Harvard Medical School has been doing research on 91 men undergoing treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center in Boston. They were able to demonstrate that men who took in higher amounts of fats, including saturated fat and monounsaturated fat such as found in bacon, sausages, ham, cheese, butter, and olive oil had a decreased sperm concentration, quality and mobility.
Breaking it down: the researchers found that men whose main dietary source was saturated fat had 41 percent lesser sperm count compared to those with the lowest fat intake and men with the highest intake of monounsaturated fat had 46 percent fewer sperm as opposed to those with the lowest consumption.
The Dietary Way to Increase Fertility
The fertility of the current generation of men is considerably lower than that of their grandfathers, or great grandfathers, and a large part of that is due to dietary and environmental concerns.
Tom improve sperm quality the diet needs to have more of the healthier fats such as omega 3 and omega 6 found in fish, whole grains, fresh fruits, nuts, and vegetables. This produces healthier and more active sperm, and polyunsaturated fat in particular is associated with improved sperm morphology and motility.”
In contrast, men who consumed foods containing healthier, polyunsaturated fats not only had greater sperm motility but also better sperm morphology. Morphology relates to the size and shape of the sperm and indicates a man’s fertility potential.
Polyunsaturated fats are particularly vital in relation as they are important components of sperm cell membranes and may influence the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg and may also stimulate hormone production.”
If you are planning on starting a family, then giving yourself – and your future child – the healthiest start does begin with the quality of the sperm. This will deliver half of the genes necessary to the foetus and so it is wise to pay attention to what you are eating and put those Great British Breakfasts on hold for a while.