Dessert to Your Ears: Foods that Promote Healthy Hearing

Walking down the street you hear the loud sound of a jackhammer at the local construction site. Suddenly a motorcycle zooms past you, and you hear its blaring stereo. The world is full of sounds that are harmful to our ears and we don’t realize it until it’s too late. When major hearing loss occurs the primary thing to do from there is to get hearing aids (you can read here to learn more) which can amplify sounds and make them easier for your ears to detect. Some newer forms of hearing aid also work to isolate vocal sounds, making it easier to hear someone even when there is background noise. And as impressive as hearing aid technology is today, just take a look at tvears for example which connect to your television.

While these solutions exist it is often betst that you take measures to prevent hearing loss in the first place. Getting a hearing aid at 80 is understandable but not when you’re 30, so we would ideally like to protect our perfect hearing where possible. Too much exposure puts us at risk of hearing loss which is why you should get a hearing test procedure every few years to ensure you detect hearing loss as early as possible. Here are some foods and nutrients that help to prevent hearing loss.

Omega-3: Fish lovers have a 42 percent lower risk of hearing loss compared to people that avoid fish. Fish particularly rich in omega-3 such as salmon and tuna, showed significant hearing protection even in old age. This is due to the anti-inflammatory quality found in omega-3 that protects hearing. High levels of omega-3 can also be found in seeds, grains, and beans.

Vitamin E: Foods filled with Vitamin E, such as almonds, olive oil, and mangos, reduce your risk of moderate or great hearing loss by 47 percent. Properties associated with Vitamin E strengthen the blood vessels and nerves close to the ear, protecting it from harmful noises.

Vitamin D: Another vitamin that protects the ear from damage due to loud noises is Vitamin D. This vitamin strengthens the bones in the ear to create protection. Other than in mushrooms, Vitamin D is not found in many foods. However, sunlight is a great source of the vitamin.

Potassium: Potassium is a key driver in facilitating the interaction between cells in the inner ear. Therefore, adding it to your diet can help protect you from noise-induced hearing loss. Potassium is found in many fruits such as bananas, mangoes, apricots, and oranges.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: This acid acts as an enzyme facilitator and although it is created by our body, it can also be found in small quantities in certain foods such as spinach, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. Alpha Lipoic Acid works to create mitochondria in the inner ear’s hair cells, promoting healthy hearing.

It is important to let your ears relax from time to time. Increasing these five nutrients into your diet can help your ears heal. It is also important to reduce fatty foods as they reduce the amount of blood supply that reaches the ears, ultimately degrading hearing. All it takes is a close watch on your diet, and you can help protect your ears for a lifetime.