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Can Vitamins Really Help Prevent Hearing Loss?
Have you ever wondered if certain vitamins and foods can help prevent hearing loss? While the foods you eat and the vitamins you take can’t reverse hearing loss, research shows they may be able to help prevent it. According to the National Center for Biotechnology having a diet rich in vitamins A, C and E can help protect your ears from noise-induced hearing loss.
Reasons for Hearing Loss
More than 36 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss today. Unfortunately, many of those who are currently suffering from hearing loss may not even realize it. Hearing loss can occur for a variety of reasons, but the 2 main causes of hearing loss are age-related and noise-related.
Noise-related hearing loss can occur at any point during our lives whether we have either short- or long-term exposure to loud noises. When you hear a loud noise, cells in your inner ear create free radicals that destroy the tiny hair cells in your ear that help you hear and restrict the blood supply as well. You may have heard how bad free radicals are for you in the context of cancer and heart disease; this is yet even more evidence that you should take steps to keep them from forming. Recent studies from the University of Michigan’s Kresge Hearing Research Institute has shown that taking vitamins A, C and E along with magnesium stops an impressive 80 percent of free radicals from forming in response to loud noise. Even taking this combination of vitamins three days after exposure to very loud noise was found to be helpful in preventing long-term hearing damage.
Age-related hearing loss affects nearly a quarter of Americans over 65, according to the American Hearing Research Foundation. In part, it is caused by an increasing amount of a specific amino acid in the bloodstream. This chemical reduces the circulation of blood and nutrients to your inner ear. Fortunately, there is good news. Folic acid has been found to break down this particular amino acid, enabling you to get better blood flow to your inner ear and thereby help to preserve your hearing.
As the old saying goes, you really are what you eat. Whether it is upping your folic acid or increasing your vitamins A, C and E in conjunction with magnesium, you can make some noticeable improvements in your lifelong hearing ability.
Even with the proper diet, hearing loss may still occur. It takes the average person 7 years before they realize they have hearing loss and seek treatment. If you’re worried about your hearing, consult a physician and see if you should start incorporating these vitamins into your diet. You should also schedule an appointment with a hearing care professional. The specialists at Miracle-Ear offer free hearing evaluations, and they have more than 1,200 locations nationwide. Visit Miracle-Ear.com to find the location nearest you.
