Tune Up Your Hearing with This Mineral

If you want to keep your ears working well enough to hear a pin drop, consider popping this mineral: magnesium.

Early research shows that it may help prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Mighty Magnesium
In a study of 300 young, healthy recruits undergoing 2 months of basic military training, magnesium seemed to keep ears sharper. The training included repeated exposure to high levels of noise while wearing earplugs. But the recruits who had received a special daily drink supplemented with magnesium aspartate showed significantly fewer signs of permanent hearing loss. Are you losing your hearing? Test the health of your ears with this quick quiz.

All About the Ear
Researchers aren't exactly sure why magnesium may help protect hearing, but the mineral plays an important role in cellular processes and might somehow safeguard the ear from the physical changes that accompany hearing loss. Read the YOU Docs' answers to all your ear questions.

Use this nutrition tracker to see what foods pack a natural magnesium punch.

Oral magnesium intake reduces permanent hearing loss induced by noise exposure. Attias, J. et al., American Journal of Otolaryngology 1994 Jan-Feb;15(1):26-32.