Efforts to understand the connection between nutrition and human reproduction have focused mostly on women. This makes sense, because women need to be in good health for a successful pregnancy. However, we shouldn’t ignore the men, especially when focusing on fertility. Health experts have found that something as simple as having a man eat more walnuts may aid couples wanting to start a family.
Sperm vitality, motility, and morphology was significantly better in the men eating walnuts
To study the effect of walnuts on semen quality, researchers randomly selected 117 young men to follow their usual diet, or their usual diet plus 75 grams of walnuts per day. For reference, 75 grams is 2.6 ounces, which translates into approximately two large handfuls of walnuts per day. The men were 21-to-35 years old, and their semen quality—sperm vitality, motility, and morphology—was measured before and after the 12-week study.
Vitality refers to the overall strength and health of sperm. Motility refers to how well the sperm move, or swim, and morphology refers to the structure of the sperm.
After 12 weeks, compared with men eating their usual diet, all three measures of semen quality—sperm vitality, motility, and morphology—improved in the men eating their usual diet plus walnuts.
This small study found that eating walnuts improves semen quality, however, more research is needed to confirm these findings. Fortunately, walnuts are loaded with healthful fats, vitamins, and minerals, so for most men there are no downsides to eating more walnuts. And as noted by lead study author Wendie Robbins, PhD, associate professor in the UCLA Program on Genomics and Nutrition, for couples looking to start a family, “This study shows that what men eat is important, too.”
Our tips can help you make the most of your diet and lifestyle choices, for best total and reproductive health:
(Biol Reprod 2012;87:101, 1–8)