It is often said by nutritionists and other medical professionals that eating a healthy diet has a myriad of fitness and wellness benefits for us. A recent revelation by academics from the University of Florida (UF) only confirms this further.
Indeed, researchers from UF have found an interesting link between healthy eating and another of your five senses: hearing1. They conducted research by compiling data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, finding that participants who scored highly on the Healthy Eating Index were also less likely to develop hearing loss.
“Our hearing health is linked to our general health. Our auditory system is dependent on our cardiovascular, neural and metabolic health, and if we are not healthy in general, it makes sense that we could increase our susceptibility to hearing loss,” said Dr Christopher Spankovich, leader of the study that has since been published in the International Journal of Audiology.
These findings only add to the numerous reasons why maintaining a healthy diet is important, which is a growing concern in Australia since only 2 per cent of the population aged over 14 years eats two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables daily, according to a national survey by Roy Morgan Research2. This is problematic considering this is the recommended amount by the National Health and Medical Research Council2.
The good news is that eating a healthy diet can prevent hearing loss, although it can not reverse it. If you or your loved ones are experiencing difficulty in hearing, there are solutions on offer that can help manage the condition. To find out more, click here or call 1300 308 125 to request a no cost* appointment with your local HEARINGLife clinic.
1University of Florida, When it comes to hearing, diet may trump noise exposure. Accessed October 5, 2015.
2Roy Morgan Research, Most of us don’t eat enough fruit and veg. Accessed October 5, 2015.