Bananas for the Win!

Most people are aware of the relationship between healthy eating and vision (remember to eat your carrots so you can see well!). We also are aware of the importance and the research available about healthy lifestyle and cognition, quality of life, and prevention of diseases. There is also research to support exercise and better hearing. But did you know about the relationship between food and hearing? 

Research suggests that nutrients such as potassium, zinc, and magnesium each have properties that can help protect our inner ear and possibly prevent hearing loss. (Peixoto et al, 2020; Sendowski et al, 2011; Yang et al, 2011). But is there one superfood?

There are many great foods that may protect your ears and hearing: oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, turkey, cheese, spinach, avocadoes, and many more. The fact is, there is not just one superfood, and eating just one thing would never give us all the nutrients we need to have a healthy and well-rounded diet. However, bananas have been found to have rich levels of all three of the nutrients we require to keep our healthy hearing: potassium, magnesium, and zinc. So, eat your bananas and do your part to protect your ears!

References

Laurence E. (2024) The #1 food (yes, food!) that helps with hearing, according to audiologists. Parade (accessed May 1, 2024).

Peixoto Pinheiro B, Vona B, Löwenheim H, Rüttiger L, Knipper M, Adel Y. (2021) Age-related hearing loss pertaining to potassium ion channels in the cochlea and auditory pathway. Pflugers Arch 473(5):823–840. 

Sendowski I, Holy X, Raffin F, et al. (2011) Magnesium and hearing loss. In: Magnesium in the Central Nervous System. Adelaide, AU: University of Adelaide Press. (accessed May 1, 2024).

Yang CH, Ko MT, Peng JP, Hwang CF. (2011) Zinc in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Laryngoscope 121(3):617–621.