As our understanding of the complex nature of hearing loss continues to improve and expand through increased research and population studies it can be overwhelming to look at the long list of potential contributors to hearing loss. Everything from driving with the windows down to an extensive list of drugs with hearing loss as a side effect is on there, and is enough to make anyone feel like the path to healthy hearing is a daunting one.
Fortunately, there have also been discoveries on the other side of the hearing loss investigation: that is, how to prevent it from getting worse or even starting at all. And these discoveries aren’t the run of the mill suggestions that simply advise you to avoid the long list of hearing aggravators either. Instead, some easily accessible nutrients have been identified to boost your efforts in protecting your hearing, making hearing health as simple as eating a nutrient-rich diet. Let’s review these nutrients one by one:
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA)
As one of the increasingly studied and sought after antioxidants, ALA has been seen to inhibit and even block the specific kind of free-radical damage that is known to affect our hearing mechanism. Often available in a multivitamin, you should seek out between 100-750 mg in your daily supplement.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)
Known to be a nutrient beneficial for memory and energy, it turns out that ALC is also useful for supporting the auditory connections within the brain. Considering how much of our hearing capacity is based on the auditory nerve and subsequent neurological processing, this is not too surprising. This supplement is typically available in its own formula, and should be consumed daily at a dosage of 500 to 3000mg per day.
Glutathione
The reasons for supplementing with Glutathione continue to pile up, and hearing health is just one more excellent effect of this incredible antioxidant. Glutathione plays a critical role in supporting our body’s natural cancer defense mechanisms, as well as helping to prevent free-radical damage to our auditory system. It also has the unique ability to neutralize some of the toxins we are too often exposed to these days. Recommended daily dosage is between 30 to 300mg per day.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
Another celebrity nutrient, CoQ10 has received a lot of fanfare in recent years in both mainstream consumer products and academic research alike. It’s mostly well known for its benefits for our skin and cellular health, and research continues to reveal its protective effect on our cells’ energy centers: our mitochondria. Our mitochondria are miniscule intracellular organelles that are imperative for every living cell in our bodies, including all of the cells making up the organs within our auditory system, including the brain. This antioxidant is a helpful aide for our entire body, and should be consumed at a dosage of 60 to 320mg each day.
Vitamin B complex
The B vitamin family is responsible for a wide array of important bodily functions, especially supporting the nervous system. Since hearing wouldn’t be possible without the proper functioning of our auditory nerve, getting enough B Vitamins is critical. It is important to note that since B vitamins are water-soluble, it is possible to over-consume them. Recommended dosage is a balanced B Vitamin Complex formula, which will have each B vitamin in the proper range.
Lecithin
Considered a keystone in the construction of cell membranes, lecithin is what keeps cells from getting hardened. It has proven to be essential for healthy cell membranes and the recommended dosage is between 200 to 1500mg each day.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
This incredible amino acid (part of a protein) has been shown to actually repair damaged hair cells of the inner ear. It’s also a well-known detoxifier and a worthy addition to your daily supplement cabinet. Recommended dosage is between 100 and 2500mg per day.
Quercetin
Often referenced for its allergy-reducing properties, quercetin is a bioflavonoid present in colorful fruits and vegetables. It has antioxidant properties that make it a powerful protector from the free radical damage that can gradually decay our auditory system. Recommended dosage is 30 to 500mg per day
Resveratrol
After getting the spotlight a few years back for its beneficial role in healthy skin and heart tissue, this potent antioxidant found in red wine and grape juice has also shown to protect our hearing mechanism from the accumulated damage of loud noise exposure. As a powerful anti-aging compound, there’s really no reason not to add it to your protocol. Recommended dosage is 40 to 1000mg per day.
