For many food lovers, Thanksgiving is the most anticipated meal of the year and the biggest. Thanksgiving is filled with food and family, so what is there not to love? However, did you know that many of the traditional Thanksgiving recipes contain nutrients that have been linked to healthy hearing? Several healthy, hearing nutrients are found within the typical Thanksgiving feast, so don’t feel so bad about going back for seconds or thirds. Nourishing our bodies is the best way to improve our overall health. After all, you are what you eat.

Some of your favorite Thanksgiving dishes may help improve your hearing health. Allowing you to devour your favorite recipes, while also contributing to healthier hearing. Learn which healthy hearing nutrients are typically found in many of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

Zinc: If you want to maintain your hearing health, eating a diet rich in zinc is one of the best ways to go. Eating a zinc-rich diet has been linked to a reduction in presbycusis and tinnitus. A wide variety of foods contain zinc, such as dark chocolate, oysters, eggs, potatoes, poultry, red meat, nuts, beans, kale, green beans, whole grains, dairy products, lobster, and crab.

Magnesium: Because magnesium helps maintain nerve function in the body, it may also help reduce your chances of developing tinnitus. Luckily, finding magnesium-rich foods at the dinner table should not be difficult. Foods that are rich in magnesium include black beans, edamame, quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat, pumpkin, nuts, avocados, spinach, cultured yogurt, and dark chocolate.

Folate: Folate is often overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in preventing hearing loss. In fact, studies have discovered a link between age-related hearing loss and low folate levels. So be on the lookout for Thanksgiving dishes that contain nuts, seeds, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, arugula, kale, spinach, legumes, eggs, and beets.

Potassium: Potassium is beneficial to your health and your hearing. Your ears need an abundant supply of potassium since it helps regulate fluid, and there’s fluid in the inner ear. Plus, your potassium levels drop as you age, so you want to make sure you’re loading up on potassium-rich foods this holiday. You can find potassium in beans, cooked broccoli, cooked spinach, sweet potatoes, peas, zucchini, eggplant, pumpkin, butternut squash, and turkey!