We all know someone in our lives who has become hard of hearing as they have grown older.  Hearing loss is a fear that we all have, we don’t want to get to that age and find ourselves being unable to communicate with loved ones around us.  Fortunately like many conditions prevention is far better than cure and we will look at some natural products which may assist us in retaining our quality of hearing for longer.

Hearing, like many senses, becomes less acute with advancing age. It becomes more difficult to hear high-pitched voices and soft sounds, and many seniors eventually require a hearing aid. Some of this hearing loss is natural, related to a decline in the microscopic hair cells (cilla) that pick up sound waves, reduced blood flow and nerve damage are possible contributing factors. Injury and exposure to loud noise also diminish hearing. High blood cholesterol also contributes to the problem. The medical name for this problem is "age-related hearing loss". Several nutrients have recently been found to preserve hearing in seniors and to help to prevent or reverse this so-called age-related hearing loss.

Some of the products which will assist us in retaining our hearing include;

• ALC (Acetyl-L-Carnitine):  It is believed that ALC preserves hearing by repairing age-related damage in the cochlear and by improving energy production in this vital structure of the ear.
  Folic Acid:  Elevated levels of the toxic compound named homocysteine are believed to play a major role in age-related hearing loss by impairing blood circulation to the cochlea of the ear. Folic acid helps to lower elevated homocysteine levels.
  Lipoic Acid:  It is believed that lipoic acid preserves hearing by repairing age-related damage in the cochlear and by improving energy production in this vital structure of the ear.
  Vitamin B12:  Vitamin B12 helps to lower elevated homocysteine levels. Vitamin B12 is also thought to repair the neurons of the cochlear nerve.
  Vitamins A and E:  The combined use of vitamin A with vitamin E has been shown in a number of studies to result in a 5 - 15 decibel improvement in pure-tone threshold in age-related hearing loss sufferers.
  Ginkgo biloba:  One of the causes of impaired hearing in seniors is poor blood circulation to the ear''s cochlea. Ginkgo biloba has been shown to improve blood circulation to the ear and to the tiny blood vessels that supply the cochlea.

These are just a few products which can help to improve hearing or prevent it from occurring when taking them as a preventative measure.  Hearing is one of our most important sensors yet we spent so little time caring for them, maybe its time to give yours some thought.

Ingredients:

• 2 free-range eggs
• 1 zucchini, grated
• 2 shallots, finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:

1. Combine all the ingredients, mix well and pour into a non-stick omelette pan.
2. When the mixture is firm turn omelette over and cook the other side.
3. Serve with one of our salads.