Nutrition Lifestyle and Male Fertility: Part 1

 Can Diet affect Sperm Count and Fertilty

The dietary choices of Men can affect the quality of sperm according to recently published research from America, with diets high in saturated Fats potentially reducing sperm counts and having a negative affect on fertility.

A initial study of nearly 100 men associated the eating of high total fat foods, such as junk foods containing increased amounts of saturated fats with Lower Total Sperm Count whilst those consuming higher amounts of Polyunsaturated Fats, Omega 3 Fatty Acids such that are found in Oily Fish such as Salmon, Trout and Sardines had a sperm concentration that was overall higher and of a better quality that benefited fertility.

The research team from Harvard which was led by Professor Jill Attaman, a Clinical and Research Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, warned that this was a small initial study and more work would be needed to replicate the findings before confirmation of this dietary link could be made for certain, however changes in dietary intake related to this study will have wider benefits other than just fertility,

"If men make changes to their diets so as to reduce the amount of saturated fat they eat and increase their omega-3 intake, then this may not only improve their general health, but could improve their reproductive health too"

 

 Investigating the potential link between high dietary fat intake and sperm quality and quantity, the Harvard team found that those men consuming the highest fat intake, mainly saturated fat had 43% lower sperm count, and 38% lower sperm concentration than men consuming the lowest amount of saturated fat, but instead consuming the more Polyunsaturated fats, Omega 3 fatty acids.

Essential Omega 3 Fats important for fertility health

Those consuming more Omega 3 fatty acids had a higher sperm concentration with a more normal structure than those men getting the lowest amount of Omega 3's in their diet.

Men consuming the most saturated fats had a 35% lower total sperm count than men eating the least, and a 38% lower sperm concentration, with Preofessor Attaman considering the wider implications for general health,

 "The magnitude of the association is quite dramatic and provides further support for the health efforts to limit consumption of saturated fat given their relation with other health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease,"

It was noted that within the study, 71% of the men were overweight or obese and that this and the potential health implications of this may also affect sperm amount and quality. The team recognised that this being the first study of it's kind, looking at dietary fats and sperm/Semen,  things such as weight issues and underlying health issues as well as the collection method of data possibly not reflecting the men's actual diet, further larger studies would be necessary and important, because as they note, it's not they are highlighting a specific cause for poor fertility in men, but that an association does exist and demands greater research.

Getting diet and Lifestyle right can be vitally important for fertility Success

Previous studies in relation to diet and male fertility have centred on areas such as male obesity affecting fertility, where the higher the Body mass Index (BMI) the lower the quantity and quality of sperm that can cause problems and where researchers highlighted the importance of such a study for men and general health:

"Adopting a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular exercise will, in the vast majority of cases, lead to a normal BMI. We are pleased to be able to add improved semen quality to the long list of benefits that we know are the result of an optimal body weight."

 Other study areas have looked at Soy Foods comsumption being associated with lower sperm concentrations in men, where a half serving of soy foods per day was enough to affect sperm negatively. Soy contains Phytoestrogens, plant compounds that can behave like the hormone Oestrogen, which may affect production of sperm by interfering with other hormonal signals, an issue that was compounded more in those who were overweight or regarded as Obese, as larger men produce more Oestrogen, and along with that from the soy, the overall affect is to increase oestrogen in the body and the reproductive organs, thus affecting fertility.


Part 2: Nutrition and Male Fertility Coming up!

Nutrition Advice, Health & Lifestyle Coaching

Coming Soon at Ray of Sunshine Nutrition: Cardiff and London Clinics

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Why See a Nutritional Therapist......why Indeed!

The ultimate promotion of Nutrition is from it's Science basis of Optimum health, peak performance, disease prevention and individual client/patient care.

My role during my weekly Nutrition clinics and in all my Nutrition work with patients is an approach that's works with the individual, most importantly, on many different levels to support the body to help alleviate or prevent illness and disease, supporting the body towards normal everyday function and importantly to promote optimal health.

Nutritional Science for Preventative and Optimal health

Personalized Nutrition for personalized health is my goal for my patients, dealing with prevention and underlying causes instead of symptoms of illness and chronic disease. Health is more than the absence of disease:

" It is more Important to know what patient has the disease than to know what disease the patient has" Sir William Osler

Using a more personalized, individual approach to preventative and optimal health, good Nutrition, or Nutritional Therapy can help all manner of people of any ages with a wide range of conditions. These may include specialized areas l deal with such as: 

• Energy imbalance, fatigue and excess tiredness
• Digestive dysfunction such as IBS, Ceoliac's, Low or Excess acid, food Intolerances and allergans, bloating and other digestive issues
• Stress management
• Female Hormone imbalance
• Skin conditions such as eczema and Psoriasis
• Male Health
• Female and Male pre pregnancy and fertility advice
• Post pregnancy diet and fitness advice
• Infant and child food advice and cooking sessions
• Weight management programmes 
• Fitness and lifestyle advice

