Men should avoid these 6 types of foods as much as possible. If you must eat them, be sure to choose the right time, or you could be in for some serious trouble!
1. Coffee
The reason coffee has a stimulating effect is that the caffeine it contains stimulates the human sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system controls all daytime activities; when it is stimulated, a person becomes more energetic and lively. The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for nighttime physiological functions, erections, and other sex-related activities. It has an internal relationship with the sympathetic nervous system. When the sympathetic nervous system is active, the relatively weaker parasympathetic nervous system is suppressed, which clinically manifests as a decreased libido.
Helpful Reminder: For people who are emotionally volatile or whose sympathetic nervous systems are easily excited, it's best to avoid caffeine-containing beverages like coffee before sex, so as not to suppress the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce libido.
2. 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 T.H. Chan School of Public Health has once again confirmed that daily consumption of soy products can significantly decrease sperm count in men.
This research was conducted by Dr. George Chavarro from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 2000 to 2006, researchers followed 99 men. The results were surprising: men who ate soy products daily had only 41 million sperm per milliliter of semen, significantly less than men who ate 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 connection is even 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 phytoestrogen. Excessive intake can naturally affect the level of male hormones in the body, leading to a series of adverse consequences.
Andrology experts in China have also suggested that excessive consumption of soy products affects male sperm count. In the past five years, Pan Lianjun, an andrologist at the Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, has been studying this issue. He also found that men who frequently eat soy products are 3.46 times more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than those who don't.
Helpful Reminder: The best way to avoid health risks for men is to consume soy products in moderation. "Moderation" means eating less than 3 times a week, with about 100 grams each time.
3. Milk Tea
Most pearl milk teas on the market today are made from non-dairy creamer, food coloring, flavorings, tapioca pearls (the "bubbles" in the milk tea), and tap water. The main ingredient of non-dairy creamer is hydrogenated vegetable oil, a type of trans fat. Trans fats reduce the secretion of male hormones and negatively affect sperm motility, interrupting the sperm's process within the body.
Helpful Reminder: In fact, many common foods we eat, such as biscuits, crispbreads, shortbread, chocolate, salad dressing, french fries, doughnuts, cream cakes, pancakes, potato chips, and fried instant noodles, all contain varying amounts of trans fats.
4. Pork Kidneys
Many people love to eat animal organs, and especially when barbecuing, "kidneys" are a favorite for many men. Recently, doctors in Taiwan have issued a warning: eating organs to nourish the body, be careful of the heavy metal "cadmium" which can damage sperm and lead to infertility.
Livers, kidneys, pig testicles—for those who believe "eating what you want to improve," be careful, because eating too much not only fails to nourish the body but may also lead to infertility. According to the latest research from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, it was found that the livers and kidneys of pigs, cattle, and sheep all contain varying amounts of the heavy metal cadmium. While people are eating to nourish themselves, they are also consuming cadmium, which can very likely cause infertility. If they are also smokers, 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 reduce sperm count but also affect the implantation of a fertilized egg. Cadmium can damage chromosomes, making it difficult for the fertilized egg to implant and affecting conception.
5. Fried Chicken
Men who love barbecue in the summer should take note. Experts point out that barbecued and fried starchy foods contain a carcinogen called acrylamide, which can lead to oligospermia and asthenospermia (low sperm count and poor motility) in men. In addition, heavy metals like cadmium and pesticide residues are also toxic to sperm.
Some studies have found that the reduced sperm count and decreased motility in patients with oligospermia and asthenospermia 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, peanuts, and beans can ensure "vitality" and energy.
Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is an important method for treating urinary tract stones. However, foreign scientists analyzed the semen of patients undergoing this therapy and found a decrease in sperm motility and density, so one should be vigilant against this iatrogenic damage.
Helpful Reminder: In terms of diseases, varicocele can affect sperm production, so patients with this condition should seek early diagnosis and treatment.
6. Beer
If you already have kidney disease and drink beer excessively without restriction, uric acid can deposit and cause blockage of the renal tubules, leading to kidney failure.
If a blood test reveals kidney problems, it's likely that your kidney function is already severely damaged. Rather than waiting for a blood test to check your kidneys, it's better to have regular urine tests, as urinalysis is the simplest and quickest way to understand your kidney health.