What you eat impacts how well you hear. A balanced diet with essential vitamins and minerals supports your hearing health. Strive for a diet that includes fish, whole grains, seeds, nuts, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Also include foods that have plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, like canola oil, soybeans, flaxseed, walnuts, and wheat germ. Here are a few ways to eat for healthy hearing.
Foods
To keep a hearing loss from impacting your life, eat a well-balanced diet. Choose foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, essential vitamins, and minerals. Here are four foods that are especially effective at protecting your hearing health:
- Bananas, which contain magnesium, protect against hearing loss. Magnesium aids in the expansion of blood vessels which improves circulation in the inner ear. As a bonus, magnesium controls the release of glutamate which contributes to a noise-induced hearing loss.
- Broccoli contains vitamin K, vitamin C, and fiber. These nutrients help stop free radicals from damaging tissue in your ears.
- Salmon includes a large amount omega-3 fatty acids which reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss.
- Dark Chocolate is a great way to build resistance. Is there anything better than a good excuse to eat chocolate? Dark chocolate is high in zinc which prevents age-related hearing loss.
Minerals
Minerals are vital to our overall health and body function. Most people know that calcium can build strong bones and teeth and that zinc is excellent for boosting immunity. Here are some minerals that can protect your hearing health:
- Potassium regulates the amount of fluid in the blood and body tissue including the fluid found in the inner ear. This important fluid translates noises into electrical impulses that the brain interprets as sound. Aging causes potassium levels to drop which contribute to the age-related hearing loss, so it is vital to keep potassium levels up.
- Folic Acid is critical to the body’s generation of new cell growth. Studies Indicate that adults with low levels of folic acid in their blood are more likely to develop presbycusis. Folic acid may slow this down.
- Magnesium fights off the effects of free radicals emitted during loud noises which protects people from noise-related hearing loss.
- Zinc boosts the body’s immune system and plays a role in cell growth and wound healing. It can help fight ear infections and is effective in the treatment of tinnitus.
Vitamins
Vitamins support eye, heart, and immune system health. But what about hearing? There is a long relationship between nutrition and hearing. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E along with iron, copper, iodine, and folate are effective nutrients for hearing health. Research Indicates that vitamins A, C, and E along with magnesium are effective fighters against noise-induced hearing loss through the prevention of the formation of free radicals.
“Eat your veggies” is certainly great advice. Choosing good foods that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals is not only an effective way to maintain your overall health, but it is also a powerful ally in the fight against a hearing loss. So eat a well-balanced diet that includes foods, minerals, and vitamins that can give your ears a boost.
