Most people believe that hearing loss comes from listening to loud music, working in an environment of constant elevated noise or from aging. But most individuals would be surprised to learn you can lose hearing by not eating the proper foods over a long period of time.
You may not think that what you eat has that much impact on how your level of good hearing is maintained, but it is a major factor. If you are eating poorly, with more processed foods and junk foods, your hearing will decline faster as you grow older.
Before you schedule a hearing test at one of the places that have over 70 years of innovation in hearing aid technology, you should take a look at your daily diet.
Here are 6 facts about a healthy diet and reducing your risk of hearing loss:
1. Eat More Potassium
Your level of potassium drops as you age. Eating more foods rich in potassium helps to regulate the fluid in the inner ear. This is important to help maintain healthy hearing into your older years.
Eat more spinach, potatoes, yogurt, tomatoes, apricots, raisins, melons, bananas, low-fat milk products and oranges which are all high in potassium.
2. Vitamin D and Omega 3 Fats
Add a vitamin D to your daily regimen, and you will help to prevent hearing loss. Another vitamin/mineral that has shown to help stop hearing loss is Omega 3 Fats, which has anti-inflammatory properties.
Add sardines, flaxseed oil, salmon, krill oil, and soybean oil to your daily diet as these are all foods rich in Omega 3 fats.
3. Folic Acid
Increasing your folic acid intake helps to regrow cells, especially hair cells, which are found in the inner ear. This type of mineral will also help to increase blood circulation in the body, which will help maintain hearing levels.
Try adding more leafy greens, liver, spinach, beans, cereal, pasta, and rice to your daily diet for more folic acid.
4. Zinc
Increasing your zinc will help with cell growth as well as help heal wounds faster. Additionally, zinc wards off infections while boosting the body’s immune system.
Foods high in zinc include dark chocolate, peanuts, almonds, cashews, lentils, split peas, dark-meat chicken and oysters.
5. Vitamin A, C, E and Magnesium
The combination of these vitamins and minerals will help to protect your hearing when exposed to high levels of noise over a period of time.
Try to eat more artichokes, potatoes, bananas, broccoli, and spinach.
6. Try The Alternate Mediterranean Diet (AMED)
The Alternative Mediterranean Diet or AMED is one of the most recommended eating plans to prevent hearing loss. The AMED is based on the popular Mediterranean Diet but is less restrictive in some of the food choices. It still used a mostly plant-based food program, which has been found to be the best for overall health but can also help to prevent hearing loss.
Eating a healthy diet of nuts, grains, legumes, and more plants than animals will help you maintain your hearing.
