Dietary Help for Tinnitus

Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus, is a condition in which a person hears a phantom noise that has no external source. The sound can be ringing, hissing, buzzing, static, roaring, whistling, screeching or even electronic tones, according to the American Tinnitus Association. In addition, the sound can be constant or come and go and can range from mildly annoying to becoming a major interference in daily activities. Almost always the sufferer is the only one who hears the sound.

How the Brain Hears

• Tiny hairs in the inner ear move when sound waves hit them. This excites nerves in the ear, and the brain understands these signals as sound. If the hairs inside the ear are damaged, they can trigger random signals to the brain, causing tinnitus.

Finding the Cause of Tinnitus

• Anything that can cause hearing loss may cause tinnitus. It is important to have a thorough examination by a doctor or an ear, nose and throat specialist (an otolaryngologist) to help rule out causes such as an ear or sinus infection, wax in the ears, head injuries or tumors, allergies, thyroid conditions, diabetes, blood pressure problems or other conditions.
  Tinnitus is a side effect of a number of medications, including high doses of aspirin, antibiotics, drugs to reduce fluid retention (diuretics), chemotherapy medications and medicines to treat malaria, such as quinine or chloroquine. A doctor can review medications and make adjustments in doses or substitutions in medicines to help reduce tinnitus. In many cases, a specific cause cannot be found.

Dietary Approaches to Improving Tinnitus

• In many cases, what a person eats can make tinnitus better---or worse. Paying close attention to how the body responds to certain foods can provide important clues to relieving ringing. For instance, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the sugar substitute aspartame (found in NutraSweet and Equal) excite nerves to fire signals. In sensitive people, these substances can cause nerves to keep firing until they are damaged. Avoiding them can sometimes relieve tinnitus. Also, the salt in packaged, processed and fast foods increases blood pressure and causes roaring or ringing in the ears of some people.
  A diet high in sugar can make the body less sensitive to the hormone insulin. The body uses insulin to move sugar from the bloodstream into cells, and if it does not react to insulin, brain and nerve cells do not take in the glucose they need to function.
  Adding vitamins B12, B6 and B5, as well as A and E, to a diet helps reduce tinnitus. They are found in whole-grain products, bananas and other fruits, vegetables, eggs and dairy products. People who drink substantial amounts of alcohol often are deficient in B vitamins. Increasing B vitamins and reducing alcohol consumption reduce tinnitus.
  Vitamin A, which is found in oily fish, dark green leafy vegetables, blueberries and yellow vegetables and fruits such as carrots and apricots, is good for the membranes of the inner ear. Also, a 2007 study published in the journal "Progress in Brain Research" noted that up to 69 percent of people with tinnitus had a deficiency of zinc. While more research is required, zinc is an essential trace element found throughout the central nervous system.