Usually, people don’t think of hearing health and Thanksgiving as having any real connection. However, since the primary celebration for Thanksgiving centers around food, it’s actually the perfect time to bring up the importance that nutrition plays in promoting hearing health and can help mitigate damage that may have occurred. While the support and protection for your hearing are not precisely the same as earplugs or headphones, food still provides an integral part of hearing health. Here is a list of the nutrients that have been proven to help improve hearing.

Nutrients that Improve Hearing: What to Eat this Thanksgiving

Vitamin A

Retinol, another name for Vitamin A, is a fat-soluble nutrient essential for proper health, especially for hearing and sight. Being deficient can lead to nerve damage in the ears, sinuses, and tongue. Some foods that have Vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches, and butternut squash.

Magnesium

Known for improving blood flow and preventing free radical damage, the effects of Magnesium behave like a barrier that helps protect the soft hairs in the inner ear. Studies have shown that it has been effective in treating damage due to very loud sounds. Foods that contain magnesium include spinach, broccoli, bananas, tomatoes, and artichokes.

Vitamin B9

Found in Folic Acid and Folate, Vitamin B9 helps the body regenerate new cells and helps improve circulation and overall health for your ears. It has been shown to help with tinnitus and age-related hearing issues. Just about every food described as “leafy and green” is known to have Vitamin B9 in abundance.

Potassium

Your body uses Potassium to regulate the balance of fluid in the blood and throughout the body. The inner ear is very sensitive to this balance; chronic Potassium deficiency can bring on age-related issues earlier. Bananas, oranges, melons, tomatoes, potatoes, and yogurt are all great ways to include Potassium in your meal.

Omega-3

Found in numerous fish, flax seeds, and walnuts, Omega 3 fat strengthens the blood vessels surrounding the ear’s sensory system. Omega 3 helps brain functioning by helping to transmit signals between the brain and ears more effectively.