Posted on 10/20/2014 4:26:08 PM PDT by Gamecock
LOS ANGELES: Men who are vegans and vegetarians may have significantly reduced sperm counts than meat eaters, according to a new study.
Researchers at Loma Linda University Medical School in the US found that while a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables can protect against many illnesses and can prolong life, it appears that it may also harm fertility.
Researchers studied how diets affect sperm in study participants in southern California.
The region has a high population of Seventh-Day Adventist Christians who are strict vegetarians.
Seventh-day Adventists live an average of 10 years longer than the American life expectancy of about 79 years and the researchers wanted to find out if their longevity might be linked to sperm quality, 'The Telegraph' reported.
They found that vegetarians and vegans had significantly lower sperm counts compared with meat eaters, 50 million sperm per ml compared with 70 million per ml.
They also had lower average sperm motility - the number of sperm which are active. Only one third of sperm were active for vegetarians and vegans compared with nearly 60 per cent for meat eaters.
The team believes that vitamin deficiencies may be to blame or replacing meat with soy could be responsible.
"We found that diet does significantly affect sperm quality. Vegetarian and vegan diets were associated with much lower sperm counts than omnivorous diets," said Dr Eliza Orzylowska, an obstetrician at Loma Linda University Medical Centre in California.
"Although these people are not infertile, it is likely to play a factor in conception, particularly for couples who are trying to conceive naturally," Orzylowska said.
The study will be presented at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's annual meeting in Hawaii.
Throughout history most societies which do not have access to high quality animal protein are unable to support large populations. I suspect males who eat only vegetable matter cannot produce large amounts of sperm and probably do not have the ability to produce quality sperm. After all, why would such societies need more undernourished people?
Makes sense: “Vegetarian: Old Indian word for Bad Hunter.”
So does my veterinarian but she’s still a hottie.
Ancient term Vegetarian, meaning “Village Idiot Who Can’t Ride, Shoot, or Fish”
I’m a strict meataterian - hardly ever touch a vegetable. That must be why Mrs. Big Truck seemed to get pregnant just by me looking at her.
Good. Most of them are liberals who don’t need to procreate.
YOU ONLY NEED ONE SWIMMER!
Or...that religion causes brain changes that decrease sperm output;)
Well, there are a whole lot of Hindus, most of whom are vegetarians, though they do eat dairy.
It’s worth leaving 10 years earlier than spending your last 10 as a 7th Day Advantist!@
"Rich in fruit and vegetables" does not mean, "Meatless".
I eat lots of fruits and veggies. But I generally have some sort of meat as well along with milk and eggs daily.
Good. Don’t tell anyone. Let the vegans opt out of the future.
I’m a Vegetationarian. I eat:
Vegetation
Things that eat vegetation
Things that eat things that eat vegetation.
Things produced by things that eat vegetation.
Works for me and gives a well-balanced diet.the only thing worse than criminal conduct out here in society is the criminal conduct of those in public office
I hope someone sent a memo to Bubba Clinton about this.
If we weren’t supposed to eat animals, why did they make them out of meat?
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