When you think of protecting your hearing, you probably think of avoiding loud noises and wearing earplugs. Of course, these actions are great for hearing protection, but have you ever considered how other health choices you make, such as diet and exercise, might also support your hearing health? Let’s explore these fascinating connections.
Nutrients Your Ears Need
Your ears are organs, made up of tissues, bones, cells and nerves. Just like any other organ, tissue, cell or nerve, they rely on the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you consume to function. Some of the most critical ones are:
- Antioxidants, which can be found in leafy greens, berries and much more. Antioxidants combat free radicals in the body, which can cause oxidative stress and damage the delicate nerve tissue.
- Vitamins, which are good for bone health, help the tiny ossicles stay strong and may decrease the chance of otosclerosis. Specifically, Vitamin B12 is linked to hearing due to its role in maintaining nerve health.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, which support the health of our blood and blood vessels. The sensory cells in the inner ear need a steady blood supply to function properly.
- Magnesium, which can strengthen the sensory cells we need to hear, decreasing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
- Iron, which bolsters your blood’s ability to carry oxygen around the body. Iron deficiency, or anemia, has a well-documented link to hearing loss.
- Potassium, which regulates the fluid inside your ear, helping your ears convert sounds into electrical signals to send to the brain.
This is just a few! There are many more vitamins and minerals that directly impact your hearing health. It’s critical to eat a well-balanced diet with a wide variety of nutrients.
Indirect Effects of Nutrition on Hearing
Naturally, good nutrition doesn’t just benefit your ears. A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients is the foundation of body-wide good health. A good diet contributes to heart health, cognitive ability, immune system functioning, mental health, energy levels, muscle growth and much, much more.
Then again, all of these things then turn around and impact hearing health in their own way, as well! A robust cardiovascular system keeps the ears well-supplied with precious oxygen-rich blood, a good immune system will ward off viruses and kill off bacteria before they can take root and cause an ear infection, and so on.
What About Poor Nutrition?
We’ve been discussing how eating a good diet is good for your hearing, but we should also point out that the inverse is true as well: a poor diet and malnutrition are linked to hearing health issues. Diets high in sugar and salt and low in antioxidants and other vital nutrients will increase your chances of hearing loss. (Important note: sugar and salt are not bad in and of themselves, but eating a diet that is high in sugar and salt and having an excess of glucose and sodium in the body can lead to health issues. Moderation is key.)
Maintaining Hearing Health
Maintaining health is complex, and many conditions end up affecting other parts of the body. It may seem complex at first, but what we really want to help our patients understand is that a healthy lifestyle affects all parts of your life, including your hearing health. Eating well, exercising, seeing friends often…all of these things affect your health, both hearing health and your overall health.
If you’re interested in learning more about the connection between nutrition and your hearing health, talk to us at The House Institute about it! And if you are ready to seek help for any hearing difficulties, call us to schedule an appointment.