What Seasonal Autumn Foods can Improve Your Hearing Health?

We’ve got some tips on which seasonal foods that can be beneficial to your hearing health, and overall health. If you live in Lancaster County, PA, you’re in luck to have the immediate option of getting these fruits and vegetables straight from the farm.

Pumpkins and winter squash

These gourds aren’t just great for decorations, they also provide healthy nutrients for your body. 

Vitamin A: Supports the immune system. Pumpkins have 200% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin A. Having a well-maintained immune system assists in preventing infectious bacteria - including those that induce ear infections. Most people easily recover from ear infections, but they could cause pain and temporary hearing loss.     

Vitamin C: This antioxidant defends your body against free radicals. Free radicals invade your body to find electrons to pair with, which can damage DNA, cells, and proteins. Vitamin C and other antioxidants serve to prevent the invasion by protecting the inner ear’s cellular structure. 

Folate: This has vitamin B, which helps with cellular metabolism, the nervous system, and vascular function. All of these features are important for proper auditory function. High-frequency hearing loss may be connected to insufficient levels of folic acid.   

If you don’t like pumpkin pie or are trying to reduce your sugar intake, try adding pumpkins to a low sugar smoothie (Don’t forget to wear earplugs while using a blender.), cream cheese spread, ice cream, or pasta sauce. 

Winter squash may be too difficult to cut through, so try softening the squash in a steam basket over boiling water. Maybe there are pre-cut cubes of butternut squash at your local grocery store. 

Apples are Abundant this Season

How can you go this whole season without taking a bite of a fresh or baked apple? They are full of vitamin C with nearly zero sodium, fat, or cholesterol. Apples are great for the cardiovascular system and can lower the risks of asthma, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.  

Vitamin A and Vitamin C: Just like in pumpkins, these vitamins help maintain your immune system and supply antioxidants that protect your inner ear from free radicals.  
 
Potassium: This mineral regulates the amount of fluid in your body. This is vital for fluid in your inner ear, which relies on an abundant supply of potassium in order to translate what you hear into a sound that is interpreted by your brain.    

The best way to eat them is fresh and uncooked. They make an easy portable snack. Most of the apple’s nutrients are found right underneath the skin, so eat them unpeeled. 

Dark leafy greens 

Dark, leafy green vegetables contain a lot of folates, vitamin A, and vitamin C. They easily grow in a home garden and are bountiful at farmer’s markets, restaurants, and the produce section in grocery stores.  

Arugula: This green can be used as a garnish, or in a salad, sandwich, omelet, pizza, or pasta. It adds a peppery taste to your meals. It also has the same vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals as other leafy greens that aid with protecting your hearing. 

In addition to eating these seasonal autumn foods, follow a balanced diet and get regular exercise. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption. Don’t ignore your hearing health. Get a hearing test from a professional. Contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation. 

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