There are people who will claim that bacon must have been sent by the gods because the cured piece of meat is just so good. However, aside from raising the cholesterol level, a new study points out that a serving of the tempting meat delight per day can lower a man's sperm count. So want-to-be mothers, taking the bacon away from your guy's diet and replacing it with white fish can increase your chances of having kids, according to experts.
The findings of scientists from Harvard University favors eating fish such as halibut or cod instead of bacon, for men who want a good number of sperm cells.
The proponents of the study presented at a conference of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Boston looked into the diet of 156 men struggling to have a baby with their partners and also analyzed the shape and size of their sperms.
The study found out that men who eat processed meat such as bacon, hamburgers, hams, and sausages on a regular basis have a lower number of normal sperm, compared to those who have low intake of the said products. Subjects of the study who ate half portion of processed meat per day had 30 percent better normal sperm count than those who consumed more bacon and similar products.
On the other side of the lifestyle spectrum, men who ate white fish at least three or four times a week had better sperm quality.
"We found that processed meat intake was associated with lower semen quality and fish was to higher semen quality," explained Dr. Myriam Afeiche of the Harvard School of Public Health in a statement to The Telegraph.
However, Afeiche clarified that they have not established how bacon and other similar foods affect the quality of the sperm.
"The relationship between diet and men's fertility is an interesting one and there is convincing evidence that men who eat more fresh fruit and vegetables have better sperm than men who don't. However, less is known about the fertility of men with poor diets," Dr. Allan Pacey from the University of Sheffield shared his opinion about the conclusion of the study.
Statistics acquired by the CDC in the United States show that about 3.3 to 4.7 men below 45 years old have consulted a fertility doctor during their lifetime. Of those who has seen a fertility doctor, 18 percent had infertility problems such as semen or sperm issues.
