Ever wonder why it is said that you become what you eat. Well, it is true that food is not just your diet. It is more than that and can do wonders. The nutritionists at the Hashmani Hospital stress the fact that we can prevent many diseases if we opt for a balanced diet. By a balanced diet, I mean that it should contain all the essential nutrients which our body needs.
A healthy diet is not only helpful in keeping us healthy but it also protects us from various diseases like diabetes, obesity, cancer, and many types of cardiovascular diseases.
If we talk about infertility issues in couples, even in this case diet has a huge impact on it. Now, if we particularly look at the infertility issue in men then it is on the rise. If infertility is genetic there is no cure for it, but the medical technological era has provided promising treatments for infertile couples to have their biological babies.
The sexologist in Karachi and a research study conducted at the fertility clinic on 250 men showed that males who used to have higher amounts of beans, green leafy vegetables, and even fruits had a high amount of sperm. Even the mobility of the sperm was better as compared to the other men who didn’t have these foods in their diet.
As we all know that today’s age is such a fast pace, we are spending most of the time on our screen for our study and work. The pressure on men has thus increased to provide a livelihood, making them neglect their health and eating habits. Due to this men have adopted harmful eating habits that have disturbed their whole lifestyle.
Considering this, I am going to list down the foods that are harmful to fertility in men.
Foods Men Should Avoid for their Fertility
Alcohol
The top food that one should ditch for sure is alcohol. The more alcohol is a part of your daily life, the more diseases you are welcoming in your life. Even as per various studies the production and motility of the sperm are decreased due to alcohol. Alcohol decreases your immunity and increases your chances of suffering from various chronic diseases such as heart, liver, kidney, and severe digestive issues. So, when your overall health is affected then your fertility would automatically be affected.
Carbonated Drinks
Drinking carbonated and fizzy drinks is becoming an increasing trend in our society without considering the fact that sugary foods have a bad impact on our health. A study published in epidemiology concluded that consuming carbonated beverages daily decreases the motility of sperm in men. It also decreases the chance of being able to conceive in both males and females.
Processed Meat
You must have heard about the good meat and bad meat. Meat is a part of a balanced diet but in the case of fertility in men, processed meat decreases the sperm count of males by 23% as per reported by the Harvard Medicine School study published in 2014.
Full Cream Milk and Cheese
Dairy products are really good for our health as they are a rich source of proteins and other essential nutrients. But, the excess consumption of cheese and dairy products such as full-fat milk affects the sperm count in men.
These are some of the major foods that decrease sperm count and sperm motility in men and cause infertility.
Superfoods for fertility in Men
Eating right is the basic right of an individual’s body. Fresh and healthy foods are not only good for a healthy body but are equally important for the fertility of both men and women.
Here are some foods that men should inculcate in their diet to improve the production of sperm in men.
Banana
Banana is a rich source of vitamin A, B1, and C. It is a complete snack that you can have at any time of day. In men, it helps regulate the hormone and male libido as well. To put it simply, it is the fertility booster in men.
Walnuts
The perfect winter and energy snack, rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids present in the walnuts increase fertility in men by increasing the blood flow in the genitals. Walnuts are also a rich source of other nutrients such as copper, vitamin E, biotin, and protein. This makes walnut an extremely beneficial diet for you and for fertility in both men and women.
Dark Chocolate
Here is another reason to add pure dark chocolate to your diet. The word chocolate itself is tempting enough for you to add this to your list. It would be even more difficult for you to resist if I tell you that it helps in male fertility. It helps in fighting free radicals as it has a high amount of antioxidants. But, make sure not to eat it in excess.
Garlic
It is one of the oldest ingredients used in cooking and has miraculous properties. Even garlic is helpful in boosting fertility in men. The selenium and allicin present in the garlic improve the quality of sperms and protect them from any damage.
Broccoli
If you are not a vegetable lover, here is the reason why you should be considering your choice. Broccoli is one such vegetable that is rich in vitamin A. Thus, is reported to help in male fertility by increasing the sperm count.
Vitamin C rich foods
Last, but not least, the foods rich in vitamin C are amazing. Not only foods enriched with vitamin C are good for our skin and immunity but, also for boosting fertility in men.
The nutrients present in these foods protect the sperms from damage and enhance the health of the sperm.
In the end, as infertility is increasing at an alarming rate in men, they should be more careful about their health as by the end of the day it all comes down to health.