5 Foods for Better Hearing

As we age, our hearing becomes less sensitive. This is a natural process, and it is not something that can be stopped. However, there are some things you can do to help preserve your hearing. One such thing is increasing your intake of certain foods. Sound travels through liquid in your body and accumulates in your ears. By eating more of these five healthy foods, you’ll be doing many favors for your health and wellbeing.

What is the connection between diet and hearing?

When you eat, the sound is transmitted to your ears. Some foods are better for hearing than others. The five foods listed below will help to protect your hearing from damage.

One way that these foods help is by providing the necessary nutrients for good hearing health. For example, carrots are a rich source of vitamin A and C, both of which have been shown to prevent noise-induced effects on your ear. Vitamin A also helps with eye development, while vitamin C aids in ear infection prevention.

Another way they help is by supplying you with sufficient fluid to keep your ears moist and healthy.

This moisture prevents infections and helps provide relief from the dryness that comes with aging, all of which can harm hearing capacity over time. With enough fluid intake, you’ll be able to fill your inner ear with enough liquid so that it doesn't overflow when you yawn or move your head quickly without warning, which would cause damage to the delicate hair cells inside your ears that sense sound waves.

Top Foods to Boost Your Hearing Health

• Potatoes: Potatoes are a good source of potassium which can regulate the fluid in the inner ear. As we get older these levels tend to drop which can contribute to age-related hearing loss. Getting enough potassium can help regulate the fluid in the body. 
• Broccoli: Broccoli is a folate-rich food. Your circulation plays a crucial role in your ears’ health, and folate can help increase circulation in the body. Proper circulation helps keep the inner ear’s hair cells healthy, so it’s understandable that getting enough folate in your diet can help prevent hearing loss.
• Garlic: Garlic is rich in Zinc which is believed to help with cell growth, zinc can also help boost the immune system, helping to ward off ear infections. Eating enough zinc has been linked to a lowered chance of developing tinnitus. 
• Walnuts: Omega-3’s are often overlooked, but getting enough fatty acids in your diet can help your ears functioning properly as you age. Walnuts contain these omega-3 fatty acids which can help to delay or prevent age-related hearing loss.
• Bananas: Magnesium can be found in bananas. It is believed that magnesium acted as a barrier to hair cells in the inner ear when exposed to loud noises. Exposure to excessively loud noise can cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or noise-induced hearing loss. Lack of magnesium has been shown to shrink the blood vessels in the ear, depriving it of oxygen.

Other Healthy Hearing Tips

In addition to eating a rich diet of hearing-healthy foods, there are other ways you can preserve your auditory system. Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss and is easily preventable with the right precautions. Remember to wear hearing protection when immersed in noisy environments, including concerts, work-related sounds, sporting events and racing competitions.

Additionally, staying on top of any fluctuations in hearing is another excellent way to maintain your auditory system. This means establishing a baseline hearing exam by having testing done, which will enable you to notice any changes in your health throughout the years. If you develop any hearing loss symptoms, visit an audiologist to learn more about your options. Treating hearing loss will help prevent any further decline, whereas letting it go could cause worsening symptoms.

Visit Our Practice to Learn More About Your Hearing Health

As a society, we are becoming more and more aware of the connection between diet and our health. The food we eat not only impacts our weight, but it also impacts our hearing. Hearing loss is not inevitable and there are steps we can take to prevent it or slow it down. These five foods have been shown to have a positive effect on your hearing. Incorporating these foods into your diet is simple, and could help you maintain your hearing for years to come.

To learn more about hearing health, hearing loss and ways you can prevent auditory issues, give Hinderliter Hearing Services a call at 248-430-8425.