Table of contents:
- Overview of the causes of hearing loss
- Vitamin C intake can help prevent hearing loss
- List of vitamin C fruits that can help reduce the risk of hearing loss
- Tips for maintaining healthy hearing
Recent studies have shown that hearing loss is more common in young people and adults today due to the use of earphones to listen to loud music. If you have had trouble hearing since you were young, this can lead to problems with memory loss and the ability to think. Hearing loss that is not treated as soon as possible can lead to complete hearing loss in old age. But did you know that eating vitamin C fruit can help prevent hearing loss? How can? Check out the complete information below.
Overview of the causes of hearing loss
It is estimated that as many as 360 million people in the world have hearing loss. This figure also includes those who are still young.
Hearing loss can be caused by infection, use of drugs that are ototoxic (toxic to the ears), persistent exposure to noise (for example, music or noise pollution that exceeds 85 dB), and the effects of aging.
Cochlear implant surgery or hearing aid insertion can be a solution to improve hearing. However, of course it is always better to prevent than to cure.
Vitamin C intake can help prevent hearing loss
Before we can understand how vitamin C can help prevent hearing loss, we first need to know how we can hear.
The sound we hear is preceded by the vibrations of sound waves. These sound waves enter through the ear canal to the middle ear where the eardrum lives, and are then transmitted to the inner ear. In the inner ear area, sound waves are picked up by hair cells in the cochlea to be converted into signals. Only then are these sound signals sent to the brain via ear nerve fibers.
Continuous exposure to noise can trigger the production of free radicals, which cause ear hair cell damage. Damaged hair cells. or even dead, unable to send signals to the brain to be converted into sounds we can hear.
The antioxidant content of vitamin C can protect cells and tissues from free radical attack, including hair cells in the ear. Vitamin C also has the ability to convert free radicals into antioxidants. Thus, the intake of vitamin C can prevent damage to ear hair cells due to free radicals.
In addition, vitamin C also has the ability to maintain vitamin E levels. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant, which can both ward off free radicals. Stable levels of vitamin C and vitamin E mean that you have a high amount of antioxidants to help your immune system fight the damaging effects of free radicals.
Thus, in addition to having the ability to ward off free radicals that can damage hair cells, vitamin C can also increase the amount of antioxidants through vitamin E levels. Because it has these unique abilities, vitamin C is certainly very good for protecting ears from hearing loss.
List of vitamin C fruits that can help reduce the risk of hearing loss
The body cannot produce vitamin C on its own. Therefore, you must get vitamin C intake from outside the body, such as from food, drinks, or supplements.
The need for vitamin C in each person is different, depending on age and level of daily activity. Here are general guidelines:
- 0 - 6 months: 25 mg / day
- 7 months - 6 years: 30 mg / day
- 7 - 9 years: 35 mg / day
- 10-18 years: 40 mg / day
- ≥ 19 years: 45 mg / day
- Pregnant women: 55 mg / day
- Breastfeeding women: 70 mg / day
So, what are the vegetables and fruits of vitamin C that you can eat every day to prevent early hearing loss?
- Orange, 1 medium orange contains 59-83 mg of vitamin C.
- Guava, contains 206 mg of vitamin C
- Peppers, 175 grams of paprika contains 190 vitamin C - 3 times higher than oranges
- Papaya, half a papaya contains 94 mg of vitamin C
- Kiwi, 1 large kiwi fruit contains 84 mg of vitamin C.
- Lychee, 10 lychees contain 69 mg of vitamin C.
- Broccoli, 40 grams of broccoli contains 54 mg of vitamin C.
- Strawberry, in 80 grams of strawberries contained 52 mg of vitamin C.
- Bean sprouts, every 4 bean sprouts contain 38-52 mg of vitamin C.
- Cabbage, per 90 grams of cabbage contains 30 mg of vitamin C.
- Pineapple, a serving of pineapple is enriched with approximately 80 mg of vitamin C.
Tips for maintaining healthy hearing
In addition to increasing your intake of vitamin C vegetables and fruits, here are some tips that you can do starting today to maintain optimal hearing until old age:
- Avoid listening to passing music for too long earphones the volume is too loud.
- Check with your doctor for each drug you take to find out the potential for ototoxic side effects that can be toxic to the ear. Use the drug carefully and according to doctor's instructions.
- Early detection and treatment of ear infections, for example, otitis media.
- Use ear protection when working in a noisy place, especially for factory workers.