In The Absence of Sound

I realized this morning that I haven’t suffered from tinnitus in days.  Days! Until today, when I noticed that I have a slight ringing in my ears, just enough to make me realize that I haven’t experienced the worst of the buzzing for quite a while now. Not since I discovered that the cans of flavored sparkling waters I love are filled with Natural Flavors – a new name that hides the old name of Monosodium Glutamate – and stopped drinking them.

I love sparkling water.  I weaned myself off of Diet Coke by switching to the flavored sparkling waters of La Croix, Klarbrunn, Polar . . .  I’ve probably tried them all over the past ten years or more.  And I trusted them.  In my fight against migraines and tinnitus, I trusted these tasty beverages to remain seated in the “neutral”  corner of the ring, encouraging me to refresh myself with the “natural” source of flavors that I loved.

In Chapter 19 of his book, Medical Medium, Anthony Williams states, “Any ingredient with a name like natural flavoring is hidden MSG.” He further states, “MSG typically builds up in your brain tissue.  It can then cause inflammation and swelling, kill thousands of your brain cells, disrupt electrical impulses, weaken neurotransmitters, burn out neurons, make you feel confused and anxious, and even lead to micro-strokes. It also weakens your central nervous system.”

Gees!  All those years, drinking those cans of delicious sparkling water. I may as well have been slamming a door on my hand, over and over and over again. But I didn’t know.  The information on Monosodium Glutamate that I’d read over ten years ago had warned of the damage MSG and artificial sweeteners could do to the brain, as well as provided the various disguises under which MSG and associated compounds lurked, such as: glutamate, hydrolyzed, yeast extract, brewers yeast, protease, aspartame, saccharine, carrageenan, and so many, many others, including the generic “seasonings.”

Natural Flavorings, however, was not included on that list at that time. I’m guessing that after the big uproar over the dangers of MSG and its compounds hit the internet, the food marketing geniuses came up with more comforting names like: Natural Cherry Flavor, Natural Lemon Flavor, and my favorite, Natural Smoke Flavor, which sounds really good for us, doesn’t it?

Who would guess that MSG hides beneath such names? It’s a “Buyer Beware” world out there in the food marketing industry, fully supported by the FDA. And even though after experiencing enough migraines from eating Barbecue sauces with Natural Smoke Flavor, I figured it out, boy, I still never thought to question my sparkling water ingredients.

But after two months following the Medical Medium diet protocol, I began to notice that my tinnitus really seemed to flare up after drinking a can of the Polar Vanilla-Orange sparkling water that I especially enjoy.  At first I blamed it on the aluminum can itself and reduced my consumption.  But even one can a day triggered the tinnitus.  Then last week I paused and read the ingredients on the can of Polar Sparkling Water.

I just hadn’t connected the dots.  When I read Anthony’s chapter on foods and ingredients to avoid, I saw Natural Flavorings listed and made a mental note to watch for that ingredient when I shopped at the store.

Worse, that same day while cleaning my cupboards, I discovered that Natural Flavorings was listed as an ingredient in the Tazo Passion Fruit Tea I loved. I checked the Bigelow and other “herbal” teas I’d purchased as well,  and yes, threw the majority of them away. My impression – if it isn’t straight black tea or straight green tea, there may be flavorings in them, and they sure aren’t natural!

The good news?  I found Spindrift, a sparkling water using real fruit juice in its makeup.  Imagine that! My tongue is still getting used to the taste of “real squeezed fruit.” The flavor is more subdued, but I know I’ll learn to enjoy them.  I can eat dandelion leaves now, for heaven’s sake!  I can learn to appreciate this.

My ears are ringing slightly now.  A headache lurks on my brain’s “horizon,” not increasing yet, just considering its next plan of attack.  I’m sure the years of MSG enhanced sparkling water will require more than just avoidance and a few more heavy metal detox smoothies to remove what’s entrenched in my brain tissue, causing inflammation, etc.  But I will persevere.

Persevere and sound the alarm along with Anthony William and so many others out there, trying our best to uncover the truth, trying our best to heal.  It’s resist or let ourselves be trampled on by the Corporate Mega-giants out there who see us as a source of profit, not as humans.  Is there really a choice?