Over the years there have been many rumors and myths about certain foods and drinks that could cause male infertility. Soy products are the latest to cause concern for men. Soy has long been associated with female sex hormones, which puts many men on the fence about whether it really is okay to consume soy or not. But the only way to find the real answer is to do a little research and find out what is real and what is not.

Not only do men fear consuming soy because of the possibility of infertility but also because it isn’t very practical for those hoping to gain more muscle through working out. Medical studies have found that soy contains certain chemicals that mimic the hormone estrogen, which is the female sex hormone. The main chemical in question is presence of isoflavones, which is found in the majority of soy products. When there is too much estrogen present in the male body, this creates a problem when it comes to body fat. By nature, women have a higher body fat percentage than their male counterparts, and eating too much soy can cause men to have more difficulty losing body fat in order to build muscle.

Before you panic and ban all soy products from your home, it is important to remember that it actually takes a considerably large amount of soy to be able to affect your fertility and sperm count. Even in medical studies done on rats and even men, only high levels of soy were found to impact sperm count. If you’re in doubt or are worried about how much soy you can safely add to your daily diet, speak with your doctor. Based on your height, weight, age and lifestyle, your doctor should be able to recommend how much soy you can consume without putting yourself at risk. If you are already suffering from male fertility issues, you’ll definitely want to see your doctor to find out if your soy intake is playing a contributing factor or not.

Soy isn’t the only food that has the ability to affect male fertility. To keep yourself on the safe side, be sure to consume foods that are high in zinc, which has been shown to increase sperm count and testosterone. Zinc rich foods to look for during your next trip to the grocery store include seeds, nuts, oysters, beans, whole grains, and almonds. Surprisingly, the presence of soy can actually bring down the levels of zinc in the male body so be sure to find a happy balance. Happen to be a heavy meat eater? While the consumption of red meat is good for providing the body with protein, eating too much of it can also affect your sperm count. This is why it is important to keep tabs on your daily diet and to watch just how much you consume and what you consume.

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