Although the food you eat does not cause tinnitus, some foods do intensify symptoms if you already suffer from this condition. Tinnitus afflicts some 50 million people in the United States, says Dr. Jeff Carroll, director of the Tinnitus Center of the University of California at Irvine. The phantom sounds of tinnitus include ringing, hissing, roaring and sometimes pulsating noises. Ear damage often triggers tinnitus, but tinnitus could be a symptom of more serious illness.
Tinnitus Causes
If you listen to loud music or work in noisy conditions, lengthy exposure could permanently injure small hairs in the inner ear called cilia that translate pressure waves in the air to nerve impulses sent to your brain. These damaged cilia transmit constantly, whether actual sounds exist or not. Changing pressure in the ear or nerve stimulation can increase the apparent volume of the sounds. Tinnitus could remain at tolerable background noise levels or become loud enough to interfere with normal activities. Foods containing compounds that stimulate or irritate the ears and foods that affect blood pressure could aggravate tinnitus.
Stimulants
You may not find that your tinnitus responds to food in the same way that food affects others with this problem. Stimulants such as alcohol, tobacco and caffeine frequently increase the perceived level of tinnitus noise. Judge the benefits of caffeine avoidance through careful observation. Since only you can hear the sounds of subjective tinnitus, your opinion matters the most. If caffeine affects your condition, avoid foods containing chocolate, another natural source of compounds similar to caffeine. Limit your intake of coffee and foods flavored with coffee, and avoid energy drinks and sodas with high amounts of extra caffeine.
Pressure Changes
Changing fluid pressure in your inner ear stimulates cilia and affects the tinnitus noise you hear. Because ingesting salt changes the fluid balance in your body, eating salty foods can make your tinnitus worse. Avoid salty snack foods and other unnecessary sources of sodium such as the salt shaker. Most people get plenty of sodium from a balanced diet without adding extra salt. Convenience foods, including canned food and frozen dinners, often contain not only extra salt but monosodium glutamate, a high-sodium flavor enhancer. When eating at restaurants, ask whether menu items contain MSG and avoid high-sodium sauces.
Irritants
Food allergies could cause tissues in the ear to swell, affecting pressure. Tinnitus sufferers sometimes report increased noise after drinking red wine or eating cheese, but these foods don't affect everyone. Salicylates also intensify tinnitus symptoms, but avoiding aspirin won't remove salicylate from your diet. Wintergreen flavoring used in soft drinks, confections and baked goods contains methyl salicylate. Many foods including apples, citrus fruits and pine nuts contain natural salicylates. Sensitivity varies, so test what works for you before eliminating important foods. Ask your doctor for advice. If you obsess over tinnitus noises, your perceived symptoms could intensify.
References
- University of California, Irvine; Tinnitus (Noise in the Ears); Dr. Jeff Carroll
- American Tinnitus Association: About Tinnitus
- Tinnitus News Daily: 20 Things That Will Make Your Tinnitus Worse
- Oregon State University Food Resource; Methyl Salicylate [C8H8O3], Wintergreen Oil; Ruth Winter; 1978
- Aurora Health Care; Low-Salicylate Diet; Maria Adams; May 2008
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