You can’t stop aging, but you can slow down some of the symptoms, like age related hearing loss. Including these two nutrients, folate and omega-3 fatty acids, in your regular diet will help to put off hearing disorders like tinnitus, partial deafness or severe high-frequency hearing loss to a much later date, according to extensive research.
Folate
According to the Journal of Nutrition, folate, a water-soluble form of essential vitamin B, is linked with hearing.
In the Blue Mountains Hearing Study of Australia, folate deficiency in individuals over the age of 50 increased one’s risk by 35% for suffering hearing loss.
Approximately 3,000 participants were included in this research, which found that a folate deficiency increased homocysteine levels, thus restricting sufficient blood flow to the cochlea of the inner ear, a fundamental tool for processing sound.
Increased homocysteine levels is also associated with increased risk for heart attack.
Folate occurs naturally in foods such as spinach, broccoli, legumes and organ meats.
Omega-3
The same individuals who participated in the Blue Mountains Hearing Study were also monitored regarding their dietary intake of fish, particularly varieties which are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Participants who ate 2-3 servings of omega-3 rich fish each week were least likely to suffer hearing loss than other test subjects who ate fewer than one fish meal per week.
Test subjects who already suffered hearing loss prior to the study noticed a slight delay in hearing deterioration with the addition of fish in their healthy diet.
Scientists believe that the omega-3 in fish has anti-inflammatory properties which prevent high blood pressure and, in turn, allows free blood flow to the cochlea, thus reducing the risk for hearing loss.
Source:
Eating Well, Hear-it, Journal of Nutrition
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