Fertility Food

Male fertility requires essential fatty acids, vitamins A, B, C, E and minerals like Zinc and Selenium

Male fertility requires essential fatty acids, vitamins A, B, C, E and minerals like Zinc and Selenium
Food and fertility have been historically linked. Hippocrates said that a woman must eat fruits with 8216;many8217; seeds and the man must be strong and healthy and abstain from unhealthy foods in order to be able to reproduce. Even today, folklore and alternative practitioners offer so-called fertility potions.

Infertility is the failure to reproduce due to the inability to conceive over an 18-month period of regular trials. It8217;s a growing problem globally and mostly results from low sperm count, hormone irregularities, tubular obstruction, certain medical conditions and poor nutrition.

The link between fertility and diet is strong. Nutrients linked to fertility are vitamins A, C, E, B6, B12, folate and minerals like zinc, manganese, iron, selenium as well as essential fatty acids and amino acids.

Body weight makes a difference too. It is crucial for women that fat constitutes at least 18 percent of body weight, otherwise hormone imbalance could lead to the failure to ovulate.

Obesity also upsets hormonal balance needed for reproductive health. Polycystic ovarian disease in women, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol level and central obesity can harm fertility. Both men and women should thus cut down on highly refined foods such as refined oils, hydrogenated fats, white flour and sugar as they lack essential nutrients. Weight reduction through exercise and low-calorie diets rich in essential nutrients, essential fats and with adequate protein can restore hormonal balances.

According to statistics, 40 per cent of male infertility is due to low sperm count. Male fertility requires essential fatty acids found in oily fish, cold pressed oils, nuts and seeds, vitamin A eggs, butter, dairy, red, yellow and green vegetables, vitamin B vegetables, whole grains, milk and dairy, vitamin C amla, fresh fruits and vegetables, and vitamin E nuts, seeds, wheat germ, apple and avocados, and minerals like zinc seeds, fish, whole grains and pulses and selenium onion, garlic and egg yolk. These nutrients help in producing healthy sperm.

While adequate amounts of proteins are crucial to fertility; certain amino acids building blocks of proteins such as L- Arginine nuts and seeds and L-Lysine milk are specifically linked to fertility.

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Alcohol can reduce the absorption of B vitamins and minerals such as zinc and iron, as also, excessive tea drinking. Cutting down on alcohol, smoking and drugs must be emphasized for couples for the period before conception. In Europe and the US, where sperm count has declined the steepest, men8217;s diets do not meet the recommended amounts of micronutrients on account of increased intake of alcohol, sugar and refined foods.

Large concentrations of vitamin C have been found in healthy testicles. High doses of vitamin C can cure a common cause of male infertility 8212;- clustering of sperms or 8216;agglutination8217;.
Environmental toxins including pesticides have also been found to lower sperm count, sperm quality and mobility.

The use of chemicals with 8216;oestrogenic8217; activity present in river water and plastic food wrappings deteriorates sperm quality. Also compounds, which are used to make plastics more flexible, may leak into foodstuff particularly those with high fat content. It8217;s thus advisable to minimise exposure to chemicals and switch to organic foods.

Minimal use of plastics in the kitchen is advisable. Increase in temperature of the testicles due to long hours of driving, wearing tight trousers or long-distance mountain biking can lead to changes in sperm quality and count.