To boost male fertility, cut back on coffee, eat more fruit

A new study suggests men eat a diet high in fruit and grains and low in coffee, alcohol, and red meat.

To enhance male fertility during IVF treatments, a new study suggests men eat a diet high in fruit and grains and low in coffee, alcohol, and red meat.

The Brazilian study looked at 250 men undergoing a type of fertility treatment with their partners known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection, an in vitro fertilization procedure in which a single sperm is injected into an egg.

Researchers discovered that men who drank alcohol and coffee and ate a poor diet were less likely to conceive. Being overweight also contributed to lower sperm concentration and motility, and smoking affected sperm motility.

"In contrast, eating more cereal grains was associated with improved sperm concentration and motility," writes American health publication Third Age on the study on Tuesday. "Fruit was linked to a speed and agility boost in sperm."

The study, from the Fertility-Assisted Fertilization Center in Sao Paolo, was published online in the journal Fertility and Sterility on November 11.

Another recent Harvard University study found that a diet of trans-fat laden junk food can render otherwise healthy young men infertile.

Foods that have previously been shown to boost men's fertility include eggs, salmon, natural yogurt, nuts, seeds, berries, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and asparagus.