Calling all Dads-to-be! Did you know that nutrition has a direct impact on the potency of your sperm? Research shows that having a poor diet and drinking too much alcohol can lower the quality and quantity of sperm. And since infertility is just as much a man’s issues as a woman’s (In 20% of infertile couples, the man is the sole cause of the inability to conceive, and in another 30%-40%, he is the contributing factor!), eating a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle can significantly boost your chances of conceiving a child.
Top Causes of Male Infertility
• Low sperm count
• Slow sperm motility (movement)
• Abnormal morphology (shape and size of sperm)
• Problems with semen
Nutrients that Can Boost Fertility
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, research shows that a healthy diet including fish, vegetables, and whole grains leads to more active sperm. On the flip side, a diet high in trans fats can lower the number of healthy and viable sperm. The following is a guide on how to boost fertility though nutrition…
Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants. These nutrients help prevent sperm defects and boost motility. Try to get at least 90 milligrams (mg) a day and at least 125 mg is you smoke. Tip…an 8-ounce glass of OJ has about 124 milligrams of vitamin C.
Load up on zinc. When the body is lacking zinc, the sperm can clump together which can lead to infertility. All you need is 11mg per day which can be found in oysters (16mg in six medium oysters), extra-lean beef tenderloin (4.8mg per 3-ounce serving), baked beans (3.5mg per 1-cup serving), and dark chicken meat (2.38mg per 3-ounce serving).
Incorporate folic acid. Just like women, folic acid is critical for male fertility. Studies suggest that men with low levels of this key B vitamin have trouble producing healthy sperm. To get the daily minimum of 400 micrograms, eat fortified breakfast cereals, leafy greens, legumes, and orange juice. You may also want to take a folic acid or a multivitamin supplement as well.
Go easy on the booze. Studies show that drinking wine, beer, or hard liquor daily can significantly reduce testosterone levels and sperm counts. It can also lead to an increased amount of abnormal shaped sperm. An occasional drink is fine, but try cutting back to increase your chances of conceiving.
Take a multivitamin daily. While you still need to incorporate healthy foods into your diet, taking a multivitamin will help get all those necessary nutrients into your system.
Living a healthy lifestyle is just as important for men as it is for women when it comes to conceiving, and just making a few important changes to your daily routine can make a world of difference. If you and your spouse have been having problems conceiving and would like to schedule a consultation with one of our top physicians at our Raleigh fertility clinic, please call us today at 919-908-0000.
Resource: https://www.babycenter.com/0_dads-to-be-diet-changes-to-boost-your-fertility_4188.bc