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Our senses are an important part of our overall health. They help us understand the world around us and enable us to live happy, healthy lives. But they can also be affected by age, illnesses, and other conditions. While you can’t change the way your eyesight, hearing, or taste changes, there are ways to improve them to feel your best and stay connected with the world around you.
Ensure you’re eating right You may be surprised to learn that your senses are impacted by what you eat and drink, so it pays to make sure you’re getting the proper nutrients to support your senses. Foods high in antioxidant vitamins, like vitamin C and E, and anti-inflammatory foods, such as fish oil, can help slow down the deterioration of your senses.
Avoid junk and processed foods You should be eating as clean, fresh, and nutritious as possible. While this doesn’t mean you have to avoid all foods, it does help to eat less salt, sugar, and fats in your diet. It also means cutting down on refined carbohydrates, such as white bread and white flour, and increasing your intake of whole grains.
Add zinc to your diet You should be consuming foods that are rich in zinc, such as lamb, beef, eggs, oysters, crab & lobster, almonds, pumpkin seeds, beans, oats, mushrooms, and brown rice. A deficiency in this mineral can dull your sense of smell and taste.
Check your medication Certain medications, such as blood pressure medicine, can also have an impact on your smell, so it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor about the right dosage for you.
Practice olfactory training The practice of smelling strong smells daily can help boost your olfactory receptors, which will lead to greater accuracy and ease when you’re picking up on scents. To begin, choose three or four different strong scents and practice sniffing them regularly. This can be done in your own home and will take a little time, but the results will pay off over time.
Stop smoking Smoking is not only bad for your heart, but it can also destroy the smell receptors in your nose and lead to a decline in your ability to smell. As you age, it’s even more important to avoid these toxins, so you can keep your sense of smell and taste as sharp as possible.
Get plenty of exercise You may be aware that staying active helps improve your heart and overall health, but did you know that it can also increase your senses? When you move, your muscles release endorphins, which can enhance your mood and improve your sense of sight, sound, smell, and touch.
Listen to music and nuances It’s not uncommon for people to lose their hearing as they age, but you can easily restore it by listening to different types of music and paying close attention to the nuances. This is the basis of musical therapy, which can help you hear distinct sounds and improve your speech recognition and hearing skills.
