It’s the perfect time of year to get back in the garden and start creating that home grown fruit and vegetable garden you’ve been thinking about all winter! Nothing says springtime like seedlings, flowers and fresh compost for a new season in the garden.
Get in the dirt with these five ear-resistible plants to help support healthy hearing!
Blueberries
Who doesn’t love blueberries? They’re perfect for a range of delicious recipes like smoothies, pancakes and pies. Birds love to snack on them too! Blueberries are rich in vitamin C which, when you combine them with magnesium and vitamin A and E, may help reduce noise-induced hearing loss!
Want to make a blueberry smoothie at home? Try this delicious recipe below:
- 1 cup rinsed, stemmed blueberries from the garden
- 2 cups of milk of your choice
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp allspice
- 3 ice cubes
- Sprig of lavender (optional)
Mix the first five ingredients in your blender until smooth. If you’d like to garnish, top with your lavender spring and enjoy. This recipe makes about 2 serves so you can share with a friend or family member.
Kale
This timeless leafy green is in high in folate which can reduce the risk of hearing loss in older men when eaten regularly. Kale is a versatile food and it’s pretty hardy in the garden too, so if you’re just starting your gardening journey kale is a great vegetable to get you started!
You can eat it on its own or you can use it soups, salads – it’s great in a roasted sweet potato and walnut salad – lasagne, and wraps. So many options!
Pumpkin
Did you know that the word pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepon which means ‘large melon’?
Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc which help support the immune system and – when taken as an oral medication – can help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.
Pumpkins are best grown in January to December because they require rich, warm soil to germinate. They’ll be ready to harvest in autumn if sown around Christmas; the perfect time of year to start making pumpkin soup!
Tomatoes
The tomato is a pretty commonly home grown fruit and they’re super easy to grow. They’re rich in a variety of nutrients, like potassium, an important mineral for regulating blood and tissue fluid levels. This includes in the inner ear which plays a key role in hearing and your balance.
Spring is the perfect time to plant your tomatoes, make sure you plant them somewhere they have access to full sun.
Asparagus
This vegetable can take time to cultivate — a few years may pass before the first harvest — but, boy, is it worth the wait! It’s delicious, it offers an opportunity to grow a prized veggie that can be a little expensive at the store, and it provides another source of folate, the benefits of which are discussed above.
