You may not know this, but some of your favorite foods may actually be worsening your tinnitus. If you want to reduce your tinnitus symptoms, then you need to avoid them.
#1 – Sugar-Rich Foods
Say goodbye to your favorite pastries and cakes because these worsen your tinnitus. Like the brain, the auditory system relies on glucose and oxygen delivery for their source of food and energy.
Now, one study has shown that a high number of people (84% to 92%) who have tinnitus also have a condition called hyperinsulinemia. This means that there is a high level of insulin in the blood and that the cells are no longer that sensitive to insulin. This results in the auditory cells not receiving their adequate supply of glucose to function properly. As glucose levels rise, hearing is also affected.
#2 – Salty Foods
We all know that too much salty food isn’t good for our overall health and contributes to a variety of medical problems like hypertension. What you may not know though is that excess salt can actually worsen your tinnitus.
Excess salt in the body causes our blood vessels to constrict and our blood pressure to rise. Now, hypertension restricts blood flow to your auditory system and increases your tinnitus symptoms.
#3 – Fatty Foods
If you’re fond of eating fatty foods, then you better stop now. Too much intake of fatty foods can result in atherosclerosis or fatty plaque buildup along the inside of the arteries. This plaque buildup restricts blood flow to the different parts of your body, including your auditory system. Again, reduced blood flow to your auditory system worsens tinnitus.
In addition to exacerbating your tinnitus, fatty foods also worsen diabetes and increase your risk of developing heart problems and stroke.
So the next time you’re feeling down because of your tinnitus symptoms and are in need of some comfort food, please avoid foods rich in sugar, salt, and fat.
