We all know that the food we eat affects our health. Eating nutritious meals improves our overall health, and even impacts our mood and energy levels. Did you know that the foods you eat also affect your hearing? There are a few key nutrients that can boost your hearing health and reduce your risk of hearing loss. Here are a few foods you should add to your diet.
Minerals
A group of nutrients that play a big role in your health and wellbeing are minerals. They also can help you maintain your hearing health.
Potassium: Are you eating enough potassium? This mineral regulates fluids in the body and the blood. Your inner ears are filled with fluid, and potassium helps regulate this as well. Eating potassium-rich foods will help you maintain optimal hearing health. It’s even more important as you age, since potassium levels naturally drop a bit as you get older. Food full of potassium may help you maintain healthy hearing. Eat foods like potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, bananas, yogurt, and milk to get your daily dose of potassium.
Magnesium: Another important mineral for your hearing health is magnesium. This mineral can help protect your ears from noise-induced hearing loss. This is because magnesium can block the effects of free radicals and give your ears some protection from these molecules. Foods that are a good source of magnesium include artichokes, broccoli, pumpkins, almonds, and spinach.
Zinc: Zinc can improve your immune system functioning and help you fight off bacteria. This includes a cold or flu, and other illnesses that affect your ears, such as an ear infection. Zinc may even help minimize tinnitus and help you keep your ears healthy. Add beef, chicken, nuts, beans, and lentils to your diet for more zinc.
Vitamins
Vitamins are another key family of nutrients that can help you maintain your hearing health.
Vitamin B12: This vitamin is linked to age-related hearing loss as well as tinnitus. Getting enough vitamin B12 can improve your overall ear health and help protect the inner ear cells from damage. Foods rich in vitamin B12 include meat, fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products.
Vitamins A and E: These two vitamins are important for your hearing health. Getting enough of vitamins A and E can reduce your risk of age-related hearing loss. Good sources of vitamins A and E include spinach, squash, avocado, sweet potato, and eggs.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C may be one of the most important vitamins in your diet. This vitamin protects cells, maintains skin health, keeps your blood vessels healthy, and even improves immune system function. Getting enough vitamin C can also help eliminate free radicals and protect you from hearing loss. Some great sources of vitamin C include strawberries, oranges, citrus fruits, bell peppers, dark leaving greens, and broccoli.
Other Nutrients
There are a couple more key nutrients that can boost your hearing health.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids play a big role in our overall health, but many of us aren’t getting enough of this important nutrient. Eating enough Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and reduce your risk of heart disease. And this nutrient is good for your ears! Eat foods like fish, eggs, beef, walnuts, and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids at least three times per week.
Folic Acid: This nutrient helps improve the health of your red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to cells throughout the body including the cells in your ears. If you’re low on folic acid, your red blood cells won’t be healthy, and the cells in your whole body will suffer. Make sure you eat foods with folic acid every day, including Brussels sprouts, leafy greens, beans, nuts, eggs, broccoli, and fortified breakfast cereals.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Take a look at your diet, and see if you’re getting all the minerals, vitamins, and nutrients you need to keep your body and your ears healthy. Then, contact us to find out more about your hearing health.
If you’re concerned that you may have hearing loss, get your hearing tested and find out if you’re missing any sounds. We’ll help you find the right hearing aids to match your hearing needs, and help you boost your hearing health.