Food and Your Ears: Two Peas in a Pod
The food you put into your body becomes fuel, enabling you to jump higher and run faster. It also plays an important role in keeping your ears healthy.
Research has shown that vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids can reduce age-related hearing loss. Most fish, such as tuna and sardines are excellent sources of omega 3 and vitamin D. Those who eat fish at least two times a week are over 40 percent less likely to develop age-related hearing loss. This is due to the fact that omega 3 helps to strengthen the blood vessels in your ear’s sensory system.
Vitamin A has been shown to reduce the risk of moderate to severe hearing loss by almost 50 percent. Vitamin A can be found in sweet potatoes, carrots and dark leafy greens.
Antioxidants and folic acid can reduce the risk of hearing loss by up to 20 percent. The antioxidants work to decrease the amount of free radicals in your body; free radicals can damage the nerve tissue in your inner ear. Antioxidants can be found in many foods such as spinach, asparagus, baked beans, broccoli, peas and eggs.
Zinc has been shown to reduce the symptoms of tinnitus and can drastically increase the recovery time of sudden hearing loss. Zinc is found in a wide variety of foods such as shellfish, eggs, nuts and even pumpkin seeds.
While none of these foods will magically fix your hearing loss, eating healthy with an emphasis on getting the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals is never a bad idea. If there is even a small chance that eating a salad of dark leafy greens, tuna and broccoli could help you hear better, your Boone audiologist would encourage you to do so.
For a more concrete way to protect your hearing, schedule an appointment with your Boone audiologist. They will help you find the hearing protection that is right for you.