You Are What You Eat: Nutrients for Healthy Hearing

The vitamins and minerals that you receive from eating whole foods can help keep your whole body healthy and functioning effectively. We are what we eat, and what we eat has a direct effect on your body and all of its parts. When it comes to safeguarding our hearing, many of us pay special attention to covering or plugging up their ears when they are in very loud surroundings but ignore the other aspects of ear and body care. However, many don’t understand that having a healthy and well-balanced diet plays a significant role in preserving a person’s ability to hear. Luckily, eating the proper nutrients for healthy hearing is not a difficult task.

If you want to preserve your hearing, check out some of the essential nutrients for healthy hearing that you can obtain by adding whole, nutrient-dense foods into your daily diet.

Zinc

Zinc is useful in fending off ear infections, healing wounds, and boosting the body’s immune system. Additionally, studies have also advised that zinc is also helpful in treating tinnitus and its symptoms. To take advantage of the benefits of zinc, make sure you incorporate these delicious zinc-rich foods into your diet: lentils, split peas, chocolate, peanuts, almonds, oysters, cashews, beef, pork, as well as dark-meat chicken.

Potassium

Responsible for fluid regulation in your blood and body tissues, the fluid in your inner ear is heavily reliant on potassium. However, as we age, our potassium levels drop naturally, which could be a significant contributor to age-related hearing impairment. Make sure you are ingesting your daily requirements of potassium by incorporating these delicious potassium-rich foods into your diet: potatoes, milk, raisins, spinach, bananas, tomatoes, apricots, melons, yogurt, oranges, and lima beans.

Folic Acid

Studies have shown that taking folic acid supplements can help limit your chance of age-related hearing loss. It was discovered that individuals who had low levels of folic acid in their blood often developed age-related hearing loss. To help safeguard your ears, make sure to incorporate these delicious folate-rich foods into your diet: liver, parsley, asparagus, okra, bok choy, spinach, lentils, avocado, and broccoli.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Research has revealed that omega-3 fatty acids can facilitate the strengthening of the blood vessels within the ear’s sensory system, demonstrating that high levels of omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive effect on hearing loss. To increase your daily intake, make sure to incorporate these omega-3 fatty acids into your diet: chia seeds, flaxseeds, sardines, salmon, walnuts, beef, trout, tofu, cauliflower, tuna, and Belgian capital sprouts.