A new study finds that antioxidants may also provide a benefit in protecting your hearing.
I recently blogged about the beneficial affects of omega-3s–commonly found in fish– on lowering the risk of hearing loss. Now, a new study finds that antioxidants may also provide a benefit in protecting your hearing.
In the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a multi-national team comprised of researchers from Korea, Canada and the U.S. (Boston and Ann Arbor) analyzed cross-sectional data from 2592 participants aged 20-69 y from the NHANES 2001-2004. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations.
The study computed hearing thresholds as pure tone averages (PTAs) at speech and high frequencies. Researchers found that higher intakes of β-carotene, vitamin C, and magnesium were associated with lower (better) PTAs at both speech and high frequencies. Colorful foods like oranges, grapefruit, green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, and whole grains all provide a powerful punch of antioxidants. So if you needed another reason to eat your vegetables, this study links them to a lower risk of hearing loss.