Why do Men Need Folic Acid (Part 3)

Baby and Dad

In the second part of this article series, we discuss the role of folic acid in men and the effects of folic acid on their fertility rate. We know already that folic acid is not just a must-have supplement for women but it is also necessary for men’s reproductive health.

Today in this last article, we will get to learn more about the significance of being healthy for men to produce healthy babies. 

Why do Men Also Need To Be Healthy To Produce Healthy Babies

It is not just always women who are necessary to become healthy in order to produce healthy babies. Men also have an important part in the preconception and childbearing process. Human fertility is an extremely complex matter so both men and women need to take into account every aspect of their needs such as their diet and lifestyle, medical history, current stress level, and any environmental and occupational hazards.

Research shows that everything you do in the three or four months before trying to conceive is as important as the sex itself. The good thing here is that you can control the factors involved in infertility. 

In order for you to prepare for a three-month period of preconception care, here are the factors that are important to consider and you need to be aware of as they are linked in conceiving babies:

  1. Caffeine – There is a study that found about caffeine consumption is connected to miscarriage. When either men or women drank three or more cups a day of caffeinated drinks before pregnancy including sodas, energy drinks, or coffee, the woman has twice the chance of having a miscarriage. 
  2. Alcohol Heavy drinking does impair sexual performance and damages sperm quality, such as motility (movement) and shape. Numerous studies from 1976 until now have shown that heavier alcohol consumption reduces the level of circulating testosterone and lowers the sperm count and quality, important for their capability of penetrating the egg. It is strongly recommended for men to cap their alcohol consumption at two or fewer drinks per day, specifically for the 3-4 months leading up to conception through the 13th week of pregnancy.
  3. Cocaine – It is the common cause of many cases of strokes and heart attacks in men. It can greatly affect a man’s ability to have an erection and ejaculate and may reduce his libido, which obviously makes it difficult to conceive. There is also a risk for certain birth defects in their offspring.
  4. Smoking – Studies from some countries in Asia and Europe have identified an approximately 30% increase in the rate of childhood cancers and up to 80% rate of leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors under the age of five when fathers smoke during the preconception period, even though mothers were non-smokers. So, the passive smoke exposure of mothers during their time of conception is connected with a significantly higher possibility of serious congenital heart defects in babies.
  5. Diet – There’s a research study about a certain epigenetic signature in the sperm of obese men that altered as they lose weight. The researchers revealed that the changes were notably at gene regions implicated in the central control of appetite. Some studies have shown that a high-fat diet developed impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, which are related to diabetes. