A properly composed diet rich in vitamins and minerals improves a man’s fertility – it increases the number of sperm and improves their mobility. Eating vegetables and fruits has a significant impact here. Is it really? Recent studies by American scientists show that eating a large amount of vegetables and fruits can negatively affect the quality of semen in men. Let’s check what that means.
The research focused on the diets of 155 men aged 18 to 55 who provided 338 samples of their semen between 2007 and 2012. In addition, the men had to complete a questionnaire in which they described their culinary preferences and daily eating patterns, including the frequency of eating. The method of preparing fruit and vegetables for consumption was also taken into account, whether they were washed, peeled. The researchers analyzed these messages in detail and concluded that men who consumed the most fruit and vegetables high in pesticides (these are chemical plant protection agents and agents that protect food, materials or people against pests), i.e. 1,5 portions a day or more, 49% were recorded. lower sperm content in semen, as well as 32 percent. smaller amount of properly built sperm than in men consuming the least of such products (less than half a portion a day). The presence of pesticides in vegetables and fruits was assessed on the basis of a report prepared by the US Department of Agriculture. The report lists the products that contain the largest amount of the chemical agent, including peppers, spinach, strawberries, apples and pears (in Poland, apples are not included in this group). The least contaminated products were legumes, grapefruit and onions.
Follow the rules of food hygiene
These findings, however, should not discourage men from eating fruit and vegetables. It is primarily about paying attention to the quality of the selected products and the way they are prepared. Remember that vegetables and fruits contain valuable nutrients that stimulate the body to produce more sperm.
Therefore, so that the body’s natural detoxification system is not disturbed, the following rules should be followed: • Wash fresh fruit and vegetables under running water, but do not soak them; • Peel fruit and vegetables before consumption, because washing alone, even thorough, will not remove pesticides in the product itself; • Remove the outer leaves from cabbages and other leafy vegetables; • Use harmless cleaning aids for vegetables and fruits, available at good health food stores (you can also add a few teaspoons of wine vinegar to a bowl of water ).
If you are a follower organic productsyou only need to clean the outer surface. Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and this way you avoid consuming too much of one type of pesticide.