Tinnitus is a painful condition that afflicts approximately one in five adults, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Pulsatile tinnitus is a form of tinnitus in which ear pain coincides with your heart beat. If you have pulsatile tinnitus, talk to your doctor about treatment options. As with many medical conditions, diet changes can help reduce symptoms of pulsatile tinnitus.
Alcohol
You should avoid alcohol consumption on a tinnitus diet because it can worsen tinnitus symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic website. In a study published in the April 1999 edition of the "Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences" Stephen L. Doggett, PhD of the University Hospital of Wales found that approximately 85 percent of people with tinnitus noticed their pain getting worse after alcohol consumption.
Glycemic Index
The glycemic index of a food is an indication of how rapidly your body absorbs it. According to the Institute of Optimal Nutrition, a research study found that replacing high glycemic index carbohydrates with low glycemic index carbohydrates reduced tinnitus symptoms in a group of people whose tinnitus stemmed from Ménière's disease. Low glycemic index choices include whole grains, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and legumes.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that is often deficient in people with tinnitus, according to the September 2007 edition of "Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho." In this study, a group of tinnitus sufferers were tested for zinc levels in the blood. The subjects with the lowest levels of zinc tended to suffer more severe symptoms than those with adequate zinc levels. In addition, the zinc-deficient volunteers reported that their ear pain improved significantly when they took zinc supplements.
Supplements
Supplementing with vitamin B12, the antioxidant CoQ10 and the hormone melatonin may improve tinnitus symptoms in certain people, according to the Institute of Optimal Nutrition. However, research linking these supplements to tinnitus is limited, and these supplements only work if you are deficient in these nutrients. As with all dietary supplements, check with your doctor before taking them.
References
- Institute for Optimal Nutrition: Tinnitus
- MayoClinic: Tinnitus
- "Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho"; The serum zinc level in patients with tinnitus and the effect of zinc treatment; September 1997
- "Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences"; Detrimental effects of alcohol on tinnitus; D Stephens; April 1999
