While you’re chowing down on a hot pepperoni pizza, a burger, fries and a Coke or a creamy ice cream cone, the last thing that’s probably on your mind is how you’re affecting your sperm count (especially if you’re a woman in this situation). Unfortunately, it turns out that these foods and others can cause permanent damage to sperm, according to a new study from Harvard University.
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When researchers analyzed nearly 3,000 men ages 18 to 20, they found that vegetarians and those who ate diets rich in fruits, veggies, chicken and fish had higher sperm counts than those who followed a typical Western diet, rich in processed meats and junk food.
According to the World Health Organization, a normal sperm count contains 39 million or more sperm. Study participants who ate a typical Western diet full of processed foods were found to have 25.6 million fewer sperm than the subjects with heathier eating habits.
Researchers believe the link comes down to the amount of antioxidants the body receives in a healthy diet. Processed meats and junk food raise oxidative stress, which has a negative effect on sperm. Processed foods end up damaging the health of sperm-producing cells, called Sertoli cells. While cleaning up your diet can help improve sperm health over time, Sertoli cells cannot be recovered. In other words, eating habits during young adulthood can cause irreversible damage to sperm later on in life.
According to the largest meta-analysis of its kind, sperm counts around the world declined by more than 50%, to 47 million sperm per mL, between 1973 and 2013 and continue to dwindle today. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have undoubtedly contributed to the dramatic decline in reproductive health among men. Excessive microwave radiation from wireless technologies, obesity and inactivity also play a significant role in the decline.
Along with eating a healthy diet full of antioxidants, strategies to treat infertility and boost fertility naturally include:
• Minimize your exposure to toxic chemicals
• Avoid drinking unfiltered tap water
• Minimize microwave exposure
•Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage stress levels
•Use natural, chemical-free cleaning products