Diet and hearing are related, according to a new study of women. Apparently, a diet high in fruits and vegetables is good for your improved hearing loss. What do bananas, spinach, peanuts, and dark chocolate have in common? They are foods that contain nutrients associated with hearing health. While no one nutrient is the key to good health or disease prevention, good nutrition contributes to overall health and helps reduce the risk of hearing loss.
Preventing hearing loss through good nutrition.
Obviously, those who deteriorate with age don’t necessarily have to put up with it. You can start by checking your supply of important substances. Not only have vitamin deficiencies been found in people with hearing impairments, but it has also been observed that many of those affected have significantly improved their hearing after consuming natural vitamins. This clearly shows that hearing loss is also one of many other age-related diseases that can be prevented or delayed by a balanced diet rich in vitamins.
Causes of hearing loss.
As we age, most of us think of glasses, hearing aids, and the inevitable wheelbarrow. But are these things really the inevitable consequences of aging? Can hearing loss really only be avoided by staying away from larger sources of noise? Hardly, because despite wearing headphones too loud music and enthusiastically attending rock concerts, one study (2017) did not find higher-than-average hearing impairment in young people. Hearing loss does not seem to be related to noise, but to a denatured diet low in important substances.
Hearing loss can be prevented.
When it comes to the causes of disease, nutritional deficiencies are not usually considered – and the same is true for hearing loss. Independent studies conducted by different research teams around the world have come up with similar results, however. Hearing loss can be prevented by considering optimal diet and targeted use of high-quality food supplements. In those already affected, sensitivity to noise can even be significantly increased again.
Foods for healthy hearing.
Healthy eating, healthy hearing.
Studies have shown that a diet that prioritizes fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of hearing loss by at least 30%. Women who follow a diet that favors fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean meats, fish, and low-fat dairy products and is limited in sodium, sugar, and fat are less likely to have a choice of hearing loss compared to those who eat in the least healthy way. Several popular healthy lifestyle diets, including the Mediterranean diet, have been found to prevent hearing loss. These diets focus on plant-based foods, whole grains, and nuts. Butter is replaced by healthy fats such as olive oil and low erucic acid canola oil. Instead of salt, herbs and spices are used to flavor foods. Fish and poultry are recommended, and red meat is limited. A glass of wine or red grape juice can be substituted with dinner. In general, it is recommended to limit red meat, processed foods, and sugary drinks.
Nutrition advice worth listening to.
Eating a healthy diet is the cornerstone of physical health. In combination with regular exercise, a good diet can boost immunity, reduce susceptibility to disease and increase productivity. If you eat a varied and balanced diet, you will get the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your body needs to function properly. Four minerals that can be easily obtained from a variety of foods have been found to improve hearing health.
Potassium salts
Potassium helps regulate water levels in the body’s tissues and blood. Fluid levels can decline with age. Declining fluid levels in the inner ear may be a factor in age-related hearing loss. The fluid is especially important for the function of the cochlea, the spiral-shaped part of the ear that is filled with special fluids important to the hearing process to improve hearing loss. Foods rich in potassium include potatoes, spinach, lima beans, tomatoes, raisins, apricots, bananas, melons, oranges, yogurt, and low-fat milk.
Zinc
Zinc is a powerful mineral that metabolizes nutrients, maintains the immune system, and expands and repairs body tissues to improve hearing loss. Zinc strengthens the immune system and protects against bacteria that cause colds and can lead to ear infections. Zinc is found in the body’s cells but is most abundant in the inner ear. Studies have reported a link between zinc deficiency and tinnitus, a constant ringing or buzzing in the ear. You can find zinc in a variety of meats, especially red meat, black chicken, chickpeas, lentils, beans, nuts, eggs, and dairy products.
Folic acid
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins that help build healthy new cells and promotes blood flow to the body. Adults with low levels of folic acid are more likely to develop presbyopia or age-related hearing loss . One theory is that folic acid helps the body metabolize homocysteine, a compound that reduces blood flow to improve hearing loss. You can find folic acid in foods such as spinach, broccoli, asparagus, beans, peas, lentils, and organ meats.
Magnesium
Magnesium helps maintain normal blood pressure, strengthens bones, and keeps your heart rhythm stable to improve hearing loss. Magnesium may also help prevent noise-related hearing loss. Researchers have found that magnesium, along with a mixture of vitamins A, C, and E, can reduce free radicals caused by loud noises and protect sensitive hair cells in the inner ear from damage. Foods rich in magnesium include fruits and vegetables such as avocados, nuts, tofu, seeds, whole grains, and even dark chocolate.
You’re healthier
There is no doubt that hearing depends heavily on your lifestyle and overall health. A diet rich in nutrients, especially those foods with antioxidant properties that are low in saturated fat, low in sugar, and low in calories, can reduce the risk of hearing loss. Adding healthy foods to your diet and paying attention to the nutrients you may be missing may have a significant impact on your long-term hearing health. And there’s more good news. A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and nuts are not only good for your hearing but can also help reduce your risk of heart disease, too. Eating a healthy diet is just one way to keep your hearing in check. Siteimprove hearing loss can be gradual, you may not notice it until it affects your life. Regular hearing tests are quick, easy, and painless. If a hearing loss is diagnosed, your hearing care professional can provide you with the best solution. Schedule a free hearing test appointment here.