Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is a condition that involves persistent buzzing, ringing or hissing sounds in your ears. Tinnitus has many different potential causes and sometimes accompanies other medical problems or conditions. If you have ringing in the ears, certain lifestyle and dietary changes can help reduce the severity of your tinnitus. Before you make any substantial alterations to your diet, consult your doctor and a registered dietitian.
Identification
In many cases, ringing in the ears is caused by hearing loss or exposure to loud noises, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You can develop tinnitus due to certain medical conditions, such as Meniere's disease, hypertension or low blood pressure, allergies, stroke, ear infections, fluid in the ear, tumors, blood-vessel disorders such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and thyroid disorders. Head or neck injuries and ruptured ear membranes can also cause ringing in the ears. Earwax blockages, otosclerosis, depression or stress, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and certain medications like some cancer drugs, antibiotics, diuretics, malaria drugs and high-dose aspirin can cause tinnitus as well, MayoClinic.com notes.
Diet
Avoiding alcohol in your diet can help reduce the ringing in your ears, MayoClinic.com notes. That's because alcohol consumption can dilate your blood vessels and increase the blood flow to your inner ear, which aggravates tinnitus. If you have tinnitus due to Meniere's disease, you may have increased cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as poor blood-sugar regulation, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Therefore, following a diet that replaces refined carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates and high-fiber foods could help reduce or even cure your tinnitus. For some people, tinnitus is worsened by certain things in their diets. If you notice that the ringing in your ears gets worse after consuming salty foods or caffeine, limit or eliminate these from your diet, advises the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Talk with your physician and a registered dietitian before making any significant changes to your diet, however.
Key Nutrients
In addition to your diet, supplementing with certain key nutrients may help treat your tinnitus. For example, deficiencies of zinc and coenzyme Q10 can contribute to ringing in the ears, and supplementation could help, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Melatonin supplements may help treat insomnia associated with tinnitus, while vitamin B-12 injections could reduce the ringing in your ears. The vitamin-complex supplement called lipoflavonoid is also commonly used to treat ringing in the ears, MayoClinic.com notes. Talk with your doctor before you begin taking any supplement to treat tinnitus.
Considerations
Other lifestyle changes can help treat your tinnitus in addition to dietary modifications. Regular exercise can help normalize your blood circulation, and quitting smoking can eliminate this trigger for ringing in the ears, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You can also try relaxation and stress-management techniques to reduce your tinnitus severity. Avoiding loud noises can help, and keeping "white noise" like a fan or radio static in the background can help mask the ringing in your ears, MayoClinic.com adds.
Warning
Beware that if your tinnitus is caused by an underlying medical condition, your doctor will need to treat that condition to cure your tinnitus, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Don't begin a special diet for the ringing in your ears without first consulting your healthcare provider. Also, keep in mind that certain nutritional supplements can cause side effects, drug interactions and other health dangers.
