Recently, a study published in the International Journal of Audiology found that eating at least 5 servings (1 serving is about 80 grams) of fruits and vegetables daily helps prevent hearing loss.
To investigate the association between diet, hearing, and noise exposure, Dr. Christopher Spankovich of the University of Florida and his colleagues surveyed 2,366 participants about their dietary habits and conducted four hearing tests. Based on the intake of fruits, vegetables, salt, fat, and processed foods, the researchers scored the overall dietary status of the participants. The average score was 63.11, with 73% of participants scoring between 51 and 80, 14.6% scoring low, and 12% scoring high. Comparative data analysis revealed that the higher a participant's diet score, the better their hearing. Participants who maintained a healthy diet and frequently consumed fruits and vegetables (at least 5 servings per day) had a smaller risk of hearing impairment or deafness. However, the new study also found that eating more fruits and vegetables cannot reverse the hearing damage caused by excessive consumption of junk food.
Dr. Spankovich pointed out that hearing is influenced by multiple factors, among which gender, genetics, race, and age are inevitable, while factors like diet and noise exposure are controllable. In terms of diet, consuming more fruits and vegetables helps prevent hearing damage.