Bad Sperm? Try Leafy Greens

Folate is a nutrient found in green leafy vegetables. And when you don’t have enough of it, your sperm may go south. A Reuter’s news preport shows that men taking folic acid supplements have more normal sperm. However, folic acid, is not folate; it’s the man-made version. If you want the real McCoy, then eat more green, leafy vegetables. Supplement-wise, take SuperGreens and BFood Complex. These are real, whole foods and not synthetic vitamins.

The Reuter’s article stated:

Men who took folic acid supplements and who ate folate-rich foods such as leafy greens had fewer abnormal sperm, the team at the University of California, Berkeley said.

Specifically, the men had fewer abnormal sperm in which a chromosome had been lost or gained, known as aneuploidy, they reported in the journal Human Reproduction.

“We found a statistically significant association between high folate intake and lower sperm aneuploidy,” said Brenda Eskenazi, who helped lead the study.

“There was increasing benefit with increasing intake, and men in the upper 25th percentile who had the highest intake of folate between 722-1150 micrograms, had 20 percent to 30 percent lower frequencies of several types of aneuploidy compared with men with a lower intake,” Eskenazi added in a statement. (Reuters)

Men who ate the most zinc and beta-carotene also had fewer instances of some sperm abnormalities, but not aneuploidy, the researchers found. Zinc is found in a number of foods, including some seafood such as oysters, and beta carotene is found in carrots, as well as green vegetables.

A BBC article elaborates on sperm-healthy diet:

There have been numerous research studies looking at preconceptual nutrition in men. We know that diets low in zinc can reduce sperm counts, while excessive alcohol intake can reduce zinc levels even further. Zinc is found in food such as meat, wholegrain cereals, seafood, eggs and pulses.

Another nutrient that has a role in male fertility is selenium. Brazil nuts contain lots of this important mineral, along with meat, seafood, mushrooms and cereals. As with women, being very overweight or underweight can influence your fertility significantly. Aim to be the right weight for your height by eating sensibly and exercising on a regular basis.

The key message is to stick firmly within the alcohol limits – or reduce them further – and embark on a healthy-eating regime to ensure you and your sperm are in tip-top condition. Don’t expect results overnight – better quality sperm will result in about three months, the length of the sperm production cycle.

Plan well in advance of the intended time of conception. Each day, simply choose food from each of the major food groups, as outlined in nutrition basics. This will help you ensure you have a diet packed with energy-giving carbohydrates, moderate in protein and fat (but low in saturated fat) and rich in vitamins and minerals.