Infertility is a widespread problem and for
about one in five infertile couples the problem
lies solely in the male partner.
An emerging body of research suggests that
what you eat has a role to play in sperm count
whether they are normally shaped (morphology),
and how well they move (motility).
In fact, research shows that there are specific
fertility foods a man can add to his diet to help
increase his odds of conceiving a baby and other
foods that can actually impair his fertility.
Sperm count is very important because if it is
not there, you’ll not be able to father a child.
Though the research is still new, one thing is
clear: The foods that may pose a threat to male
fertility are many of the same dietary culprits
behind things such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease.
Below are some of the foods that may hurt male fertility:
Processed meats
Eating the wrong kind of meat could
compromise your sperm. A 2014 Harvard study
showed men who consumed the most processed
meat like hamburgers, hot dogs, salami,
bologna, bacon, had 23 percent fewer normal
sperm than guys who ate it sparingly.
In
another 2014 study, published in the journal
Epidemiology, the same researchers found
that eating processed meat was associated
with lower sperm count.
Researchers found that men who eat lots of
fish have, on average, a 51 percent higher
sperm count than those who barely eat any.
Dark meat fish, like salmon or tuna, white
meat fish, such as cod and halibut had a positive effect, too.
Full-fat dairy
A 2013 Human Reproduction study showed
that young guys who eat at least two servings
of full-fat dairy, especially cheese and whole
milk per day tend to have fewer motile sperm.
What you should eat instead: Rather than take the full-fat dairy, switch to the low-fat kind. Men who consume a couple servings of low-fat dairy, especially 1% or 2% milk per day have 33 percent higher sperm counts and more motile sperm than those who eat little or no low-fat dairy, a 2014 study in Fertility and Sterility found.
Non-organic produce
Men who consumed the most pesticide
residues through produce had 64 percent
fewer normal sperm and 70 percent fewer
motile sperm than guys who took in the least,
a study presented at the 2014 American
Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual
Meeting showed.
What you should eat instead : Organic fruits
and vegetables is advisable.
Alcohol
According to a 2012 Brazilian study, drinking
alcohol may have a negative impact on sperm
concentration and motility. Too much alcohol
intake may lead to total-body oxidative
stress, which is a key cause of male
infertility, the researchers say.
What you should drink instead : If you want to
constantly sip something besides water, make
it pomegranate juice. The purple juice is a rich
source of antioxidants, like vitamin C and past
research has linked a high intake of
antioxidants in men to better semen quality.
Though an occasional beer probably won’t do
your body any harm.
Soda
Regularly drinking sugar-sweetened drinks,
slightly more than serving per day was linked
to poorer sperm motility in a new study.
Taking sugary beverages like soda, sports
drinks, sweet tea boosts your odds of insulin
resistance, which in turn leads to oxidative
stress than can damage your sperm, the
scientists say.
What you should take instead: If you need a
shot of sugar, make it the kind found in fruit
not soda.
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