With this type of Bio chemical individuality approach towards nutrition, diet and fitness, seeing health as a positive vitality not just the absence of disease, promoting prevention and optimal health to all, Nutritional therapists in their work may also give advice and recommendations to those with an array of varied clinical imbalances including:

• Depression and other mental health issues
• Immune function and susceptibility to illness and infection
• Migraine
• Acne
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Chronic fatigue/ME
• Circulatory conditions
• Candida
• Insomnia
• Blood pressure issues
• Sports Nutrition
• Cholesterol balance
• Obesity
• Child behaviour difficulties

With my Nutrition clinics, l like many other practitioners recognise that each individual is unique and important and therefore require not 'one size fit all'....."well it worked for her lm sure it will work for me" approach, but the 'what's right for me approach'...., which l can tell you of years of experience can be a ongoing process when it comes to finding what's right for our diet, lifestyle and health.

We are all different, so our needs will be different

The Nutrition Consultation Process 

For tailored individual care, clients will receive a detailed Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle Questionnaire prior to our first meeting that is to be completed and returned beforehand or bought along to the meeting. Along with this questionnaire, the client will have detailed at least 5 days dietary intake in a food diary to help assist the practitioner detail help and advice where it is needed or required.

Questionnaire, health profile and food diary will be important

The First consultation will usually last one and a half hours, during which we consider the detail of the questionnaire and food diary, taking an extensive case history, discussing health and wellbeing and any overriding issues the client has and establish Health and Lifestyle goals for the client.

Prior to the first consultation l will have started the process of looking in detail at the patients health issues and ultimate goals, and along with the Consultation in clinic l will hopefully be able to better explain potential underlying causes of any health concerns and how from that point on, a tailored, individual Nutrition and lifestyle plan will be of benefit to the client, which will delivered to the client following the first consultation. 

This plan discussed and negotiated with the client will be a individual Nutrition and lifestyle plan aimed at addressing concerns, symptoms and other complaints with the ultimate aim of improving health for the long term needs of the client and empowering them to take control of their health and their life, instead of waiting for illness and disease to take over them.


Follow Up clinics

Follow up clinics are usually advised 4-6 weeks after the initial consultation whilst progress, follow up information, telephone and email sessions will be available to the client to assist them during the time following the consultation where sometimes significant changes to diet and lifestyle maybe taking place and support may be needed, and always welcomed from a Therapists point of view.

A Clinic visit or telephone based follow up consultation will usually take 45 minutes, though this may take longer at the clients request.
Follow up clinics may continue at the clients request if the client feels they will be of benefit to them to do so, whilst some clients may need only one follow up session.


The End Game. No, Just the beginning


In essence, l see my role during my Nutrition clinics as the supplier of knowledge, of facts, of science that may help everyone on a individual basis, to enpower them once they have the right tools, take control of their own health, know their own bodies, know what their body needs to maintain optimal health and live life instead of worrying about health and the potential for illness and disease.
If that means that are only see clients a few times, so bit, hopefully that means l have done my job and done it well.

Take charge of your health and live YOUR life!

So why see me, a Nutritional Therapist, at one of my Nutrition clinics.....why indeed.

Toodle pip!


Nutrition Advice

For more benefits of a well balanced diet, healthier lifestyle and the potential that taking charge of your diet and exercise can have, come and visit me at my clinic and see what positive changes maybe suitable for you.

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Greenwich
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Walk..................................................Don't run.

School Sports day indoors!

Those unforgettable shouts from across the corridor in that horrible school, and all l was doing was running to the toilet to save the school cleaners some time and money, but alas it seems those educational masters of doom and gloom may have been on to something if a recent report is anything to go by.




New research that brings together 40 years of studies into the benefits of exercise and health reveals that it only takes 30 minutes a day of exercise to cut your risk of many illnesses, including, hypertension, obesity, depression, osteoporosis and potentially many forms of Cancer, as Dr Rachel Thompson, deputy head of science for the World Cancer Research Fund, points out-

"There is now very strong evidence that being physically active can reduce risk of cancer. For example, we estimate that about 12 per cent of bowel cancer cases in the UK could be prevented through people being more active. "The evidence also shows that physical activity also probably reduces risk of breast cancer and cancer of the womb lining."

It may be that a simple, brisk daily walk around your local park, beach, country path, hilltop lookout could do the trick just as good as taking up running like Usain Bolt or Paula Radcliffe, or simply just me legging it to the toilet during Geography class at secondary school!



The Report taken from the International Journal of Clinical Practice, found being fit, active and healthy ranks alongside not smoking in our personal choices to reduce the risk of illness and disease and stay healthy.

Make use of whats around you

5 days a week of 30 minute walk's around the Royal parks of London (You can't beat Greenwich or Regents park in my eyes), the Malvern hills or South Downs, the South West Costal path, along Hadrians wall or up and down the Glens of Scotland, the benefits are universal to men and woman of all age groups, and importantly in regards cancer, physical activity after diagnosis can aid recovery and improve survival chances.







