Diet reduces hearing loss, how come?

A healthy diet lowers the risk of hearing loss

As we get older, everyone's hearing function also decreases. However, that doesn't mean you can't keep your ears healthy so that their function doesn't deteriorate. There is one way that can be done to reduce the risk of hearing loss, namely following a healthy diet.

This is evidenced by research from American Journal of Epidemiology . Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that eating a healthy diet was associated with a reduced risk of hearing loss.

These findings were shown in women who have a healthy diet, such as DASH, the Mediterranean diet, and Alternate Healthy Index-2010 (AHEI).

This research data has been collected for more than 20 years. For example, the experts tried to analyze the long-term diet relationship made by participants to the three types of diets above.

This study was followed by nurses and was conducted at 19 locations in the United States. The researchers tried to use the standard CHEARS method, which is a way to measure changes in pure tone hearing. In addition, it detects the lowest volume that can be heard by participants.

Furthermore, the researchers emitted tones in different frequencies, namely 0.5 and 2 kHz as the lowest frequencies. Then, 3 kHz and 4 kHz as intermediate frequencies and 6 kHz and 8 kHz as the highest frequencies. Participants are asked to indicate at which frequency they cannot hear a tone or sound.

As a result, participants who underwent a healthy diet got quite good health effects, including lowering the risk of heart disease and hearing loss. Women who followed the diet reduced their risk of hearing loss by at least 30 percent.

Experts also found that eating more fruits and vegetables high in minerals, such as folic acid and potassium, also contributed to this. This condition can occur because the relationship between diet and decreased hearing sensitivity includes the frequency of understanding when people speak.

Women are said to be more prone to hearing loss

The female nurses who participated in the study did show that a healthy diet can reduce the risk of hearing loss.

However, the results of this study also show that there are many women who experience hearing loss at a relatively young age. The average age of the women in the study was 59 years because most of them were in their 50s and early 60s.

After three years had passed, nearly half of the study participants had a higher frequency of disturbance. Then, 19% of participants experienced hearing loss at low frequencies and 38 percent experienced hearing loss at higher frequencies.

Over time, the participants' hearing sensitivity deteriorated. In fact, hearing loss in many participants would not be detected, so it was rarely treated by doctors.

However, this study only involved female health workers with the aim of increasing the power of the health information collected.

However, the study population was limited to middle-aged white women. Therefore, researchers still need further research in a more diverse population so that the results are clearer.

Why does a healthy diet affect hearing function?

The research that has been described is intended to strengthen information about a healthy diet that can reduce the risk of hearing loss. So, what makes eating healthy foods affect ear health?

Other findings also show a positive impact of eating a healthy diet on hearing. For example, the potassium content in bananas and potatoes plays a major role in improving the function of the inner ear. This section serves to convert sound to be transmitted into signals to the brain.

Apart from potassium, there are several nutrients that you can actually include in a healthy diet to reduce the risk of hearing loss, such as:

Zinc and magnesium

Zinc and magnesium are among the many nutrients that you can consume while on a healthy diet to reduce the risk of hearing loss.

The zinc content in almonds and chocolate can actually help treat tinnitus. Tinnitus is a condition when the ears ring due to certain health conditions.

Magnesium is also said to fight free radicals produced by loud noises and acts as a protector of the inner ear hair cells.

Therefore, eating a regular diet by including these two nutrients can maintain your current hearing function.

Folic acid

Did you know that eating foods containing folic acid can also reduce the risk of hearing loss?

The blood flow that is restricted by amino acids makes folic acid function to carry out metabolism so that blood flow is smooth. This condition can occur because the inner ear relies on regular blood flow, so folate plays an important role.

Therefore, you can start a healthy diet with high intake of folic acid, zinc, magnesium and potassium to reduce the risk of hearing loss.