INDUSTRY INSIGHT
YOUR HEARING
Who would think that what you eat has anything to do with how you hear? Good nutrition plays an important part in our whole health picture – why not with our hearing health? A healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet can certainly help delay or even prevent hearing loss. Over the past two years, I have been educating myself about nutrition in an attempt to get fit, maintain good health, and age gracefully. In my research, I was surprised to find that nutrition even plays a part in our overall hearing health.
Antioxidants act as hearing loss supplements by reducing the number of free radicals swirling through your body. Those free radicals have the potential to damage the nerve tissue in your ears. This can reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss by 20 %! Some researchers claim that antioxidants can help prevent tinnitus( ringing in the ears) and damage due to noise exposure. Eat more spinach, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, lentils, beans, eggs, liver, and nuts, which all contain antioxidants, particularly in the form of folic acid.
Zinc deficiencies have been connected to age-related hearing loss. Evidence has shown that inadequate zinc intake may be associated with hearing impairment. Low levels of zinc can also be correlated with perceived loudness of one’ s tinnitus. Indulge in some dark chocolate, which contains zinc. If you do not enjoy dark chocolate, cooked oysters are another good source of zinc, as well as spinach, cashews, and mushrooms.
Magnesium is known to help expand blood vessels and improve circulation; it also helps control the release of glutamate, one of the major contributors to noise-induced hearing loss. Magnesium deficiency increases the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Foods rich in magnesium can help protect the hearing of people with noisy jobs or hobbies subjecting them to intense noises. One study showed that supplementing the diet with magnesium reduced noise-induced hearing loss in men aged 16-37 years. Some foods to reach for that are rich in magnesium include bananas, artichokes, broccoli, squash, potatoes, and soy beans.
Melatonin, which has often been touted as an essential hormone for healthy sleep, is also effective at preventing hearing damage after exposure to loud noise. Researchers have also found melatonin to be effective in protecting against hearing loss due to aging, particularly high-frequency hearing loss. Studies have also shown that melatonin can help provide relief from tinnitus, especially in combination with sulpiride. This is accomplished by diminishing the
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Preventing Hearing Loss with Good Nutrition
This Industry Insight was written by Debra L. Greenberger, owner of Eartique. She received her master’ s degree in audiology( hearing science) from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and she is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association. Debra has been diagnosing hearing loss and fitting hearing aids for over 25 years.
Leslie A. Dunst, MS / CCC-A, is a Clinical Audiologist who has enjoyed providing diagnostic testing and rehabilitative services for over 25 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology and audiology, and her Master of Science degree in audiology from West Virginia University. Leslie is also certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Her diverse background spans three states( Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania) and includes private practice, ENT offices, and clinical and hospital settings. Leslie is dedicated to providing quality service to her patients and committed to help improve their quality of life by helping them to hear their best. She resides in Peters Township with her husband and 14-year-old son.
activity of dopamine, a chemical in the brain. Foods rich in melatonin are pineapple, bananas, oranges, oats, sweet corn, rice, tomatoes, and barley.
Omega 3 fatty acids may also affect hearing loss. These fats reduce inflammation that can damage sensitive tissues, and they strengthen the blood vessels in our ear’ s sensory system. Fish that contain vitamin D and omega 3 fats have been demonstrated in research studies to reduce age-related hearing problems. Studies have shown that adults who ate fish twice a week had a 42 % lower chance of facing age-related hearing loss than non-fish eaters. Reach for salmon, trout, tuna, or anchovies. Other foods rich in omega 3 are chia seeds, flaxseed, walnuts, beans, olive oil, and coconut oil.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to problems with the Cochlea( hearing organ). A lack of vitamin D is known to produce a weakening of bone density, which can even arise in the minuscule bones in your ears, increasing your chances for hearing loss. Foods to look for with vitamin D are milk, salmon, tofu, eggs, and mushrooms.
Potassium is another player in maintaining our hearing health. The ear is particularly sensitive to the drop in potassium levels we experience as we age. Foods that contain potassium can help protect against age-related hearing loss and may even help prevent noiserelated hearing loss. Look for potassium in bananas, apricots, melons, oranges, and spinach.
This gives us some food for thought, if you’ ll pardon the expression. Food matters! The quality and quantity of the food you eat does impact your hearing. Many studies report that people who consumed better quality calories had better hearing.
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