Eat carrots for better eye sight, is likely something most of us were told as young children. But, did anybody ever recommend foods healthy for your hearing or ears? Most likely not. Today we can teach our kids what to eat for healthy hearing and ears, and also sensible for us to follow our own recommendations!
Infections, age and noise are among the many reasons for hearing impairment. The foods discussed in this article contain vitamins and nutrients that can prevent or slow specific types of hearing loss.
Workers at elevated risk for hearing damage include music artists, machinery workers, and other people exposed to loud noise at work. Bananas, artichokes and potatoes are loaded with magnesium and can help safeguard the hearing of those with a hobby or a profession exposing them to loud noises. Although the mechanism is not understood, human and animal research studies have shown that magnesium helps protect against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
Amazingly, fish like trout or salmon which contains vitamin D and omega 3 fats, has been demonstrated in research studies to reduce age-related hearing loss. Other smart omega 3 fats and vitamin D choices are anchovies and the tuna fish probably sitting in your pantry. For a good chance of helping you hear better in your later years, eat any of these at least twice per week.
Extreme noise exposure can provoke the formation of damaging free radicals possibly causing the death of inner ear hair cells. Help prevent damage from free radicals with antioxidants and folic acid. For instance, eggs, asparagus, nuts and spinach are a few foods rich in both antioxidants and folic acid.
There’s more. Dark chocolate is also good for your hearing health! The zinc contained in dark chocolate aids in preventing zinc deficiencies which are connected to age-related hearing loss. Any foods containing zinc will help, so if you don’t care for dark chocolate, try some oysters! instead!
Today, combined with the urging to consume carrots for good vision, we can help our kids and grandkids defend their ears from hearing loss by incorporating basic foods we probably have in our home’s kitchen.