Tofu, pork kidneys, fried chicken, and other foods are favorites for some men. However, experts remind couples planning to have a baby to consume these foods in moderation, as they may lead to the birth of a "less intelligent baby" and even cause infertility.
1. Tofu
Men who love tofu and other soy products should be cautious. According to recent reports from multiple U.S. media, a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health has once again confirmed that consuming soy products daily can significantly reduce sperm count in men.
This study was conducted by Dr. Jorge Chavarro at the Harvard School of Public Health. From 2000 to 2006, researchers followed 99 men. The results were astonishing: men who consumed soy products daily had only 41 million sperm per milliliter of semen, significantly lower than men who consumed fewer soy products.
It is understood that a sperm count of less than 20 million per milliliter is considered too low and can easily lead to infertility. Furthermore, this link is more pronounced in obese men.
Chavarro believes that soy products have an adverse effect on the male reproductive system, especially sperm production. Soy and its products are rich in isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen. Excessive intake can naturally affect the level of male hormones in the body, leading to a series of adverse consequences.
Andrologists in China have also suggested that excessive consumption of soy products can affect male sperm count.
Experts have also found that men who regularly consume soy products are 3.46 times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than those who do not.
Helpful reminder: Consuming soy products in moderation is the best way to avoid health risks for men. "Moderation" means consuming it less than three times a week, with each portion being about 100 grams.
2. Milk Tea
Most pearl milk teas on the market are made from non-dairy creamer, food coloring, artificial flavors, tapioca pearls, and tap water. The main ingredient of non-dairy creamer is hydrogenated vegetable oil, which is a trans fatty acid. Trans fatty acids can reduce male hormone secretion, negatively impact sperm motility, and interrupt the sperm's reaction process in the body.
Helpful reminder: In fact, many of the foods we often eat, such as biscuits, crackers, shortbread, chocolate, salad dressing, french fries, doughnuts, cream cakes, pancakes, potato chips, and fried instant noodles, contain varying amounts of trans fatty acids.
3. Beer
If you already have kidney disease and drink beer excessively without restriction, uric acid can deposit, causing blockage of the renal tubules and leading to kidney failure.
If a blood test reveals kidney problems, the kidney function is likely already severely damaged. Rather than relying on a blood test to understand your kidney health, it is better to have regular urine tests, as urinalysis is the simplest and quickest way to assess kidney function.
4. Pork Kidneys
Many people love to eat animal organs, especially when barbecuing, where "kidneys" are a favorite for many men. Recently, doctors in Taiwan have warned: eating organs for health benefits, be cautious of heavy metal "cadmium" damaging sperm and causing infertility.
Livers, organs, and pig testicles—those who believe in "like cures like" should be careful, because eating too much not only fails to nourish the body but can also lead to infertility. According to a new study from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, pig, cow, and sheep livers and kidneys were found to contain varying amounts of the heavy metal cadmium. While people eat these organs for health, they are also consuming cadmium, which can likely cause infertility. If the person is also a smoker, the chances of infertility can be as high as 60%.
Helpful reminder: These foods considered to "strengthen sperm" contain high levels of cadmium, which not only reduces sperm count but also affects the implantation of fertilized eggs. Cadmium can damage chromosomes, making it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant and affecting pregnancy.
5. Coffee
The reason coffee has a stimulating effect is because the caffeine it contains stimulates a person's sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls all daytime activities, and when stimulated, a person feels more energetic and vibrant. The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for nighttime physiological activities, erections, and other sex-related functions, and it has an intrinsic relationship with the sympathetic nervous system.
When the sympathetic nervous system is frequently active, the relatively weaker parasympathetic nervous system can be suppressed, which clinically manifests as a decreased libido.
Helpful reminder: People who experience frequent emotional fluctuations and whose sympathetic nervous system is easily excited should avoid drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages before sex, so as not to suppress the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce sexual desire.
6. Fried Chicken and Grilled Foods
Men who love barbecue in the summer should take note. Experts point out that grilled and fried starchy foods contain a carcinogen called acrylamide, which can lead to oligospermia and asthenospermia in men. Additionally, heavy metals like cadmium and pesticide residues are toxic to sperm.
Some studies have found that the reduced sperm count and decreased motility in patients with oligoasthenospermia are related to a deficiency of the trace element zinc. Therefore, eating more zinc-rich foods, such as oysters, dried shrimp, animal liver, seaweed, sesame seeds, peanuts, and beans, can ensure "vitality."
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an important method for treating urinary tract stones. However, foreign scientists who performed semen analysis on patients undergoing this therapy found a decrease in sperm motility and density, so medical personnel should be vigilant about this iatrogenic damage.
Helpful reminder: In terms of diseases, varicocele can affect sperm production, so patients with this condition should be diagnosed and treated early.