Affecting about 17 per cent of couples, infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. Male infertility accounts for half of these cases, often as a result of poor quality sperm connected to lifestyle and diet choices,
When a man is referred for fertility tests, his sperm will be checked for morphology (the percentage of sperm that are normal), and sperm count (the total number of sperm in the sample). Abnormal sperm may have defects such as a large head or two tails, and are not capable of fertilising an egg. Medical treatment for male infertility is limited to surgical corrections or, in the case of infection, antibiotics, and current NICE guidelines state that there is “no effective treatment” available for unexplained male infertility.1 As a result, many couples may turn to complementary therapies, such as nutritional therapy.
Spermatogenesis
When a man is overweight, this can have a direct impact on his sperm count. The male hormone testosterone is critical for sperm production, but obesity is a major risk factor to testosterone levels. This is attributed to the release of an enzyme from enlarged fat cells called aromatase, which irreversibly converts the testosterone to the female hormone oestrodiol, resulting in testosterone deficiency and poor sperm production.
The testes can produce sperm at a rate of 1,000 sperm a second. As with most metabolic processes, this generates byproducts called reactive oxygen species (ROS) which, if left unchecked, can be a major cause of damage to maturing sperm. However, a complicated system of antioxidant enzymes produced in the testes provides an in-built protection mechanism, which can be supported by including a high amount of antioxidant-rich foods in the diet.
The antioxidant most associated with male fertility is zinc. This is naturally found in most animal products, but particularly in seafood, nuts, seeds and legumes. In rat studies, zinc has been shown to protect sperm even when the testes are exposed to potentially damaging heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.
Denne historien er fra Summer 2016-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2016-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
