Minerals play an important role in our overall health and proper body function. Calcium builds strong bones and teeth. Zinc is an important mineral for boosting the immune system. But what you may not know is that some minerals are critical elements for protecting your hearing health.

What are minerals?

Cooking mineral-rich, vitamin-packed meals from scratch can help protect your hearing health.

Minerals are inorganic substances found in soils and rocks and are essential nutrients the body needs to survive and carry out daily functions and processes. We get minerals by eating plants that absorb them from the earth and by eating meat from animals that graze on plants. There are lots of important minerals, but these few are crucial for preserving good hearing.

Potassium

Potassium is responsible for regulating the amount of fluid in your blood and body tissue. That’s important to your hearing health because fluid in the inner ear, that part of the ear that translates the noises we hear into electrical impulses the brain interprets as sound, is dependent upon a rich supply of potassium. As we age, those levels naturally drop which could contribute to presbycusis — or age-related hearing loss. Potassium-rich foods include: potatoes, spinach, lima beans, tomatoes, raisins, apricots, bananas, melons, oranges, yogurt and milk. With springtime picnics marking the calendar, think about making your favorite potato salad or bring along a fruit salad with citrus and melons for tasty and potassium-rich side dishes.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a critical element in your body’s ability to generate new cell growth. Studies have shown that adults with low levels of folic acid in their blood are more likely to develop presbycusis. Some studies show folic acid supplements may slow down hearing loss. That might be because the body uses folic acid to metabolize homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that reduces circulation. Good circulation is an important component in keeping the hair cells of the inner ear healthy and working properly. Folate-rich foods include organ meats, spinach, broccoli and asparagus.

Magnesium

Research conducted at the University of Michigan Kresge Hearing Research Institute has shown that people pretreated with magnesium (along with Vitamins A, C, and E) were protected from noise-related hearing loss. Scientists believe this is because magnesium combats the effects of free radicals emitted during loud noises — almost like a protective barrier for the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. Also, lack of adequate magnesium in the inner ear causes the blood vessels to shrink, depriving it of valuable oxygen. Foods rich in magnesium include fruits and vegetables such as bananas, artichokes, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes and broccoli. Spring is the perfect time for fresh artichokes. Cook them in boiling water 20-30 minutes and serve them with warmed butter or a cool dill yogurt dip. Bonus — the yogurt dip will provide potassium too!

Zinc

Zinc boosts body’s immune system and is also responsible for cell growth and healing wounds, so it’s potentially helpful in warding off germs that cause the common cold and even pesky ear infections. Some studies suggest it’s also effective in treating tinnitus in individuals with normal hearing. Zinc does interact with antibiotics and diuretics though, so seek a physician’s advice before using supplements. Foods rich in zinc include beef, pork and dark-meat chicken, cashews, almonds, peanuts, beans, split peas, lentils, oysters and dark chocolate. Try making homemade granola bars to get your fill of zinc. Nuts and dark chocolate work great as key ingredients, along with oats, popped quinoa, raisins, dried cranberries and coconut flakes. Honey and nut butters work well as binders. Search online to find recipes like this one from Love and Zest. Once you get comfortable with the process, tweak recipes to your liking.

Summary

With a balanced diet free of processed foods and that includes vitamins from whole foods, our bodies usually get enough minerals for our hearing health. Check with your physician before adding any supplements to your diet. Reprinted with permission from www.healthyhearing.com. Please visit our site for the original article: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/51181-Boost-your-hearing-with-these-power-foods