The buzz about resveratrol — the anti-aging, disease-fighting antioxidant found in red wine, grapes, and peanuts—is about to get louder. Resveratrol may protect against hearing loss, according to a new study in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

Researchers exposed rats to loud noise, giving one group of the rodents a resveratrol supplement beforehand. The results: The rats that didn’t receive the resveratrol experienced hearing loss and saw increases in certain markers of inflammation, free radical formation, and DNA damage—all things that can kill hearing. But the rats that received the supplement had less hearing loss, measured by a 90 percent reduction in certain markers of inflammation and creation of those free radicals, says study coauthor Michael D. Seidman, M.D., director at the division of otologic/neurotologic surgery at the Henry Ford Health System.

-Always consult a physician before making any changes to your diet.-

THIS EAR MEANS WAR
Relative to the face that launched a thousand ships, the ear that started a war gets short shrift. Back in the 18th century, tensions between Spain and Great Britain were running high, particularly as they related to commercial interests and the Spanish colonies. In 1731, Spanish coast guards sliced off the ear of British sea captain Robert Jenkins, and attempts at diplomatic resolution throughout the decade only succeeded in stoking the conflict. When asked to testify before Parliament in 1738, Jenkins not only complied, but he brought his preserved ear along with him as a visual aid. The ear further stirred the bubbling pot, pushing a reluctant Sir Robert Walpole to declare war in 1739.

-Content provided by Men’s Health Magazine and Hearing Journal.-