Many believe that age-related loss of hearing is inevitable, that it should occur as we get older but did you know that by including certain foods in your diet you can improve hearing? You heard me right, hearing can be improved not only by reducing exposure to noise, having implants, having hearing aids, or by having your ears regularly cleaned by professionals but also by making lifestyle changes particularly in the kind of food you eat.
Studies have shown that those suffering from varying degrees of hearing loss also suffer from nutritional deficiency as well. Improve hearing by including the foods that will be mentioned later in this article in your daily diet and you will have gone many steps forward not only in benefiting your ears but your overall physical health as well.
Food rich in Vitamin D will help improve hearing because Vitamin D is responsible for the absorption of calcium which is required for us to have strong bones. Lack of this vitamin causes osteopenia in adults, a condition where the bones of the ears harden and become porous.
Sources of Vitamin D: cod liver oil, fish oil, salmon, mackerel, tuna fish, liver, and egg yolk.
Food rich in Vitamin A in combination with Vitamin C and E and magnesium work together to prevent the formation of free radicals that form during noise exposure. Studies have further shown that exposure to noise also lessens blood circulation to the inner ear.
The vitamins and mineral mentioned also works by scavenging and destroying these free radicals.
Sources of Vitamin A: a) vegetables that are dark green and yellow and yellow fruits like broccoli, squash, spinach, turnip greens, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and apricots; b) animal sources are liver, milk, butter, cheese, and whole eggs.
Sources of Vitamin C: fresh vegetables and fruits like broccoli, green and red peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, collard greens, brussel sprouts, lemon, pineapples, strawberries, citrus fruits.
Sources of Vitamin E: wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, margarine and vegetable oil (soybean, corn, safflower, and cottonseed).
Sources of Magnesium: dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, green vegetables, legumes.
Interrupted or poor blood circulation, high blood pressure, and stiffening of the bones in the middle ear, are some of the causes of tinnitus or ringing in the ears, a condition that is often associated with hearing loss.
Food rich in Vitamin B12 or cobalamine help improve hearing by regulating the formation of red blood cells, assisting in the metabolism of homocysteine, and preventing tinnitus.
Sources of Vitamin B12: dairy products, eggs, lean beef, shellfish
Food rich in Folic Acid lowers the production of homocysteine which is thought to be the cause of some kinds of hearing loss and boosts circulation of blood to the inner structures of the ear.
Sources of Folic Acid: beef liver, spinach, asparagus, green peas, broccoli, avocado, lettuce, peanuts, tomato juice, whole eggs, strawberries, papaya, banana, and cantaloupe.
Food rich in Manganese also improve hearing because this mineral aids in the formation of connective tissues, and bones, plus it is also necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and nerves. If you have low levels of manganese, you will likely be suffering from tinnitus.
Sources: apples, apricots, avocado, beans, pineapples, berries, raisins, celery, egg yolks, legumes, and pine nuts
