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6 foods to avoid for people with hearing difficulties

6 foods to avoid for people with hearing difficulties

The auditory sense is a crucial aspect of perceiving the world around us. However, approximately 15% of adults in the country report some hearing problems. With advanced technology, several solutions, including hearing aids and assistive devices, have been devised to help individuals with hearing impairment. In addition, following a healthy, curated meal plan can help them control symptoms of hearing impairment. Here are some foods to avoid and general tips for those experiencing hearing difficulties.

Foods to avoid for people with hearing difficulties

Monosodium glutamate
An integral part of several packaged and ready-to-eat foods, monosodium glutamate (MSG) is an excitatory neurotransmitter that can cause severe neurological impairment, worsening the symptoms of hearing conditions like tinnitus. Thus, checking the ingredients in ready-to-eat foods and avoiding those with MSG is advisable.

Caffeinated beverages
It has been found that excessive intake of caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea can elevate one’s blood pressure and aggravate the symptoms of hearing conditions. However, since caffeine also comprises several antioxidants, it may benefit the body in limited quantities. The key here is to limit one’s intake of tea and coffee.

Processed foods
Processed foods are high in saturated and trans fats, which can lead to plaque generation in the arteries and problems with blood circulation. Thus, individuals with hearing issues must avoid processed foods, including processed meats, savory snacks, instant breakfast cereals, and processed cheese, replacing them with wholesome foods like whole grains, vegetables and fruits, lentils, and dry fruits.

Confectioneries
Baked items, including sweetened cakes, pastries, and other regular baked goods like bread, contain refined sugar and empty calories in high amounts. High glucose levels in the bloodstream can cause damage to the tiny nerves and blood vessels in the inner ear. One can replace store-bought confectioneries with home-baked goods prepared using whole grains and little or no sugar.

French fries
One medium serving of french fries contains about 230 mg of sodium, hampering one’s blood circulation and increasing blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure levels can trigger or worsen hearing issues. Since sodium is the primary element in salt, french fries and other ready-to-eat foods with large concentrations of salt must be avoided by individuals susceptible to or grappling with hearing problems.

Pickles
Pickles also contain excessive quantities of salt, which can elevate blood pressure. Individuals with hearing difficulties should eliminate pickles from their meal plans to avoid increased sodium levels.

Tips to control symptoms of hearing conditions

Have foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including fatty fish varieties like sardines, mackerel, herring, and tuna, and other foods like Brussels sprouts, spinach, and walnuts, can prevent hearing loss or alleviate its effects, particularly among the elderly population. It helps to incorporate such foods into one’s meals regularly to control the symptoms of hearing disorders.

Ensure cleaning your ears regularly
The wax accumulation inside the ears can cause severe discomfort and aggravate hearing issues. While it helps to remove wax frequently using earbuds, one must also get their ears cleaned and checked by an ENT specialist once every few months to ensure the removal of hard wax.

Steer clear of loud noises
Although sudden loud noises and sounds may be unpredictable and unavoidable, individuals with hearing problems must take precautions to avoid places and situations characterized by high sound decibels. For example, one can move from a noisy neighborhood to the city’s outskirts or avoid frequenting places with too many vehicles and excessive noise.

Invest in good hearing devices
Technological advancements have resulted in the developing of several hearing devices and other equipment to facilitate better hearing. Individuals with hearing difficulties can benefit significantly from using such devices regularly. Some options for individuals with hearing impairment include assistive devices, hearing aids, and auditory brainstem implants. Further, several natural food interventions like Quietum Plus ™ are available for affordable prices and effectively aid overall ear health. However, it is necessary to consult an ENT specialist before purchasing a hearing aid, as a professional can understand one’s specific requirements and suggest solutions accordingly.

Have potassium-rich foods
Potassium helps regulate the fluid in the inner ears and can aid ear health. Thus, persons with hearing difficulties must have potassium-rich foods like bananas, spinach, and other leafy greens, potatoes, and lentils.

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Understanding arthritis – A common joint condition

