If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer from tinnitus, you know how frustrating and stressful it can be. And you’ve probably tried everything in your power to stop it.
But did you ever think your diet could be contributing? Here are five foods that could be making your tinnitus worse.
1. Saturated Fats
Sources of saturated fats, such as red meats, cheeses, and other dairy products can lead to increased levels of bad cholesterol. High cholesterol, in turn, can cause atherosclerosis, restricting blood flow to many parts of the body and aggravating the symptoms of tinnitus.
2. Salt
Table salt is half sodium, which is a water-soluble element. Excessive sodium consumption leads to increased blood pressure. High blood pressure is one of the common triggers of tinnitus for many people. Therefore, sufferers of tinnitus are wise to avoid salt when possible.
3. Sugars
Diabetics and pre-diabetics, as well as people with diabetic symptoms, are more likely to experience worse tinnitus when consuming high-sugar foods. Increased levels of blood glucose reduce blood flow and can worsen tinnitus.
4. Alcohol
Many tinnitus patients report alcohol as an exacerbating factor of their symptoms. There are many reasons why alcohol consumption could contribute to tinnitus such as increased dehydration and higher blood pressure, to name just two.
5. Coffee
Another common trigger for many people’s tinnitus. There’s no research showing exactly why coffee may intensify tinnitus, but many doctors recommend that tinnitus patients try removing coffee from their diet.
Some hypothesize it could have something to do with the stress response associated with consuming caffeine.
