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Curejoy Expert Dr.Janardhana Hebbar Explains:
Sperm quality has been in decline for many years and scientists have citied smoking, alcohol and various other habits as the reason. However the most recent research in the field by researchers at the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield found that smoking cannabis can have a severe effect on male fertility. Other lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol and wearing tight briefs were not considered to cause any problems, despite earlier reports that suggested these as the main causes.
Few Things to Increase Sperm Quality
1. Consume Red-Coloured Food: A report published by Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic, found that consumption of lycopene improved the quality, mobility and volume of sperm dramatically, increasing sperm count by up to 70 per cent. Lycopene is found commonly in red fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, strawberries, cherries and peppers.
2. Massage with Herbal Oils: Along with regular exercise, massage improves overall blood flow and circulation. Increased circulation means healthier sperm.
3. Stay Away From the Laptop: A 2011 study published in the journal of Fertility and Sterility suggested that there could be a link between using a laptop with a Wi-Fi connection and a reduction in sperm quality. The sperm stored under the laptop became more sluggish and showed signs of DNA damage. (http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(11)02678-1/abstract)
4. Reduce Stress: Stress hormones block Leydig cells, which are tasked with regulating testosterone production. When your body experiences too much stress, it can actually stop producing sperm altogether.
5. Avoid Cycling: A 2009 spanish study by the Andalusian Center of Sports Medicine and the University of Las Palmas found that a prolonged drive on your bike can severely affect the shape and quality of your spermatozoids. After monitoring 15 Spanish triathletes with an average age of 33 the study found that “those that systematically cycled 300 kilometers a week– had less than 4pc, which is considered a fertility problem”. (http://www.uco.es/uconews/article/cycling-at-a-professional-level-affects-the-quality-of-sperm/)
6. Eat Healthy Foods: Eat plenty of fish, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables. Nuts like peanuts, walnuts, cashews, sunflower and pumpkin seeds are also considered to increase sperm count.
7. Avoid Soy and High Fructose Corn-Syrup: Soy foods have a mild estrogenic effect on the body and high-fructose corn syrup causes insulin resistance, which lowers fertility. Men who drink a quart of Coke regularly have 30% less sperm than men who don’t drink Coke.
8. Avoid Heat: The optimum temperature for sperm production is 34.5 degrees Celsius, which is slightly below body temperature. A three-year University of California study in 2007 found that five out of 11 men who stopped taking hot baths experienced a sperm count rise of almost 500 per cent. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6418771.stm)
9. Consume Supplements: Try supplements that are made from natural herbal ingredients to specifically help the body make more semen. Research found that men who consumed 5 mg of folic acid and 66 mg of zinc sulfate a day for 26 weeks experienced an almost 75 percent increase in sperm count. Vitamin C and selenium may also be good supplements to take in order to increase sperm production.
10. Eat Brassica Vegetables: Vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and cabbage cleanse the liver. They help the liver detoxify, and lowering your toxic load improves sperm health.
11. Drink Coffee: In 2003, researches from Sao Paolo University in Brazil studied 750 men and concluded that drinking coffee can improve the swimming speed of human sperm, although whether this means pregnancy rates are higher among coffee drinkers is unclear. Some other studies have suggested that drinking just three cups of coffee a day can cause genetic mutations in sperm, making it harder for them to successfully fertilise an egg. (http://www.bupa.co.uk/individuals/health-information/health-news-index/2003/hi-211003-sperm)
