Can red wine help prevent hearing problems?
Your nightly glass of red could actually be even better for your health than previously thought. Besides the health benefits for your heart and cholesterol levels there is now reason to believe that red wine can help to prevent hearing loss.
Resveratrol, which is found in both red grapes and red wine, could potentially protect you from hearing loss as well as cognitive decline.
A recent study using rats exposed them to loud noises. One group was given resveratrol before the exposure, and the other group experienced hearing loss from the loud noise. The results were significant, with the rats that had the resveratrol having almost 90 per cent less hearing loss.
“Our latest study focuses on resveratrol and it’s effect on bioinflammation, the body’s response to injury and something that is believe to be the cause of many health problems including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, aging and hearing loss,” says Michael D. Seidman of the study.
“Resveratrol is a very powerful chemical that seems to protect against the body’s inflammatory process as it relates to aging, cognition and hearing loss.”
The good news is that the research on mice and rats has implications for humans too.
Dr. Seidman gives some advice on other ways to protect your hearing, for instance:
- Enjoy fish twice per week to reduce your chance of age-related hearing loss. Fatty acids that are found in fish can improve blood flow to your ears, which can protect them from hearing loss.
- A healthy snack such as an apple contains antioxidants that can fight the free radical damage that can damage your hearing.
- Fortified cereals can help to reduce inflammation as they contain the mineral zinc.
Related links:
What to do if you think you have a hearing problem
4 things you’re likely doing that are damaging your hearing
Why hearing loss could be bad for your relationship