According to the medical journal, Biology of Reproduction, eating approximately two handfuls of walnuts a day can improve the health of sperm in young men.
The research study was completed at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. It consisted of 117 men ages 21-35. One group added walnuts to their diet while the other continued their daily routine.
Researchers believe that it is the fatty acids in the walnuts that had the desired affect on the sperm, increasing their quality and quantity. In the male development, sperm are supported and nourished in the sertoli cells. It remains to be determined the direct affect fatty acids have on sperm.
This could be great news for couples that have been unsuccessfully trying to have children. According to BBC News, one in six couples is infertile and in 40 percent of these couple it is due to a male problem. According to Dr. Allan Pacey at the University of Sheffield, studies have shown that a male’s diet can have an impact on the number and quality of their sperm.
Researchers in this study say the next step is to see if a diet rich in walnuts can improve the chances of conceiving in couples that are having a difficult time becoming pregnant.
