We are what we eat. Every dietary choice directly affects our health. Some effects you feel immediately such as the sensation of a perfectly balanced dish or the rush of chocolate as the caffeine and sugar hit our system giving us a short quick burst of energy. Other effects of food develop a little more subtly over time. If you are interested in health and longevity, then your everyday food choices truly affect this. Our entire body is connected from our essential organs, our muscles, bones, joints, and brain. It’s no surprise that our hearing is also supported by the healthy food choices—or lack of—that we make every day.
How Our Food Choices Affect Our Hearing Health
We collect sound with our ears, but the process of hearing is not completed until sound reaches our brain. The process is more fragile than many understand and is contingent on tiny hair-like cells, called stereocilia, within a tiny snail shaped organ filled with fluid called the cochlea. When a sound enters our ear canal it passes through many tiny organs such as the eardrum and ossicles before entering the cochlea. Here the fluid inside the ear responds to the audio vibrations which triggers the stereocilia to send audio information to the brain in the form of electrical impulses. The stereocilia are incredibly fragile cells and anything that threatens their integrity can cause them to become damaged or destroyed, causing permanent hearing loss. The foods we eat affect the state of the cells throughout our entire body, including the very fragile stereocilia. If you are concerned about the state of your hearing, here are some foods loaded with supportive nutrients that will help prevent hearing loss.
Eating for Your Ears
As plants absorb minerals and vitamins from the soil, they grow in abundance and are then easily transferred into our system for support. Studies show that eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins can lower the risk of hearing loss by 30%. It’s also noted that eating foods rich in potassium, zinc, folic acid, and magnesium are four of the most essential vitamins for the cell health of your inner ear. So how do you get access to these supportive vitamins?! Here are a few foods to be sure to prioritize in your regular diet!
Fish
This lean protein of the sea is a super food for many reasons. While it contains low amounts of fat it is rich in omega-3, omega-6, and Vitamin D which strengthens the bones inside your ears. Meanwhile dieticians have found that omega-3s improve blood flow to the inner ear, helping support stereocilia as well.
Legumes
Another lean protein that we love are legumes. These come in the form of beans and peas as well as beloved peanuts. They are a delicious form of vegetarian protein, which contain a fair amount of zinc, which is important for supporting your immune system and protecting against infections in the ears.
Bananas
This sweet and iconic on the go super fruit is not only sweet and delicious but offers a whopping portion of potassium, which fortifies the cells against decline as we age. Potassium helps us maintain healthy levels of fluid in the cells, supporting those of our inner ear and protecting against age related hearing loss.
Broccoli
This amazing super food is rich in vitamin C which fights the formation of free radicals in your body, which would otherwise breakdown cells. In addition, broccoli supports your heart as it contains fibers, fatty acids and vitamins that help regulate blood pressure. A healthy heart is essential for healthy hearing as it supplies blood to the cells of the inner ear.
Dark chocolate
Delicious and caffeinated, what is not to love about dark chocolate. Fortunately, it’s also healthy! It is chock full of antioxidants and vitamins that support digestion immunity and metabolism. It’s also full of magnesium which helps in healthy circulation to your ears.
Garlic
Not only does it come with a seductively powerful smell and taste but it’s super supportive for our immune system, lowering cholesterol and reducing inflammation in your ears. By helping to reduce blood pressure, it promotes improved circulation to the cells of your inner ear.
To discover more foods for super hearing don’t hesitate to contact us today. In addition we can test your hearing and determine what we can do to help you hear your best!