Good health includes good hearing, and having a balanced diet can help prevent age-related hearing loss. By including or increasing certain minerals in your diet, you could help to reduce your risk of hearing loss.
So, which foods should you include in your diet to look after your hearing?
Bananas
Bananas are a good source of magnesium, which, when taken alongside vitamins A, C and E, helps to prevent noise-related hearing loss by stopping the formation of free radicals in the ear canal as a reaction to loud noise.
Broccoli
Rich in antioxidants, these little green florets have long been considered a superfood. Of particular importance is its folic acid content, which can also be found in spinach, liver, beans and nuts. Folic acid helps by reducing free radicals that can damage nerve cells and cause inflammation in your inner ears. Steaming vegetables rather than boiling or frying is the best way to contain their goodness.
Chocolate
Now this will be music to many ears, but it’s the zinc-rich dark chocolate that you need to consume. Zinc strengthens the body’s immune system, helping it to fight off infection, including ear infections.
Fish
Fish is a good source of omega-3 fats and vitamin D. Omega-3 fats help protect the heart, promoting good blood flow and strengthened blood vessels in the ears sensory system. Try eating fish twice a week, especially salmon, trout, sardines or tuna – just don’t deep fry them!
Oranges
Packed full of vitamins C and E, which are both antioxidants, oranges can help protect cells from extreme damage. Vitamin E protects blood vessels and nerves, while vitamin C helps ward off ear infections.
If you think your hearing needs to be checked, book a free hearing check up (worth $75) and you could win a Fitbit Flex.
