What did you say? Or you don’t have to put up with being hard of hearing

Do you get the feeling that everyone around you is suddenly humming and can’t be understood? Or does your family blame you for having the TV on too loud and you can hardly hear it? You don’t have to put up with hearing impairment. Epigenetics is the science of change.

In fact, several scientific studies have shown that the loss of hearing ability is closely related to the degree of methylation of certain genes in our DNA. This is a so-called epigenetic reaction that can significantly reduce the activity of some genes or even turn them off completely. Some of these epigenetic changes occur during intrauterine development, while many others are added during life, especially as a result of an inappropriate lifestyle.

Why does hearing deteriorate with age?

In general, negative epigenetic changes increase over the life course. Therefore, hearing also deteriorates with age. However, an epigenetic basis has also been demonstrated for other causes of hearing loss.

A common feature of epigenetic reactions is that they are reversible. Therefore, unless structural changes to the auditory system have occurred (especially during intrauterine development), it is possible to either reverse or at least halt hearing loss. Lifestyle modifications are necessary, especially healthy eating, regular exercise, maintaining an optimal weight and avoiding environmental toxins. Nutrients or herbs with a significant epigenetic potential in higher concentrations, usually in the form of dietary supplements, can be of great help.

Protect yourself from free radicals

Equally important, however, is protection against free radicals. Too high levels of reactive oxygen compounds in the body increase the production of the hormone glutathione, which results in changes in gene methylation. Our main focus should be on compounds that combine high epigenetic and antioxidant potential.

Useful nutrients and herbs

Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids are known to have a positive effect on DNA methylation levels, but they also help prevent hearing loss by affecting homocysteine metabolism.
Read more about omega 3 here https://www.epivyziva.cz/omega-3-nenasycene-mastne-kyseliny/

Resveratrol, a dye found in grape wine, can also help. This epigenetic substance, which incidentally also has a very strong antioxidant potential, slows down cell ageing and is therefore a good way to prevent age-related diseases – including hearing loss. In addition, a study by Dr. Michael Seidman has shown that its use prevents hearing damage from excessive noise exposure. In fact, noise can not only cause mechanical damage to the ear, but with prolonged exposure it can also affect epigenetic processes. This makes reveratrol a very suitable preventive substance for people who are exposed to excessive noise, for example at work, but also for lovers of very loud music.
Read more about resveratrol here https://www.epivyziva.cz/resveratrol/

Carotenoids, which are usually also very powerful antioxidants, also prevent hearing loss. A typical representative combining antioxidant and epigenetic effects is astaxanthin.
Read more about astaxanthin here https://www.epivyziva.cz/astaxantin/

The role of zinc also seems to be important. Low levels of zinc are typical in many cases of hearing loss. Those with low zinc levels have shown significant improvements in hearing when given zinc. In addition, zinc deficiency may also contribute to tinnitus (whistling, noise and other sounds in the ears). Zinc is not only an important component of many enzymes, but also has an epigenetic effect.
However, we should not underestimate the intake of certain vitamins, especially E and C.