Low-calorie diets are often mentioned not only for their weight loss effects but also for their many health benefits. Many people decide to go on these diets to manage certain conditions like diabetes or simply to improve their overall health. However, some studies show that this diet may have another somewhat surprising effect – it could improve our hearing.
So, what is the link between low-calorie diets and hearing?
Low-Calorie Diet Health Benefits
Low-calorie diets usually restrict your caloric intake to between 800 and 1500 calories. They are often used for instant weight loss, as they can enable obese people to lose between three and five pounds per week. However, these diets are sometimes recommended for people with certain conditions like diabetes.
Research shows that low-calorie diets can lead to less cognitive degeneration, lower risk of cancer, and longer lives. They do, however, have certain side effects. The most common ones are fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. People on this diet are also more likely to get gallstones.
Low-Calorie Diets and Hearing
Another interesting health benefit of low-calorie diets could be improved hearing. Scientists from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that rats who were under a dietary restriction experienced many improvements to their health, including a better hearing. Caloric restriction was also found to slow down aging and prolong the rats’ lives.
The calorie-restricted rats also preserved their acoustic reflexes and experienced a slower degeneration of the cochlea tissue. This tissue is an essential part of the inner ear and plays a crucial role in hearing.
Final Word
Although more research is needed to confirm whether dietary restrictions will have the same effect in humans, there seems to be a link between low-calorie diets and hearing. Talk to your doctor before deciding to go on this diet so you can better understand its benefits and potential side effects.
