Patient's question:
What kind of food can prevent hearing loss?Doctor's answer:
1. To reduce fat intake, consuming large amounts of fatty foods can increase blood lipid levels, thicken blood viscosity, and lead to arteriosclerosis. The inner ear is most sensitive to blood supply issues. When blood circulation is impaired, it can cause a lack of nutrition for auditory nerves, resulting in deafness. Middle-aged adults should control their total daily fat intake to about 40 grams and reduce the consumption of high-fat foods such as various animal organs, fatty meats, cream, egg yolks, caviar, fried foods, etc.2. Eat more iron-rich foods. Iron deficiency can make red blood cells harden, reduce their oxygen transport capacity, and lead to insufficient nutrient supply to the ears, damaging auditory cells and causing hearing loss. Supplementing with iron can effectively prevent and delay the occurrence of tinnitus and deafness in middle-aged and elderly people. For those over 45, regardless of gender, daily iron intake should not be less than 12 milligrams. Common foods rich in iron include:
- Laver: 46.8 milligrams of iron per 100 grams
- Dried shrimp: 16.5 milligrams
- Jellyfish skin: 17.6 milligrams
- Black sesame: 26.3 milligrams
- Daylily: 12.6 milligrams
- Black fungus: 11.9 milligrams
- Amaranth: 10.5 milligrams
- Cilantro and Chinese cabbage: iron content is second only to amaranth
- Soy products: average iron content accounts for 4–6 milligrams
3. Consume more zinc-rich foods. Many factors contribute to tinnitus and deafness in middle-aged and elderly people, and zinc deficiency is a significant factor. Zinc content in the cochlea is much higher than in other organs. However, in people over 60, zinc levels in the cochlea significantly decrease, affecting cochlear function and leading to hearing loss. Daily consumption of zinc-rich foods such as fish, beef, chicken, eggs, various seafood, apples, oranges, walnuts, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, and radishes is recommended.
4. Eat foods that promote blood circulation. Promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis can dilate blood vessels, improve blood viscosity, and maintain normal microcirculation in small blood vessels of the ears. Foods that can be consumed regularly include black fungus, chives, red wine, and yellow wine.
5. Develop a habit of drinking milk. Milk contains almost all known vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, and carotene. These vitamins, along with calcium absorption and utilization, are very helpful in preventing and improving blood circulation and tinnitus symptoms.