There is no second opinion about the fact that proper nutrition is essential for having a healthy body and mind. So, we can attribute nutrition and diet to the fundamental aspect of good health. Your diet not only impacts your body mass, bones, and immune system but also determines your ear health. This may come as a surprise as the topic is not very much discussed among people. But there is evidence that your nutritional status has an impact on your hearing status. Read on to learn the association between diet and nutrition with ear health.
How Nutrition Affects Ear Health?
A research published in the National Library of Medicine concluded that hearing status is influenced by several nutritional variables, including single nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E and minerals like zinc, magnesium, selenium, iodine, iron, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and protein as well as overall nutritional status. It further concluded that each nutritional factor's impact might vary depending on variables such as age or gender.
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Several studies done in the past have also examined the connection between diet and hearing. Their investigations revealed that the deficiency of specific micronutrients, such as zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, and iodine, as well as vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, enhanced the prevalence of hearing loss. Further, poorer hearing status was correlated with greater consumption of fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrates or lower intakes of protein.
Obesity & Hearing Loss
In addition to malnutrition and obesity is also reported as a risk factor for hearing loss. One of the main theories concerning the association between obesity and hearing loss is that the sensitive inner ear system is damaged by the capillary wall being deformed by too much adipose tissue, which causes vasoconstriction of the inner ear.
What To Eat For Good Ear Health?
Knowing how your diet affects your hearing, it is essential to follow a healthy diet. Having more fruits and vegetables will help maintain ear health and keep your immune system strong, enabling it to fight infections.
Include foods that can provide you with vitamins, particularly vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. Also, ensure that your food fulfils your zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, iodine, and protein requirements. For vitamin C, you can have cauliflower, broccoli, berries, papaya, strawberries, tomatoes, and green or yellow peppers.
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You can add avocado, mustard, mangoes, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds for vitamin E. Antioxidants are also essential, so remember to get them through your diet. Apples, plums, red grapes, onions, brinjal, beans, and raisins are some options you can have to get antioxidants. To get zinc, eat oysters, nuts, and whole grains. You can have selenium from tuna, poultry, and other grain products.
Takeaway
Considering this, you should be mindful of what you are eating, as it will affect your ears along with your overall health. Get yourself tested to know if you have any nutrient deficiency. Thereafter, consider a doctor's consultation to eliminate nutritional deficiency and know the causes of hearing problems.
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