Have you ever noticed how ringing, hissing, cracking in the ear seems to be worse on some days and then not so bad on another day? Take a moment to think about what you just ate. Did you have a hamburger with fries or a few cups of strong coffee? My T. used to be worse after a Chinese take out! As you know, there is a lot of salt in one of those. Eating a good diet is essential to control the volume and frequency of the tinnitus noises you hear. As you read this article, you will discover 5 dos and don’ts of diet for tinnitus.
You MUST … give your body premium fuel. Your body needs it to function properly. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, fish and whole grains, beans, nuts, olive oil, cheese, yogurt, and eggs. Go organic if you can! These foods will be rich in vitamins and minerals and will strengthen your immune system.
DON’T … eat junk food. They are full of empty calories. They are also very rich in salt. Salt makes tinnitus symptoms worse by constricting blood vessels, increasing blood pressure, and reducing blood flow to the ears, eyes, and brain. When salt intake is reduced, people report that tinnitus sounds decrease. Most processed foods are also high in flavor enhancers, such as glutamate. Glutamate floods the neuroreceptors in the auditory pathway and excites them to a point where they are continuously activated.
YES … make sure your tinnitus diet includes Vitamin A, B1,6 and 12, Iron C and Zinc. Zinc is known to be particularly effective in reducing the noises of tinnitus. It can be found in oysters, lamb squash seeds, eggs, and beans. Include between 2 and 5 mg. of manganese found in foods like bananas, celery, green leafy vegetables, beans, and nuts.
DO NOT … eat any minerals like manganese in excess as it can be dangerous.
MUST … include gluten-free grains like millet, quinoa, and amaranth. Wheat can cause inflammation of the inner ear and worsen tinnitus symptoms. Soybeans and soy products are a great source of antioxidants and help the body make B vitamins.
DO NOT … choose cow’s milk products, although your tinnitus diet should include a moderate amount of dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and cheese. Try to choose organic products and go for sheep or goat products.
You MUST … eat unsaturated fats from vegetables, nuts, and fish. These are the fats that are necessary for life and should be included in your tinnitus diet. They lower undesirable cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation in the inner ear. Use olive oil as a cooking oil!
DO NOT … eat fried or fatty foods that are high in saturated fat, as they increase blood pressure, a direct cause of tinnitus, and increase the level of fats in the blood. This restricts oxygen and nutrients to the inner ear and hearing loss.
You MUST …. eat food as close to its natural state as possible. The best diet for tinnitus is the Mediterranean diet which is made up of freshly prepared whole foods, fresh foods and vegetables, whole grain breads, pasta with unsaturated fats, beans and nuts. It is not surprising that the incidence of heart disease is so low in Mediterranean countries.
DO NOT … drink caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and cola. Avoid alcohol. They increase the noise of tinnitus by creating unnatural highs and lows, which can increase anxiety, stress, and depression in some people.