You know your diet needs to include specific nutrients and minerals so your body can function correctly. But you may be surprised to learn your diet can also impact your senses and that vitamins boost hearing!
Your diet can serve as a long-term prevention measure against hearing loss. Limiting the amount of inflammatory and processed foods you consume and maintaining a healthy diet that includes specific vitamins boost hearing, help prevent hearing loss and potentially undo some of the symptoms you may already be experiencing.
You can incorporate the following vitamins into your diet to improve and protect your hearing. They are found in many foods and provide the nutrients necessary for good hearing health.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids may be best known for combating inflammation and heart disease. However, they are also an effective weapon against hearing loss. One study showed individuals with high omega-3 fatty acid levels in their bodies have a lower risk of developing hearing loss. The results from another study demonstrated that having two servings of a fatty fish, such as wild-caught salmon, can lower the occurrence of age-related hearing loss by more than 40 percent among people older than 50.
Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to be a valuable tool against age-related hearing loss, which stems from the brain’s impaired ability to communicate with the ears. The omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, salmon, flaxseeds, supplements, and pasteurized eggs will help the signals sent from your ears to your brain travel more efficiently.
Folic acid
Vitamin B9, or folic acid – found in egg yolks, nuts, beans, animal liver, and broccoli – is associated with good hearing. According to a 2015 study, individuals who suffer from hearing loss have lower folic acid levels than people without hearing loss. When a follow-up study was conducted, researchers found lower levels of folic acid among people with sensorineural hearing loss.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that works – along with glutathione, another antioxidant – to destroy the free radicals that can cause hearing loss. Studies conducted on animals have shown consuming vitamin C from dietary sources can limit hearing loss. These studies also found that vitamin C supplements can improve sensorineural hearing loss symptoms. There are numerous dietary sources for vitamin C, including peppers, citrus fruit, and leafy, green vegetables.
Zinc
Zinc is often touted as the mineral that can jumpstart your immune system and enhance prostate health. It is also extremely useful for maintaining your hearing health. People with high levels of zinc in their blood tend to have better hearing.
Studies have shown 82 percent of people who suffer from tinnitus will experience fewer symptoms after consuming 50 mg of zinc each day for two months. In another study, researchers found zinc is an essential factor in recovering quickly after experiencing sudden hearing loss. In addition to shellfish, you can get your daily requirement of zinc from nuts, eggs, and zinc supplements.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is vital for a strong immune system, good vision, and reproductive health. According to a 2010 study, vitamin A also protects the quality of your hearing as you age. The results of another study showed that when participants took vitamin A supplements, not only did their risk of developing moderate to severe hearing loss drop, the vitamin also provided long-term hearing protection for at least five years. To ensure you are consuming enough vitamin A to safeguard your hearing, you can add more sweet potatoes and carrots to your diet. After all, vitamins boost hearing!
What you eat plays a pivotal role in your hearing health and vitamins boost hearing. Making certain the aforementioned vitamins are incorporated into your daily diet is one of the most effective ways to ensure you will be able to hear well for a very long time.
