Living a healthy lifestyle means looking into every aspect of your life. It is not only about dealing with problems as they arrive but also, balancing every aspect of your life including activity level, social life and diet. A healthy diet has the ability to improve cardiovascular health, lower your blood pressure; increase energy level, mood and social life. In addition to these side effects of healthy living, doctors and scientists agree that a healthy diet can also protect your hearing health.
Cardiovascular Health, Blood Pressure and Hearing
While it can be fun to indulge in chips, soda and sweet treats from time to time, when this becomes the majority of your diet, as it is for many Americans, it can have a big impact on your total health, including your very important heart.
Your heart of course, is responsible for sending blood throughout your body. When saturated fats build up it can constrict your blood vessels, raising your blood pressure and clogging important arteries.
Your inner ear is made up of tiny, fragile cells responsible for collecting audio information and converting it into electrical pulses, which are sent to the brain. These cells of the inner ear rely on a healthy supply of blood from your heart to protect and support hearing.
A Diet to Support Heart Health and High Blood Pressure Also Supports Healthy Hearing
When a diet affects the heart and blood pressure, hearing suffers as well. In conjunction with at least 30 minutes daily of cardiovascular exercise, a heart healthy diet will place emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish, nuts and beans, and lower fat intake in general. Avoid or limit processed foods, saturated fats, sodium, red meat and sugar. An occasional sweet or salty snack is okay but do not center this in your diet, particularly if your heart or blood pressure are already at risk.
Vitamins, Minerals and Hearing Health
Some vitamins and minerals can also help to support healthy hearing. Minerals and vitamins are often absorbed by vegetables and fruits from the soil. When we consume animals, which consume mineral rich foods or vegetation rich in vitamins and minerals aspects of our health are supported. Certain vitamins and minerals in particular help to support healthy hearing. Here is a list of some very important vitamins and minerals you should consider incorporating into your diet to protect your hearing health.
Magnesium
Dieticians have found that magnesium is known to expand blood vessels and improve blood circulation, ensuring that your ears receive the blood they need. In addition, magnesium also supports the release of glutamate, a body chemical suspected to protect the cells of the ear from noise induced hearing loss. Research conducted at the University of Michigan Kresge Hearing Research Institute found that patients who pretreated with magnesium in conjunction with vitamins A, C, and E were protected from dangerous levels of noise that could have damaged their ears. Foods rich in magnesium include dark greens such as broccoli, and spinach as well nuts, seeds, dark chocolate and avocado.
Folic Acid
Folic Acid helps the body create and maintain cells health. It achieves this by aiding the body in breaking down a substance in the blood called homocysteine. Homocysteine is a common amino acid found in blood that collects when high levels of red meat are consumed. High levels of this amino acid are linked to heart disease which as we know, also can damage your hearing. A University of Sydney study found that those who were recorded with high levels of homocysteine in their blood were 65 percent more likely to suffer from hearing loss.
Prioritizing foods rich in folic acid such as leafy greens, beans, rice, and pastas can raise help to fight homocysteine levels and protect your heart and hearing health.
Zinc
Zinc found in proteins like beans, nuts, seafood and poultry are found to boost your immune system. A healthy immune system also reduces your likeliness of developing infections and colds which could lead to colds and sinus infections affecting the ear as well. In addition, zinc has been found to balance hormones connected to blood sugar levels associated with managing diabetes.
Feel and Hear Better!
It is important to remember that what we put into our body day after day affects our total health. If you suspect that you are having an issue with your hearing, don’t delay to have your hearing tested. Dealing with your hearing loss can help keep you active, engaged and staying healthy for years to come.