A study of military recruits found even a small amount of magnesium every day helped protect the ear from noise-induced damage. Those who got magnesium were less likely to experience permanent hearing damage, and when they did experience hearing damage, it wasn’t severe.

When the cells in your ear are low on magnesium, it causes you to release catecholamines and prostaglandins, which steal energy from the hair cells in your ears. These cells are connected to your cochlear nerve and they need all the energy they can get to protect themselves after noise exposure.

Low magnesium also reduces microcirculation in the tiny capillaries your inner ear. And after loud noises, you have a 70% reduction in blood flow to the inner ear.