These Foods Could Harm Your Sperm Count

Infertility is a widespread problem and for about
one in five infertile couples the problem lies
solely in the male partner (male infertility).
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.
What you should eat instead : The same
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.