthier and cheaper the food. Avoid  prepackaged foods at all costs. Not only are they more expensive, they are nutritionally void. Our goal is to shop for good basics that can be used in a variety of ways. The most satisfying, healthy and least expensive foods are found in the produce isle. This is where you want to spend the bulk of your shopping time.  Choose basics such as zucchini, bell peppers (all colors), tomatoes, carrots, leafy green such as bok choy, spinach or swiss chard, onion, garlic, fresh basil and any other veggie that makes you happy. Potatoes are a good addition but think about using sweet potatoes or yams in place of regular white potatoes. They have more flavor and are higher in nutritional value.

Don’t forget the fruit. Bananas are especially high in nutrition and are filling. They can be blended in smoothies with berries and yogurt for a quick and healthy breakfast. Buy in season and local produce. Buying local is beneficial on multiple levels. The food is more nutritious, has a smaller carbon footprint and helps the local economy. All around it’s the better choice.

The next stop should be for beans. Your best value will be dried beans, although they will require a little prep work. If it seems like too much work to soak beans the night before you use them,  buy the canned ones instead. You will pay a little more but they’re convenient.  A good protein complement to beans is rice. Again avoid the quick cooking stuff in the box and go for the rice in the bag. Pasta is another great stable to have in the pantry. It can be used as it’s own dish or can be tossed into a soup  or salad. Choose whole wheat, spinach or a tricolor over the plain white stuff. It will add more flavor and nutrition. Olive oil is a must have. Look for extra virgin, and in a dark bottle. 

Lastly we’ll look at adding some protein items. Use meat and dairy products sparingly. Besides helping your budget, it’s also healthier.  Chicken is versatile and the inexpensive cuts such as thighs and drumsticks can be used as the base of a meal or  to create soup stock.  For any meat, look for  the economy packs. Although they may be a little more expensive for the initial outlay, you can repackage and freeze the meat that you don’t use the first night.  There are also non-meat protein sources to explore. Soy, Tofu and Tempeh are some of the more popular. In most recipies, these vegetarian choices can easily replace their meat counterpart.

I always keep a couple types of cheese on hand for variety. Again, be aware of portions. A little will go along way. Most people are comfortable with cheddar, but be a little adventuresome and taste different varieties. Feta and members of the blue cheese family are fun additions to many recipies.

A quick trip down the spice isle will add flavor to your cooking.  In addition to making your dishes interesting, herbs and spices have health beneifits. There are a varity of fun blends that are great for the neophyte. I especially enjoy the ones with a built in grinder so that you can add fresh spices to your meal. Don’t let the idea of cooking with spices intimidate you. Once you understand the concept, get creative. That’s half the fun!

The world of breakfast cereals can be a confusing one – particularly if your goal is to eat well from a nutritional standpoint. Even the so-called “healthy” breakfast cereals contain large amounts of sugar. One type of breakfast cereal that some find satisfying is muesli. This old-fashioned cereal was developed around the turn of the century and is a popular dish in Switzerland. It’s rapidly gaining in popularity here since it requires little preparation and makes a tasty and satisfying breakfast cereal; but what about its health benefits? Is muesli healthy?

What is Muesli?

Muesli can be bought pre-packaged at most supermarkets. It usually consists of a blend of rolled oats combined with dried fruits, nuts, and seeds. It’s also a popular food product in health foods stores and natural markets because of its perceived health benefits.

Health Benefits of Muesli: Is Muesli Healthy?

The average cup of pre-packaged muesli has around 289 calories. Although it contains little fat, most pre-packaged brands of muesli are high in sugar and one serving can have as much as 26 grams of sugar and 66 grams of carbohydrates – definitely not a good choice if you’re on a carb restricted diet. It does have a significant amount of fiber and it’s a fair source of protein which makes it a food that’s relatively filling and satisfying. It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals – including vitamin E, the B vitamins, and iron. When you add milk, it also becomes a good source of bone building calcium.

