Eating nuts could seriously boost a man’s sperm count, says study

Nuts are something of a superfood, right?

Rich in protein, good fats, vitamins, minerals and fibre, they're an essential in any balanced diet. They also work with everything from stir-fries and salads to home baking and make a much better alternative to sweets and chocolate as a healthy snack. Men hoping to conceive any time soon might be especially advised to start eating nuts, if the results of a recent study are anything to go by. Researchers at Rovira i Virgili University in Spain found that upping men's intake of nuts helped to boost sperm count. In a trial of 119 healthy and fertile men aged between 18 and 35, a number of participants were told to add a 60g portion of mixed almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts to their diet each day. A control group continued to eat their normal diet during the trial. After 14 weeks, it was found that the men who had added the extra nuts to their diet saw their sperm count jump by 16 per cent. Their sperm vitality improved by four per cent, sperm motility improved by six per cent and sperm morphology improved by one per cent. More research is needed to conclusively prove that nuts can really boost sperm quality and performance, said lead author Dr Albert Salas-Huetos, but these results fall in line with what we already know about diet and fertility. "Evidence is accumulating in the literature that healthy lifestyle changes such as following a healthy dietary pattern might help conception - and of course, nuts are a key component of a Mediterranean healthy diet."