Being Dad Food & Drink Health

Is your diet affecting your fertility?

Fertility
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Written by Tim Barnes-Clay

Find out why your diet may be compromising your testosterone and fertility and what to do about it.

Across the Western world, male fertility has been in a steep decline, falling by around 50-60 per cent since the 1970s.

Despite an alarming drop, and male-related factors contributing up to half of all cases of infertility amongst Western couples, infertility remains one of the most crucially underrepresented health issues facing modern men.

Often, the stigma and embarrassment felt is complicated by a general lack of support and information on the causes of infertility, which exacerbates a reluctance to seek help. 

Western diet issues

Attached to the lowering fertility rates, for a number of years testosterone levels have also been on the decline, with debate remaining about the cause. Genetics, endocrine system, obesity, age and smoking are known factors, but there is increasing evidence that nutrition also plays an important role.

The drop in testosterone and sperm concentration is more pronounced in Western countries, whose diets typically include a higher intake of calories, processed meat, added fat, snacks, sweetened-sugar beverages and alcohol. All of these could have a negative impact on semen parameters and overall health of the population.  

The following foods may be interfering with your testosterone levels.

Read the rest of the article here in the spring ’20 issue.

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