Foods That Boost Hearing Health

We all grew up with our parents telling us to eat certain foods to make us strong. We heard that some food like carrots give us good eyesight and broccoli will keep us healthy and smart. Even Popeye eats his spinach so he can be strong. But we may have never heard of foods to improve our hearing. In fact, the vegetables mentioned above have nutrients to help your hearing. They can even prevent, improve, and recover hearing loss.

Understanding Hearing Loss

Aging is usually the cause of hearing loss, but this is not always the case. Some have hearing loss due to too much exposure to loud sounds. This is quite common with people using headsets to listen to music. Some are due to nutritional imbalances that causes a the hair cells in the ear to die off. There are also instances of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). This is a sudden, unexplained loss of hearing and tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears.

These may sound daunting. But, you can address these concerns with a doctor consultation and a good diet. This provides your body the right nutrients.

Try to eat foods with the following vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin A

This is always related to eyesight. Now, research has shown that Vitamin A can stimulate the recovery of certain hair cells. It also provides lower risk of hearing loss with age. Carrots are well-known for Vitamin A levels. Spinach, broccoli, kale and apricots are also rich in Vitamin A.

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is more potent than beta-carotene. You can find this in 2 kinds of sources. The microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis) and those that consume the algae. This can include salmon, shellfish and krill. Astaxanthin protects the body from oxidative damage. It is also anti-inflammatory. Start at 2mg a day. Check the labels on krill oil supplements to avoid overdose. For more information, talk to your doctor.

Folate

Taking in folate is necessary for hearing loss. It is a B vitamin that can prevent birth defects. Eat food rich in folic acid to allow our bodies to break down the vitamin. Spinach, broccoli, asparagus, avocado and lentil beans are good sources of folate.

Zinc

Zinc has anti-viral properties and immune-boosting properties. There is research that shows that zinc can help recover sudden hearing loss. Viral infections or inflammation can cause this. This is why zinc is beneficial for those who suffer SSNHL. Taking minerals like zinc should be well monitored as imbalances can cause issues. Some issues come from inabsorption of other minerals. This could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and more. Recommended daily dosage of zinc varies. Men can have 11mg, women and children 9 to 13 years old can take 8 mg, children 4 to 8 years old can take 5 mg.

It’s better to have your zinc from protein-rich foods like grass-fed beef and seafood. Other dietary sources of zinc include pumpkin seeds, tahini, cashews, almonds, and spinach. Liver and oysters are rich in zinc so add them in good portions to your diet.

Magnesium

This mineral helps with hearing sensitivities. It also helps to prevent hearing loss and reduce tinnitus. Research showed that magnesium helps with the recovery of sudden hearing loss. Magnesium plays an important part on our body functions. It creates energy, protein formation, gene maintenance, muscle movements, and nervous system regulation. It is vital to have the right amount of magnesium intake. Spinach, chard, brown rice, almonds, pumpkin seeds, figs, bananas, and black beans are best.

While all these nutrients can prevent or recover hearing loss, always talk with an expert. For information and help with hearing loss, contact Chicago Beltone at (800) 900-6187.