Supplements to Combat Hearing Loss

You know getting the proper nutrition is important to all aspect of your health. You know to eat a diet rich in the proper fats, whole grains, vegetables and fruits and to avoid processed foods and refined flour and sugar. You might even take a multi-vitamin or other supplement just to make sure your body is getting what it needs. But have you ever wondered about the relationship between nutritional supplements and hearing loss?

Supplements to Support Blood Flow

Anything that supports the health of the hair cells in the inner ear will help support better hearing. Increasing the blood flow to the cochlea can help support those vital hair cells.

Magnesium. Magnesium has been shown in many tests to improve blood flow. Increased magnesium intake has even been shown to reduce the effects of noise-induced haring loss because of the increased blood flow. Even if you aren’t exposed to loud noises, make sure your multivitamin has all the magnesium you need.

Coenzyme Q10. This enzyme commonly referred to as CoQ10 is also vital to the healthy hair cells necessary for good hearing. Human studies have shown that 160-600 mg of CoQ10 daily reduced hearing loss in people with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Not only does it support nutrition to the hair cells, it also has antioxidant properties and supports mitochondrial function. That is why it is frequently recommended for heart health as well.

Antioxidants to Combat Hearing Loss

Antioxidants have the ability to neutralize damage from free radicals. These antioxidants scour the body of free radicals and limit their ability to create havoc with your hearing.

N-acetyl cysteine. NAC stimulates the production of glutathione, one of the most prevalent antioxidants in the body. NAC helps your body create its own pool of antioxidants. It has been used for years to combat the effects of acetaminophen overdose, but researchers are discovering its ability to protect hair cells from noise-induced damage.

Lipoic Acid. NAC is not the only supplement that can increase the production of glutathione. Animal studies with lipoic acid are proving that it can protect against hearing loss due to aging and noise-induced haring loss as well.

Vitamin C. Consider a glass of orange juice daily. Orange juice is high in vitamin C, and vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. When combined with other vitamins, such as B, A, and E, it can even help ward off the effects of ototoxic drugs.

Zinc. This mineral also has antioxidant properties. Studies have shown it reduces tinnitus and some forms of hearing loss. Zinc deficiency has also been indicated in some forms of impaired hearing. The good news is that zinc is commonly found in most multi-vitamins.

Unfortunately, there is no magic pill that will eliminate or reverse hearing loss overnight. However, making sure you get all the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes your body needs to support blood flow, mitochondrial function, and produce its own antioxidants will go far in protecting your hearing.