The author of the study, Physiotherapist Leslie Afford from the school of physiotherapy at the University of East Anglia, England, pointed out that living a healthy, long life and avoiding the pitfalls of ill health and disease were a complex mix of factors because of the individual nature of human beings, but pointed out that-

"Individuals have an element of control over some of these factors, including obesity, diet, smoking and physical activity."

Best foot forward

He went on to highlight that it's not always easy to make many lifestyle changes all at once, but 

"they can still gain health benefits from increasing the amount of regular exercise they take."

Luckily for all of us, the report points out that it's never too late to start those brisk walks, that cycle on one of the country's many cycle routes or putting yourself forward as the UK's next Ironman or Triathlete, older people will also see the benefits of regular activity or exercise.

So many Parks....let's use them.

And though exercise and activity may not necessarily affect weight loss unless accompanied by dietary control, exercise and activity will have many other beneficial affects, one of those which could be to lift mood, anxiety and depression in someone normally inactive, providing them the catalyst to make wider changes that will look at food intake and diet that could help with weight loss...........opting out of that vicious Circle, instead,  being a nice circle to jump into!

I say, if you can Jog, swim, cycle or gym 3 times a week, or on the other side, a good walk 5 times a week, which for some may just mean giving up public transport (a lot easier when the Unions go on strike in London leaving you stranded with no option but to walk), or getting of the bus a couple of stops early, or making use of a canal tow path or cycle path or riverside walk.

Keep going on strike.....less obesity!

I gave up the Gym nearly 5 years ago, and as long as you make cleverer more informed choices in regards your food intake, finding what you as an individual needs (and what you don't need most of the time), being aware of Blood Sugar Balance/Control and controlling the amount we eat, the portion sizes, which we in the West are not used to, well, ever since the 1940's, then it maybe a lot easier to find exercise and activity which we as an individual enjoy and benefit from instead of believing an unused Gym membership is the answer......it is for some, but not the many.

So get out of the house and find that activity that's right for you....and if you get fired because your late for work....either blame the unions....or Health reports like this!

Obesity, children and their different eating habits.

Shock Norwegian Study Finds:

Overweight Children Have Eating Patterns Different from Those of Normal Weight Children.

Well.....tell us something we don't know!

But look closer......some interesting issues!

It is the case that overweight children reported more frequent intake of healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, fish, brown bread and potatoes as well as low-energy cheese and yoghurt compared with normal weight children, so says a recent study from researchers at Telemark University College and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the 4th largest University In Norway, in the South-East of the Country.

---

The report highlights some interesting areas when we consider child and adult obesity and the affects on public health. The study showed:

• Overweight children drank juice and artificially sweetened soft drinks more often, while the normal weight children drank carbonated drinks and ate unhealthy foods and processed foods such as burgers, sausages, biscuits, processed pizza and sweets.

• The results suggest that both parents and children have increased awareness of food choices when children are overweight.
• The study also showed that overweight children were less physically active and were more likely to have obese parents than normal weight children.

"It is positive that parents and children emphasise healthy food choices. However, it is important to note that the amount of healthy foods must be adapted to a child's activity level to limit further weight gain," said researcher Anne Lise Brantsæter at the NIPH.

"Obesity is a growing problem that can have unfortunate consequences for the children both physically and mentally. There are many contributing factors to obesity and it is important that both parents and children are given good guidance and support early on," added Brantsæter.

How was the study conducted?

The study of eating habits and obesity included 924 fourth graders (9-10 year olds) in the county of Telemark. Nearly half of all fourth graders in the county of Telemark participated when the survey was conducted in 2007. This study has been followed up with new measurements and questions in 2010, and the results from the latest study are now being analysed.

Children's eating habits were assessed by asking how often the child had eaten a variety of foods, both for meals and snacks. The researchers used this to identify eating patterns that reflect which foods are often eaten together. This way of studying diet provides a more comprehensive picture than investigating the intake of individual foods separately.

Public health nurses at the schools weighed and measured the children, while their parents answered questions about their own weight, education and occupation in addition to their children's eating habits and activity level.

The analysis takes into account other factors relevant to children's eating patterns and weight, i.e., parents' educational level, income and employment, and if the parents themselves were overweight.

So, what do l think of this. Well, it may seem contradictory that both sets of children, normal and obese were eating similar foods that were not perceived great for them, but obese children, with potentially a higher number of obese parents are fully aware of what they were eating, but not necessarily how much they were eating, and how activity and exercise would help with a healthy, happy lifestyle, not just consuming healthy foods!

Hence the importance of children learning about food, cooking, health, fitness and lifestyle choices from a very early age, which may influence parents, whether obease or not, but will hopefully have an effect as these children grow up and it's influence on future generations.

Here is hoping!