Can’t live a day without listening to your favorite songs or hearing the voice of a loved one? Then keep your hearing in tip-top shape. Aside from shielding your ears from loud noises, there are certain foods that you may include in your diet regularly to prevent hearing loss. Read on!
Oily Fish
Omega-3 fatty acids present in oily fish help ward off inflammation and promote blood circulation, and that’s why these healthy fats can protect the most important structures of your ears from damage. Some of the richest fish sources of those ear-friendly omega-3 fatty acids are salmon, trout, herring, sardines, mackerel and tuna.
Nuts and Seeds
Aside from oily fish, other excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids are nuts and seeds. Crush some walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts or cashews and use them as toppings for yogurt, oatmeal and others. Similarly, you may sprinkle chia seeds, sunflower seeds or flax seeds on salads and many other healthy treats.
Cheese and Eggs
If you’re not a vegan, include cheese and eggs (particularly the yolks) in your diet once in a while as they contain good amounts of vitamin D, a nutrient that helps keep the blood vessels healthy, thus promoting ear health. Other foods that yield vitamin D include beef liver, oily fish and various food products that are fortified with it.
Legumes
Other than vitamin D, another nutrient that helps boost blood circulation to the ears is folate. Also known as folic acid, it is actually a member of the B-vitamin group. Some of the best sources of folate that you should consume regularly for the prevention of hearing loss include beans, peas and lentils.
Bananas and Potatoes
We all know that bananas are packed with potassium, a mineral that helps lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation. The same is true with potatoes. It’s for this reason why you should regularly eat bananas and spuds if you cannot afford to lose your ability to hear sounds clearly sooner or later.
Artichokes
The reason why you should regularly eat artichokes is because they contain magnesium, another mineral that is known to help prevent hearing loss. Aside from artichokes, you can also get your daily supply of magnesium from broccoli and whole grains such as brown rice, oats and quinoa.
Dark Chocolate
Aside from being very good at pleasing your taste buds, dark chocolate is also superb at preventing hearing loss. That’s because it contains impressive amounts of zinc, something that has a favorable effect on the circulation. Also, zinc’s antioxidant properties can help stave off damage to the delicate structures of your ears.
Green Leafy Veggies
Since you cannot eat dark chocolate all the time, you may simply consume more dark green leafy vegetables to have your body supplied with enough zinc. Spinach is definitely a phenomenal source of that nutrient that’s so beneficial for your ears. Experts say that Swiss chards also contain good amounts of zinc.
Citrus Fruits
It is a great idea for you to regularly consume citrus fruits like oranges and lemons if you want to keep your hearing for life. It’s due to the fact that they are loaded with vitamin C, which is actually an antioxidant. Vitamin C also strengthens the immune system, thus lowering your odds of having ear infections that could lead to hearing loss.
Vitamin E-Rich Foods
If you think that vitamin E is also good for warding off skin aging signs, think again. According to experts, vitamin E which is, by the way a powerful antioxidant just like vitamin C, is very good at warding off loss of hearing. Mustard greens, Swiss chards, kale, spinach, avocados, nuts and seeds all contain vitamin E.
