Table of contents:
- Tomatoes help increase male fertility
- Not only the amount, the sperm quality is also better
- Then, should I take supplements instead of eating tomatoes?
The difficult case of getting pregnant is not only because the woman is infertile. Male fertility problems can also decrease the chances of getting pregnant. Whether it's because the quantity or quality of sperm is lacking. Or it could also be due to poor sperm motility, so that it cannot reach the egg. There are many foods that are predicted to be able to increase male fertility, one of which is tomatoes. However, is it true that tomatoes can make men more fertile?
Tomatoes help increase male fertility
Not just a figment, tomatoes can actually make men more fertile. This is evidenced in a report published by the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio which states that the content in tomatoes can affect male fertility.
The content that is thought to increase male fertility in tomatoes is lycopene, which is a carotenoid-forming substance. It is an antioxidant that gives tomatoes their vibrant color.
These antioxidants can ward off free radicals that are usually formed from consumption of unhealthy foods. Over time, unhealthy foods, full of fat and calories can reduce sperm quality.
In the study, it was found that the lycopene in tomatoes could increase the number of sperm by up to 70 percent.
When lycopene enters the body, the body will absorb 20-30 percent of the total lycopene that enters. The lycopene will be spread to several parts of the body. One of the parts that get the most lycopene is the testes, where sperm is produced.
Not only the amount, the sperm quality is also better
Sperm quality will be seen from three important factors, namely sperm count, shape and movement. If there is one factor that is not good, for example the movement of sperm is less agile and fast, then men will be at risk of infertility and even infertility.
The lycopene in tomatoes has been shown to increase sperm count. Another study conducted at the University of Sheffield UK proved that lycopene can actually help improve sperm quality and reduce DNA damage thereby increasing the number of mature sperm. Therefore, tomatoes are believed to increase male fertility.
In the study, participants, consisting of men aged 18-30 years, were given daily lycopene supplements. Then, at the end of the study it was found that men who took lycopene supplements had better sperm quality and quantity.
In addition, it is also proven that sperm in men who consume lycopene, move faster and are more agile, so they can increase the chances of conception.
Then, should I take supplements instead of eating tomatoes?
Actually, in order to increase fertility, you don't need to take various kinds of supplements. If you can meet nutritional needs through food, then supplements are the last choice.
The reason is, food is the best source of nutrition than supplements. Apart from tomatoes, there are many other foods that are high in lycopene. Here are examples of foods with high lycopene in a 100 gram serving:
- Guava: 5.2 mg
- Watermelon: 4.5 mg
- Papaya: 1.8 mg
Apart from consuming foods high in lycopene, adopting a healthy lifestyle is also the key to increasing male fertility. So, make sure that you do other healthy habits, yes.
x