Other Health Benefits of Muesli

The oats found in muesli contain beta-glucans which is a soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol levels. The dried fruits added to muesli contain anti-oxidants in addition to vitamins and minerals. The nuts add heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and if you buy a brand that contains walnuts, you get alpha-linolenic-acid which is converted to omega-3’s by the body. Omega-3’s are heart healthy and reduce inflammation.

Is Muesli Healthy?: The Bottom Line

All in all a bowl of muesli is a healthy way to start the day – if you buy a low sugar version. If you can’t find one, it’s not hard to make your own by combining rolled oats with the dried fruits and nuts of your choice. You can add a healthier sweetener such as Stevia instead of sugar. Another way to add natural sweetness to muesli is to add a little fruit juice to the milk when you eat it. It can also be mixed with yogurt for a quick breakfast or dessert treat. Enjoy eating muesli!

You’ve probably had yogurt many times in your life, but have you ever tried goat’s milk yogurt? Surprisingly, goat’s milk is a favorite worldwide and outranks yogurt made from cow’s milk when it comes to how much is consumed. What are the health benefits of goat’s milk yogurt and why should you add it to your grocery cart?

Health Benefits of Goat’s Milk Yogurt: The Lactose Issue

Up to three-quarters of the world’s population lack enough of the lactase enzyme needed for digesting the lactose found in milk. Drinking cow’s milk and eating yogurt made from it can cause a variety of uncomfortable intestinal symptoms in these unfortunate people. Not only does goat’s milk yogurt have less lactose than cow’s milk, goat’s milk is more easily digested by people who have low levels of the lactase enzyme. Some people with lactase deficiency can enjoy goat’s milk yogurt without experiencing intestinal symptoms. If you’re lactose intolerant, this could be a better alternative.

Health Benefits of Goat’s Milk Yogurt: Another Reason It’s Better Digested

Another reason goat’s milk cheese is better tolerated by those who can’t drink milk is it lacks a protein called alpha s1 casein that causes a different type of milk intolerance – one that can be mistaken for lactose intolerance. It also has more medium chain triglycerides which help with digestion. Goat’s milk yogurt lacks agglutinin – a component found in cow’s milk that causes fats to clump together – making them more difficult to absorb. All in all, goat’s milk tends is more digestible for most people than yogurt made from cow’s milk.

Health Benefits of Goat’s Milk Yogurt: It Has More Vitamin Power

Goat’s milk yogurt has more vitamin A, vitamin B1, riboflavin, and calcium than cow’s milk yogurt.

Health Benefits of Goat’s Milk Yogurt: Some People Prefer the Taste

Some people shy away from trying goat’s milk yogurt because they don’t like the taste of goat’s milk cheese, but goat’s milk yogurt has a slightly sweet, yet tangy taste that many people enjoy – once they give it a try.

How to Use It?

Try using goat’s milk yogurt as a base for preparing dips or as a marinade for chicken. Use it to make healthy, creamy dressings or in place of mayonnaise in potato salad. You can also add fruit and nuts and enjoy it as a dessert. Whether you’re ready for something different or have problems digesting dairy products, consider giving goat’s milk yogurt a try.

According to a previous study, about 1-in-3 American adults have high blood pressure.

Interesting, not so for the  Kuna Indians who live on a group of islands off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Even at 60 years old or older, the average blood pressure for Kuna Indian islanders is a good 110/70.

If you think it’s because the Kuna Indians eat less salt. Well, they consumed as much, if not more salt, than the Americans.

Harvard researchers found that they ftake around 5 cups of cocoa every day. According to the study,  flavonols that are present in cocoa will  stimulate one’s body production of nitric oxide. This means, increase blood flow to your heart, brain and other organs. Interestingly, one study reported that cocoa will thin your blood just as well as low-dose aspirin!

Additional Reading
Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook by Antonia Valladores and Jamie Larose