A new study has found that eating more fruits, dairy products, caffeine, and fiber-rich foods may help reduce the risk of developing tinnitus.
Published in BMJ Open, the research explored the effects of 15 dietary factors on the likelihood of developing tinnitus.
An estimated 740 million people worldwide suffer from tinnitus, a chronic condition that causes individuals to hear sounds in one or both ears without any external noise. Tinnitus can be caused by various issues, including hearing loss, ear infections, thyroid problems, and Meniere’s disease.
While there is currently no cure for tinnitus, previous studies have suggested that certain lifestyle changes can reduce the risk. Protecting your hearing from loud noises, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check are all important preventative measures.
In recent years, several studies have looked at the role of diet in tinnitus. One such study, published in February 2020, found that vitamin B12 and a high-protein diet could lower the risk of developing tinnitus.
The researchers in this new study analyzed medical and dietary data from 300,100 adults across eight different studies to determine which foods might affect tinnitus risk.
The study examined 15 dietary factors: caffeine, carbohydrates, dairy products, eggs, fats, dietary fiber, fish, fruits, vegetables, margarine, meat, protein, and sugar.
The findings showed that eating more fruits, dietary fiber, dairy products, and caffeine was linked to a lower risk of developing tinnitus. Specifically, fruit consumption reduced the risk by 35%, dairy products by 17%, caffeine by 10%, and fiber by 8%.
The other 11 dietary factors did not significantly impact tinnitus risk statistically. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that consuming more fruits, dairy, caffeine, and fiber could help lower the risk of developing tinnitus.
