In the fight to keep your body healthy and functioning properly, vitamins and minerals play an important role. Calcium builds strong bones and zinc is an important mineral for boosting the immune system. Some minerals, like the ones listed below, are also critical elements in protecting our hearing health.
1. Potassium:
Potassium regulates the fluid in your inner ear which is important because as we age these levels tend to drop which can contribute to hearing loss or presbycusis.
Foods rich in potassium: potatoes, spinach, lima beans, tomatoes, raisins, apricots, bananas, melons, oranges, yogurt and low-fat milk.
2. Folic Acid:
Folic acid helps your body generate new cell growth and helps increase circulation in the body, contributing to the overall health of the hair cells in your inner ear.
Foods rich in folic acid: fortified breakfast cereal, liver, spinach, broccoli and asparagus.
3. Magnesium:
Research shows that peoples treated with magnesium in conjunction with Vitamins A, C, and E were protected when exposed to high levels of noise. It’s believed that the magnesium acted as a protective barrier to hair cells in the inner ear when loud noises were emitted. And lack of magnesium has been shown to shrink blood vessels in the inner ear, causing oxygen deprivation. So make sure you are getting enough of this superhero mineral.
Foods rich in magnesium: bananas, artichokes, potatoes, spinach and broccoli.
4. Zinc:
Known to increase cell growth and heal wounds, Zinc boosts the body’s immune system and helps ward against infections that can affect the ear. However check with your physician before consuming this mineral, as it may interact with antibiotics and diuretics.
Foods rich in zinc: beef, pork and dark-meat chicken, cashews, almonds, peanuts, beans, split peas, lentils, oysters – and dark chocolate!
5. Omega 3 Fats & Vitamin D:
We’ve all heard about the anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties of Omega 3s, but did you know it’s been show to prevent hearing loss? A recent study found that servings of this mineral can reduce the risk of age related hearing loss by over 40 per cent. Omega 3s can also help brain function, sending signals between your brain and ears more effectively.
Foods rich in Omega 3s- flaxseed oil, krill oil, salmon, soybean oil, sardines.
If you eat a healthy, balance diet, your body should produce enough of these essential minerals to keep it functioning normally, but always check with your physician before consuming these in the form of supplements.
Eat well, and hear well!
Are you ready to start your journey to better hearing? If you are a Canadian over the age of 18 who may have hearing loss, book a free hearing test with us today!
21 Comments
[…] to hearing loss, Omega 3 helps the brain send signals to your ear more effectively. According to The National Campaign for Better Hearing, a recent study showed that Omega 3 can reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss. Fish, like […]
I am 61 yrs old male ..A general med practitioner. Diabetic ( well controlled) and hypothyroid . On thyroxin100 . No hypertension.
1 have 40% loss of hearing in Rt ear and 28% loss in left ear .
I am taking Piracitam and gingo bulba.
What other medicine and Food may help me ?l
Hello. Unfortunately, there is no medicine or food that can treat hearing loss. Any food rich in potassium, such as the ones listed in the article, can help to maintain good hearing health. I would recommend booking an appointment with a hearing professional if you think you may have hearing loss. If you are in Canada, you can request an appointment through our site. Thanks for commenting!
my 12yrs son can not hear with his right ear . doctor advised it can be treated either through surgical or none surgical method. i don’t understand this. please does my son still have a chance?
Hi Nwankwo. Sorry to hear about your son’s hearing loss. Unfortunately, we don’t know enough about your son’s situation to properly answer this question. If you are confused about your doctor’s recommendation, I would recommend speaking with a hearing professional and getting a second opinion.
The doctor said my eardrum has a hole, do i still have a chance to be healed?
Hello All rock. Unfortunately, these foods cannot remedy a damaged eardrum. You may have to be referred to an ENT (ear nose and throat specialist) depending on the severity of the damage. We recommend booking an appointment with a hearing professional to get an official diagnosis for your particular situation.
hello,my son he was 5.9 years old.he cannot hearing,doctor say his bilateral sensory neural hearing loss.i want know have u any food or medicine he can recover her hearing .
Hello. Unfortunately, there is no officially recognized cure for this kind of hearing loss. However, hearing aids may help your son hear better. I would recommend that you speak with a Hearing Professional for recommended treatment. If you are in Canada, you can request an appointment through our site. Thanks for commenting!
I am 51 years old . My left ear is totally damaged and right year has 40 percent hearing loss. Kindly suggest , what can I do with my damaged ear?
Hi Pradip. We would recommend booking an appointment with a hearing professional. They will be able to assess your hearing issues. A damaged ear may require the expertise of an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist…but again, a hearing professional can best assess that. If you are in Canada, you can book a free appointment through our site. We are proud to say that the Campaign for Better Hearing is now international, so if you are not in Canada, you can visit the campaignforbetterhearing.org to see if there is a campaign in your country that you can take advantage of.
Hello…I am a 58 year old female exposed to lots of noise on my teaching job. Loud cafeterias, reading groups, and etc. I have high frequency loss, but do not need hearing aids. I do have very bothersome tinnitus in one ear. Hoping to preserve the hearing that I have. Can active pursuit of maintenance with diet actually work ?
Hi Linda. Although a healthy diet can help to maintain healthy hearing, our hearing tends to decline naturally as we age. It is also important to note that hearing aids can have built-in technology that is helpful in treating tinnitus. We encourage you to speak to a hearing professional to discuss your options. We cannot, unfortunately, guarantee that a healthy diet will prevent hearing loss from occurring.
Hello …. l am 48 years old female.my right ear is totally damaged.I am a teacher. I use hearing aid .sometimes hearing aid stops working.I take tension.how can i improve my hearing.
Hi Reena. We would recommend revisiting the clinic where you purchased your hearing aids and try to get them repaired. Depending on how long you have had your hearing aids, it may be time to get new ones. If you live in Canada, you can book a free appointment through our site to get a second opinion. If you do not live in Canada, you can visit campaignforbetterhearing.org and see if we have a campaign in your country that can assist with your hearing needs.
i feel tinitus by a gun fire near my left ear from 23 days please suggest about cure
Hi Joginder. Unfortunately, there is no official cure for tinnitus. However, hearing aids may be able to treat your tinnitus issues. Please see a hearing professional to get an official assessment. If you live in Canada, you can book a free, no-obligation appointment through our site. Thanks.
Sir, suddenly I got hearing loss but I m so confused about causes. One cause might be that before this frightening accident I was undergoing eye treatment as I got chemical fallen in right eye. Eye drop was tobramycin sulfate. Please help
Hi Ashok. We are sorry to hear about your situation. We advise that you see a Hearing Professional to address your issue. If you are in Canada, you can book a free appointment through our website.
Hi,
One of the ENT specialists in India told me that I am diagnosed with otosclerosis. He says it can be operated through surgery but cannot be assured the improvement in hearing. I feel my right ear has been affected and the noise i hear is very low. Now in my left ear i hear knocking sound at times. Please suggest me way forward. Food that helps me in getting out of this? Do you advise surgery?
Hi Ramesh. We strongly advise that you prioritize the opinion of an ENT specialist. If you are uncomfortable or concerned with the recommendations of your ENT Specialist, please try to get a second opinion from another ENT Specialist. Unfortunately, we don’t support that eating certain food can treat otosclerosis– at least not exclusively. Thanks for commenting.