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Can the Omega-3s in Fish Oil Lower Your Risk for Hearing Loss?
The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk for hearing loss is to protect your ears against noise. Unfortunately, some level of noise exposure is impossible to avoid. Are there other things you can do to reduce your risk for hearing loss?
As with many diseases and health issues, what you eat plays a role. You already know fish is a heart-healthy food, but the healthy fats in fatty fish and fish oil could serve double-duty by protecting your hearing, too. The results of one study showed middle-aged men and women who ate two servings of fish weekly enjoyed a 42% lower risk of hearing loss relative to those who ate less than one serving weekly.
In another study, researchers measured the amount of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which are a type of fat in fish and fish oil, in the blood of 720 older men and women. Those who had higher levels of omega-3s in their blood experienced less low-frequency hearing loss over the subsequent three years. Although you can’t say with certainty that the omega-3s were responsible for these benefits, it does merit further research.
A number of previous studies suggest long-chain omega-3s in fish oil have health benefits that make them a worthy addition to the dinner table. For one, they appear to reduce inflammation, a contributor to a number of health problems, including heart disease. Most people don’t get enough of these fats in their diet.
How might omega-3s be protective? One theory is that long-chain omega-3s improve blood flow to the inner ear. Increased blood flow helps keep the hair cells that transmit sound vibrations to the brain healthy.
Enjoy the benefits of eating fish; you may be helping your hearing at the same time. But don’t forget to protect your ears from exposure to loud, continuous noise. It’s a small step you can take to protect one of your greatest assets – your ability to hear.
References:
Nutraingredients.com. “Omega-3 May Protect Against Hearing Loss: Study.” June 11, 2010.
