Keep harmful foods off the dining table
As the saying goes, "illness enters through the mouth," and indeed, some cases of male infertility are caused by what they eat. Li Hongjun believes that crude cottonseed oil, as well as additives, colorings, and preservatives used in some food production processes, can cause degeneration of testicular germ cells, and long-term consumption can affect fertility. Some agricultural products may contain large amounts of pesticides, which not only threaten human health but can also harm the delicate testicles. Measures such as thoroughly washing vegetables and peeling fruits before consumption are beneficial. Certain chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, plastic utensils, and some artificially farmed aquatic products, contain estrogen-like substances, which are also very detrimental to male reproductive health. Furthermore, staying away from spicy food, eating less or no chili, not drinking excessively, not smoking, and avoiding caffeine are not only a sign of a fashionable man but also beneficial for men's physical and mental health.
Tobacco and alcohol are the most common killers of male fertility and sexual function. They not only inhibit the secretion of male hormones (testosterone) and promote the accumulation of female hormones (estradiol) in the body, but can also directly "strike hard" at sperm, destroying the most delicate "young life" of all. Nicotine in tobacco and ethanol in alcohol can reduce sperm motility and fertilization capacity, and can also inhibit penile erection and ejaculation. Alcoholic beverages can accelerate the excretion of zinc, and men who frequently drink excessively are often more deficient in zinc. Therefore, smoking and drinking habits should be moderated or quit.
How to eat scientifically
Eat less salt and sugar. Consuming too much salt can easily lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, and is also very harmful for middle-aged men with chronic kidney or liver disease. Li Hongjun emphasizes that eating too many sugary foods can cause your weight to surge, making you overweight, increasing the burden on your body, and easily triggering various diseases. For example, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, etc. Therefore, housewives must give this full consideration when cooking and strictly limit the intake of salt and sugar.
Eat more fish to supplement calcium, and fruits and vegetables are even better. Fish and other aquatic products, especially seafood, contain little fat and many beneficial components, which can enhance the body's immune function; Almonds, soy products (soy milk), dairy products, green vegetables, etc., contain more calcium, which can improve various body functions, benefit the development of bones and muscles, and prevent decalcification; Vegetables and fruits contain large amounts of vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial to health.
Increase your intake of antioxidants. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular sclerosis, chronic prostatitis, male infertility, and the occurrence of many diseases are related to excessive oxidative stress. Antioxidants (especially vitamin E and vitamin C) can reduce the damage of oxygen free radicals to tissue cells and the vascular system, help prevent various diseases and prevent their recurrence, play an important role in repairing oxidative damage caused by various diseases, and can protect the organs and tissues of healthy men. Therefore, the dining tables of men should not lack coarse grains, nuts, vegetable oils, fresh vegetables, and fruits to supplement various antioxidants.
Protein intake should be moderate. In fact, only a small number of men engaged in high-intensity sports need to supplement protein foods, while the vast majority of men do not need to supplement too much protein.
Supplement trace elements in moderation
For men, trace elements have special significance. Li Hongjun says that they can affect the quality of semen and have a great impact on male fertility, and doctors often use the method of supplementing trace elements to treat male infertility and improve men's fertility. Some trace elements are beneficial to the human body and can be supplemented appropriately; some are harmful and should be resolutely avoided or stayed away from. The important trace elements that men's bodies should supplement mainly include zinc, selenium, iodine, etc.
Zinc: Zinc is an important trace element in the reproductive system. Its deficiency can cause a series of adverse effects, mainly affecting the development of the reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics in adolescent males, affecting the motility of sperm, weakening the body's function and making it prone to infectious diseases such as prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, and epididymitis, affecting the secretion of gonadotropins, and also inhibiting the body's excretion of harmful metals like lead. Therefore, appropriate supplementation of zinc can maintain and improve fertility.
Zinc is an active component of many enzymes in the body, and its content is related to the anti-infection ability around the prostate. It plays an important role in regulating the function of the immune system and increasing the anti-infection ability of the tissues around the prostate. Supplementing zinc through diet can increase the anti-infection function of the tissues around the prostate. Men's diet should pay attention to more intake of milk, corn, seafood, lean meat, coarse grains, beans, etc., to meet the body's demand for zinc. White melon seeds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, etc., are rich in zinc. Housewives can prepare some of these foods at home, so that their husbands can chat or watch TV while nibbling on some seeds, which can not only enhance their relationship but also supplement nutrition.
Selenium: Selenium has a powerful antioxidant effect, and glutathione peroxidase needs selenium's assistance to exert its maximum function. Selenium deficiency can increase the concentration of peroxides in the body, causing self-harm to the body, including damage to the male reproductive system and testicles. Therefore, appropriate supplementation of selenium is also beneficial and can resist the damage of cadmium, copper, and lead to the testicles. Foods with high selenium content include black rice, black beans, and other black foods.
Iodine: Men with iodine deficiency are prone to sexual dysfunction and poor semen quality. Iodized salt can supplement the body's need for iodine. Magnesium, manganese, and nickel are also essential elements for the human body and play a certain role in maintaining normal fertility.
Any good thing is not better in excess. Blindly over-supplementing these trace elements will also yield half the result with double the effort. For example, excessive supplementation of trace elements such as zinc and manganese can also affect sperm production. At the same time, one should stay away from harmful trace elements. For example, lead is the most common "killer" among trace elements that affects male reproductive function; cadmium is harmful, and even a small amount of exposure can be toxic to the body, especially the testicles; excessive amounts of copper, boron, iron, molybdenum, cobalt, mercury, silver, etc., can inhibit the metabolic process of sperm. Therefore, in life, one should try to avoid these "ill-behaved" trace elements.