Sunday 21 September 2014

Fertility food series - Carrots, melon, tomatoes for Male fertility !!



The average sperm counts in men have fallen by over half, due to pollution and life style changes.

Research conducted in Harvard university has proven beyond doubt that eating habits can affect sperm quantity and quality. Many yellow and orange-colored fruits and vegetables can improve men’s fertility, but the carrot produced the best all-round results. Carrots have beta-carotene which helps create antioxidants and Vitamin A.  Carrots are not only good for your vision, they can also improve fertility in men by boosting sperm quality. Researchers from Harvard University School of Public Health discovered that carrots have the greatest impact on the ability of sperm to swim towards an egg.





The sperm-boosting qualities come from chemicals called carotenoids, which give such foods their familiar colour and the body converts some of these into health-boosting antioxidant vitamin A. They have the greatest effect on improving motility and help to counter asthenoteratozoospermia. (reduced motility of sperm).  Carotenoids will help in providing high sperm motility and provide good sperm morphology.


Antioxidants help to neutralise free radicals, the destructive groups of atoms which are a by-product of metabolism and which can damage cell membranes and DNA. DNA fragmentation ( broken DNA ) is a common concern in male subfertility.



Sweet potatoes are jam-packed with  Vitamin A,B &C, beta carotene, Antioxidants, Potassium, calcium and iron and is also a good source of complex carbohydrates which help to stabilize the blood sugar.
Water melon and  tomatoes, which contain chemical lycopene, can reduce abnormally shaped sperm ( teratozoospermia) and was found to  increase  the production of healthy sperm. Men who consumed these foods had fewer abnormally shaped sperm due to the presence of anti-cancer chemical lycopene



Sweet potato and melon can enhance the quantity and quality of sperm, but carrots were found to improve sperm performance by between 6.5 and 8 per cent, according to a report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.




Dr. Anita Mani
Infertility Specialist at Gift IVF Centre
anitadane@gmail.com


Dr. Anita Mani is a renowned infertility specialist in south India with 18 years experience in ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Dr. Anita has successfully set up ART hospitals in Cochin and Bangalore,  along with her spouse  Dr. S Mani. She completed MRCOG, from Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  London, DFFP from  ART Warwick university and  worked in UK for 5 years. Dr. Anitha believes in scientific and ethical practice and is currently the director of Gift Gyno IVF centre Cochin and  Bangalore.  Apart from advanced laparoscopic surgeries, she is also an expert in various ART techniques including IVF, IUI, ICSI , donor egg / sperm. Her proficiency is in genetic abnormalities and high risk pregnancies.


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