News: Bacon can harm male fertility and sperm quality

Listen up, guys: Next time you’re making breakfast, you might want to skip the side of bacon (or any processed meat).

A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health does something to dispel the myth that meat is manly. In fact, it shows that just one piece of bacon a day can harm a man’s fertility and sperm quality.

The study examined the diets of 156 men in couples having trouble conceiving, and found that men who regularly ate processed meat had lower amounts of normal sperm.

‘We found that processed meat intake was associated with lower semen quality,” study author Dr. Myriam Afeiche told The Telegraph.

“There is convincing evidence that men who eat more fresh fruit and vegetables have better sperm than men who don’t,” added Dr. Allan Pacey, a fertility expert at the University of Sheffield.

There you have it guys: Veggies and fruit will make you fertile – so if you’re trying to conceive, you might want to eat more greens and less greasy bacon.

If you’re not concerned about fertility, keep in mind that processed meats are still one of the worst foods you can eat.

Processed meats contain nitrates, which have been linked to colorectal cancer. In fact, The American Institute for Cancer Research says avoiding nitrates is one of the top 10 things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer.

How often do you eat bacon? Are you concerned that it’s harming you (or your guy’s) fertility?

-Katharine Watts, associate web editor

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‘ Guys, your fatty diet could be harming your sperm
‘ Improve male fertility
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