A healthy diet increases male fertility: the study by the American Heart Association

A healthy and balanced diet improves many aspects of life, this is not a secret: there are many studies that explain how following a well-balanced diet can remove degenerative and cardiovascular diseases. According to research by the American Heart Association, a healthy diet also has a significant impact on male fertility and reproductive capacity. In short, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, along with a good dose of cereals and foods with "good fats" (such as extra virgin olive oil but also fish) would also have positive consequences on the quantity and quality of spermatozoa, especially during youth.

Research results: spermatozoa is more active with fruit and vegetables

The study conducted by researchers from the American Heart Association considered 209 university students between the ages of 18 and 23, isolating the group that followed a DASH diet, that is a diet aimed at reducing hypertension, very similar to the Mediterranean diet. According to the analyses, the group fed with the DASH diet had recorded a total number of spermatozoa 65% higher than those whose eating habits were unfamiliar with healthy and nutritious foods.

Moreover, in the first group the quality of the spermatozoa was significantly different from those of the second one: more regular shapes and sizes for spermatozoa with an average more "mobility". Finally, those who chose the healthy diet compared to regular junk food consumption were on average more active and had more control over their weight. "Young people are not immune to the negative consequences of junk food," explained Audrey Gaskins, a researcher at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta. "Even in young and healthy men, the association between healthy diet and better seed quality is evident."

"The results of this research cannot be generalized due to various limitations such as the small sample size, but the study should be extended to other populations," said Dr. Muhammad Imran Omar, researcher at the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom. "However, there is sufficient scientific evidence to suggest that fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products are important for a healthy lifestyle and reproductive health. Of course, there are many factors that influence this aspect, things such as the regular physical activity and the absence of alcohol or smoking".