Learning how to increase sperm count requires a healthy balanced diet, improved lifestyle, herbs, vitamins and minerals. It takes sperm 100 days to develop, 74 days to form and about 20 to 30 days to mature.
Healthy sperm is characterized by
Sperm count – There should be over 20 million sperm in every millimeter of ejaculation.
Morphology – There should be a good number of normal looking sperm (the smaller the number of abnormalities such as two heads or two tails the better).
Motility – Sperm should be fast and should swim in a straight line.
Vitamins
Vitamin C is known to increase sperm count. Vitamin E can help increase semen volume and sperm count as well. Vitamin B12 can also help increase sperm count.
Vitamin A helps to produce testosterone, the male sex hormone.
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties that protect you against cellular damage and helps remove free radicals from your body. It also helps keep your seminiferous tubes healthy.
Vitamin B6 helps in the production of male sex hormones in the body.
Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C help in the absorption of Zinc in the body.
Good sources of vitamins forimproving sperm count includemolasses, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, brewer’s yeast, egg yolks, fish, legumes and green leafy vegetables.
Herbs
There are some herbs that can help increase your sperm count. Two types of Ginseng: RenShen and Radix Ginseng, may increase testosterone levels in the body. Tribullus, such as TribullusSilvestrus and BaiJi Li, helps in the production of healthy sperm and may also treat sexual problems such as impotence and low libido. Remember, not all herbs can help promote fertility, so don’t self prescribe.
Foods
Free radicals cause almost 40 % of all sperm damage. Antioxidants can help rid your body of free radicals. Foods rich in antioxidants include blackberries, garlic, blueberries, kale, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, plums, broccoli, alfalfa sprouts, grape seed extract, red peppers and pine bark extract.
Drink at least 8 glasses of purified water a day. Water keeps your sperm hydrated as semen is made up mostly of water.
Minerals
Minerals such as selenium and zinc can help boost sperm count as well as sperm motility. Mineral deficiency may result in infertility. An adequate supply of zinc and selenium is required for proper development of sperm. Minerals also assist in epididymis function and help protect sperm cells.
Good sources of selenium and zinc include Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, whole grains, brewer’s yeast and sesame seeds. Zinc is essential for cellular division and healthy sperm production. It is one of the most critical minerals for sexual function in males. It is needed in sperm production, sperm motility, sperm count, testosterone metabolism, testicular development and estrogen regulation in the male body. Zinc deficiency is quite common because every time a male ejaculates, he secretes about 5 mg of Zinc as well.
Avoid drinking too much alcohol as it depletes the Zinc levels in your body. Also too much folic acid, coffee, tea, fiber and iron in the body can lower Zinc absorption.
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle equates to a healthy sperm count. The testes become malnourished when the body is constantly under stress. Minimize alcohol intake as alcohol inhibits testosterone secretion, lowers sperm count and decreases sex drive. Alcohol may also speed up testosterone conversion to estrogen, leading to abnormal female hormonal levels in the man’s body.
How to increase sperm count – Begins with adopting a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle. Your doctor may only tell you about surgery and other medical interventions but there are natural ways ofimproving sperm count. Consult first with your naturopathic physician before taking supplements and herbal medicines.
© 2011 Iva Keene and Natural Fertility Prescription
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