Eating a nutrient-dense diet plays a crucial role in staying healthy, active and engaged. It can increase your overall quality of life and lower your risk of developing numerous different health conditions, including hearing loss.
Women Who Ate Healthier Had Lower Rates of Hearing Loss
A study published in March of 2022 sought to determine the link between eating healthy and developing hearing loss. Researchers looked at data from 3,135 women over a three-year period that included self-reported eating habits as well as scores on pure-tone audiometry tests.
The results showed that women who reported eating healthier diets had lower rates of hearing loss. In particular, women with healthy diets were 25% less likely to develop high-frequency hearing loss and 30% less likely to develop mid-frequency hearing loss.
For the purposes of this study, diets that were considered healthy were those that were high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein and low in sugar and unhealthy fats.
Why a Healthy Diet Benefits Your Hearing
There are multiple reasons as to why a healthy diet can benefit your hearing health, including:
- Lowers your risk of certain diseases. Eating healthy is a great way to help prevent or reduce your risk of developing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, among others. These conditions can impact blood flow and cause damage to your inner ear, leading to hearing loss.
- An important source of antioxidants. A diet high in fruits and vegetables provides your body with ample antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect your body from oxidative stress and lower inflammation in the body.
- Provides hearing-healthy vitamins and minerals. Additionally, healthy diets are full of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, folate and zinc, all of which may benefit hearing health.
Other Ways to Protect Your Hearing
While nutrition is a key piece of the puzzle, there are other important steps to take to lower your risk of hearing loss and get any hearing care you might need.
- Get regular physical activity. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five times a week.
- Reduce loud noise exposure. Limit your exposure to loud noise and use hearing protection devices like earplugs or earmuffs when you are in louder environments.
- Get a hearing test. If you are over 50, are regularly exposed to loud noise through work or hobbies or have noticed changes in your hearing, schedule an appointment for a hearing test. If you have hearing loss, an audiologist can help you find hearing aids or other treatments that best work with your needs and lifestyle.
Bottom Line
Eating healthy benefits every part of your well-being, including your hearing. The next time you are shopping at the Prescott Farmers Market, don’t forget to stock up on fresh, local produce to help keep your ears healthy!
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact Prescott Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy today.