Maybe it started as a soft hum at night.

Or a faint ringing when the house got quiet.

But over time, it became harder to ignore—persistent, distracting…even exhausting.

This is how tinnitus often begins.

And while many blame genes, aging or noise exposure, there’s another possibility most people never consider:

Your diet.

In particular, a plant-based or vegan diet that lacks a critical nutrient your brain—and your auditory system—depend on to function properly.

Because while going vegan might seem like a "healthy choice", it can quietly create a deficiency that disrupts nerve signaling and triggers internal noise.

And it all comes down to a single, overlooked compound: CHOLINE.

A Forgotten Nutrient—and Its Unexpected Role in Hearing

You’ve likely heard of it on the news or in the latest health docuseries.

But choline is one of the most important (and under-consumed) nutrients for your brain and nervous system. 

It plays a central role in the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory, focus—and yes, auditory processing.

Unfortunately, most people aren’t getting enough. 

According to the Institute of Medicine, only 10% of Americans meet the adequate daily intake of choline—a number that drops even lower in those who avoid animal foods.

That’s a problem, because choline deficiency can impair nerve signaling, increase inflammation, and disrupt the delicate brain-ear connection responsible for how we process sound.

So, how can you know if you’re getting enough?

Is Your Diet Delivering Enough Choline?

Here’s a quick reality check:
 

1 egg = 172 mg choline

3 oz. beef liver = 355 mg

4 oz. salmon = 83 mg

1 cup broccoli = just 63 mg

Unless you're regularly eating organ meats, eggs, and fatty fish, you're likely falling short of the 450–550 mg your body needs daily. 

And if you're following a vegan diet, the risk of deficiency is even higher!

That’s because most plant-based foods contain only trace amounts of choline—making it especially difficult to meet your needs without animal products or supplementation.

Why Most “Hearing Helpers” Don’t Work

Garlic oil. Ginkgo. Noise-masking machines.

These solutions may offer short-term relief, but they don’t address the inflammatory and neurological root causes of tinnitus. 

In fact, some herbal approaches can be irritating to sensitive individuals—or interfere with medications. 

And while choline plays a vital role, it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. 

Click here to uncover another hidden trigger of tinnitus.

What to Eat (and Supplement) for Quieter Days

If you’re looking to quiet the noise, start by adding more choline-rich foods:

• 3 pastured eggs, 2 slices of bacon, and stewed apple with butter (~550 mg)
• 6 oz. chicken liver, seared in ghee and served with organic berries (~740 mg)
• Grass-fed beef burger with lacto-fermented pickles and greens (~300 mg)

But if liver isn’t on your regular rotation—and let’s be honest, for most of us it isn’t—targeted nutritional support can help bridge the gap.

Explore a science-backed hearing support formula here »

When your ears are ringing, your body is sending a signal.

Addressing it at the source—with nutrients your brain and nerves actually need—may be the quietest decision you’ll ever make.

To Your Health
Healing Gourmet

P.S. One everyday food may be quietly making tinnitus worse—and it’s found in nearly 87% of those struggling with ringing or buzzing in the ears.

Can you guess what it is? Watch this video to find out.