If you have occasional ringing, buzzing, or roaring in your ears, you may have tinnitus. And if you don’t have it, somebody you know does. It affects one in five people.

Tinnitus can disrupt your daily life. Making work and daily activities a challenge.

Luckily, it’s very treatable. And researchers have now found a way to quiet the noise with a simple mineral.

Turkish researchers studied the effect of this mineral therapy on 41 people with tinnitus.1 They took either 50 mg of this mineral or a placebo daily for two months. At the end of the study, 46 percent of the people taking the mineral improved overall. And 82% of them had a decrease in the severity of subjective tinnitus (meaning only the sufferer can hear the noise).

So what helped reduce the phantom—but annoying—noise?

Zinc.

Another study from the University Tokyo Hospital confirms it.2 Researchers began their study by measuring zinc levels in 74 patients. The patients with the lowest zinc levels had greater signs of tinnitus. So they gave the patients zinc to get their levels up. And sure enough…their tinnitus improved.

Tinnitus is not a disease. It is a symptom of an underlying condition. It’s usually a result of age-related hearing loss, a previous ear injury, or circulatory system disorder.3 Some medications can cause tinnitus too. If you’re not certain of the cause, consult your doctor.

Zinc deficiency is common, especially as we age.4 But your body needs it.

Zinc doesn’t just prevent and treat tinnitus. It’s also key for immune health, wound healing, and prostate function. If you’re lacking, you may have problems sleeping, diarrhea, hair loss, mental lethargy, loss of appetite, and dry skin.5

The best way to get your zinc is through your diet. So eat plenty of shellfish—especially oysters. You can also enjoy organic, grass fed beef, pork, or wild and wild caught salmon. Pumpkin seeds, eggs, and nuts are also great sources. You can also take a supplement. Zinc is found at any drug store (although we recommend buying from a health food store). Vitamin A, E, and B6 help your body absorb zinc, so make sure you are getting enough of those vitamins as well.

If you suffer from tinnitus or want to prevent it, zinc could hold the answer.

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References:
1 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12544035
2 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9339660
3 http://mayoclinic.com/health/tinnitus/DS00365
4 http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18200755
5 http://healthguidance.org/entry/15319/1/Zinc-Deficiency-Symptoms-and-Health-Benefits.html