The joints are constantly working while we move our limbs, so, understandably, people may develop certain joint conditions that cause pain and compromise mobility, especially with age. One of the common joint conditions is arthritis, which leads to joint inflammation and mild to severe pain. While there are several types of arthritis, the two most common types are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Stages Rheumatoid arthritis has four stages: Stage 1: At this stage, inflammation occurs inside the joints, and swelling, stiffness, and joint pain are the common symptoms. Stage 2: The inflammation of the joint lining, synovium, aggravates at this stage and results in cartilage damage. The affected joints’ range of motion is also compromised, causing pain and discomfort. Stage 3: At this stage, the severity of the joint condition increases, and it leads to bone damage. This results in more pain, loss of mobility, and weakness of muscles. The bones rubbing against each other can cause bone deformity as well. Stage 4: This is the final stage where the joints stop functioning completely. It leads to more pain, stiffness, and swelling, and the bones may even fuse, which is known as ankylosis. Osteoarthritis also has four stages of progression: Stage 1: Wear and tear may affect the knee joints, and minor spur growths on the affected bone can also be seen, but the condition does not cause too much pain at this stage. Stage 2: The bone spur growths increase and cause pain, and the knee joints become stiffer. Stage 3: This stage is characterized by joint inflammation leading to increased pain and stiffness. Walking can also cause popping sounds in the joints. Stage 4: The space between the bones in the joints becomes very narrow, causing the cartilage to wear down. Also, a chronic inflammatory response caused by the breakdown of cartilage aggravates discomfort and pain. Diagnosis of arthritis These joint conditions can be diagnosed using several tests. A physical examination reveals whether a patient has red, warm, and tender joints, and this test also helps examine the fluid around the joints. A rheumatologist can analyze the level of inflammation in the joints to determine the type of arthritis an individual is affected with. Also, blood tests are undertaken to check for antibodies like anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibody. In addition, X-ray, CT scans, and MRI are also performed to check the condition of the cartilage and bones. Prevention of arthritis A family history of joint conditions like arthritis or aging can increase one’s risk of developing arthritis, but making certain lifestyle changes can also help lower the chances of developing the condition. To start with, one should include more foods with omega-3 fatty acids in their diet as these healthy fats are anti-inflammatory. One should also exercise regularly, keep their weight under check, reduce stress on their joints, and try to avoid injuries. Also, if one notices any symptoms of arthritis, they should consult a doctor immediately as early diagnosis goes a long way in managing the condition effectively through timely treatment.

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6 foods that may aggravate breathing difficulties

Breathing-based illnesses make getting through a day challenging for people living with them. To top it off, if such individuals eat these "wrong" foods, that will aggravate the condition even more. People overlook the sheer vitality of foods on their respiratory system, which is a massive oversight and can have dire consequences on their health. The worst foods are loaded with sugar or other unhealthy compounds or are overly processed. So let's look at a few. Beef and pork Regarding processing, red meats contain several chemical preservatives and additives to boost their shelf life and edibility. Additionally, such foods are also packed with saturated fats. Therefore, regularly eating foods such as beef, pork, lamb, mutton, veal, goat, venison, and red meats raises the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the body dramatically. In addition, LDL is linked with lung inflammation and greater difficulty inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. This risk element gets compounded several times more when people with severe respiratory issues such as COPD or asthma consume foods loaded with processing chemicals and saturated fats. Due to their inflammatory nature, people with respiratory illnesses will do well to steer clear of processed meats and foods. Cakes and pastries As implied earlier, refined sugar is an equally big negative regarding lung health. Refined sugars, like red meats, contain additives, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners. Foods such as cakes, pastries, pickled foods, snacks, frozen seafood, and dried fruits/vegetables are usually laced with chemicals such as various sulfites, making breathing difficult. So, if people with conditions like bronchitis consume these foods regularly, they may worsen the symptoms of their disorder. Similarly, chemical additives can trigger conditions like asthma too. Cakes and pastries also tend to contain an artificial sweetener known as aspartame. This chemical is known to cause food allergies and serious respiratory disorders such as asthma. Canola oil Vegetable oils are widely known to be healthy foods full of various nutrients. Therefore, most vegetable oils, such as canola, soybean, corn, grapeseed, safflower, and sunflower, are a regular part of many people's daily meals. Unfortunately, these oils also contain specific components that can harm one's lungs. Canola oil contains many unhealthy fats that can cause inflammation, blocked circulatory pathways, increased undesirable muscle gain, heart disease, greater lung mucus production, and cancer in people who consume them regularly. These aspects make medium to large amounts of canola oil one of the main foods that worsen breathing difficulties. To cancel out the detrimental health effects of these oils, one can consume foods such as salmon, walnuts, and other items containing healthy omega-3 fatty acids that have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Overall, vegetable oil consumption is a big no-no when it comes to the foods people with asthma, COPD, or bronchitis must consume daily. Aerated sodas Like cakes and pastries, aerated sodas are a trove of refined sugars and preservatives. However, carbonated drinks like aerated sodas go beyond that to worsen the symptoms of respiratory illnesses. Several research studies and real-life case studies have found drinking soda to be inextricably linked with developing asthma over some time. Also, people often consume soda while consuming high-fat foods such as French fries or hamburgers. That combination worsens things from a respiratory perspective for people with breathing difficulties. White bread Like vegetable oils used for cooking, white bread is also a near regular in sandwiches, pudding, cutlets, and several other breakfast, lunch, or dinner meals in households nationwide. However, an unfortunate fact associated with white bread is its ability to boost mucus production in people's lungs and respiratory tract. Illnesses like nasal polyps and chronic rhinosinusitis involve the presence of excessive mucus all across a person's respiratory system. Eating white bread is directly linked with developing these annoying illnesses. Therefore, consuming brown bread or other whole grain-based alternatives is a wise choice if one cannot remove bread from their meals. Salted nuts Salt is surprisingly bad food for people with existing breathing issues. This is because salt is rich in sodium, a chemical that causes fluid retention in various parts of the body. So, if excessive fluid is present in a person's lungs, their air pathways get blocked, and they become susceptible to conditions such as pneumonia, allergies, and asthma attacks.

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