Research: Soy foods can lower sperm count

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In what is termed to be the largest study ever conducted to examine the relationship between semen quality and phytoestrogens, it has been found that men who eat soy and soy-based products are going to lose their sperm count by almost half over a period of time.

These soy products may include the usual diet for most people, like tofu, tempeh, tofu or soy sausages, bacon, burgers and mince, soy milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream, and other soy products such as roasted nuts, drinks, powders and energy bars.

The normal sperm count in men might range from 80 to 120 million sperm per millilitre (ml) and this could reduce by almost 41 million sperm per millilitre (ml) in regular soy eaters.

In the study, conducted by John Chavarro of Harvard School of Public Health, Boston and his colleagues, where 15 soy based foods were taken on a regular basis by 99 men who had attended a fertility clinic with their partners to be evaluated for sub-fertility between 2000 and 2006, it was revealed that Isoflavones, that are actually plant derived compounds with oestrogenic effects found in soy related products, are the principle cause for the reduction of sperm. Up until now, there was little evidence of isoflavones having an infertile effect on humans for the studies conducted were only done on animals.

There was evidence to suggest that men who were either overweight or obese were more susceptible to have lower sperm count as a result of a regular intake of soy based foods. Also, men with high sperm count will be more affected compared to others.

An average male most likely consumes half a serving a day of soy and it has been found that some even consume more than 4 servings a day.

In a nutshell, keep off the soy.