The noise from tinnitus can be reduced with dietary changes.
Tinnitus is a condition where the sufferer hears a constant noise that is only in her head, and not the surrounding environment. It's often described as a ringing in the ear, but the sounds vary from person to person. There are many other descriptors, including hissing, buzzing, and static. While there is no cure for this condition, there are many treatments that can minimize the sound. Surprisingly, altering your diet can help.
Zinc
A link has been found between zinc deficiency and tinnitus. In 2003, researchers at the Ankara Numune Research and Education Hospital in Turkey studied the role of zinc administration in treating tinnitus. What they found was that the severity of tinnitus decreased in 82 percent of the subjects given zinc.
Zinc can be found in many different foods. Oysters, by far, contain the most zinc of any food. But more common foods can be had, such as beef, poultry, pork, king crab and breakfast cereals that are fortified with the mineral. Zinc supplements are available.
Vitamin B12
A connection has also been found between vitamin B12 deficiency and tinnitus. Clams, another mollusk, are the runaway winner when it comes to B12 sources. If you're not a fan, there are more popular choices, including braised beef, salmon and trout. While liver may not be everyone's favorite, it's a great source of B12, coming in second only to clams.
Avoid Your Vices
We all have a vice or two, and some of them can make tinnitus worse. The caveat to some of the meat sources of vitamin B12 and zinc is that excessive saturated fat can exacerbate your tinnitus problem. Consuming too much saturated fat can lead to atherosclerosis, the condition where your artery walls thicken as the result of a build-up of fatty materials like cholesterol. Besides the obvious risks of heart disease and stroke, this also leads to a decrease in blood flow. Tinnitus sufferers need to increase blood flow to their inner ear. This removes toxins and maintains healthy cells.
Salt is a prevalent vice. Since increased blood pressure has been linked to tinnitus, it only follows that salt - one of the bigger causes of high blood pressure - would be a problem. Excess salt restricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow, similar to saturated fat. Both caffeine and nicotine also restrict blood flow, and should be avoided if you have tinnitus.
Minimizing your tinnitus with better food choices is as simple as following a basic healthy diet. Eat vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables and lean protein sources such as fish and the occasional steak.
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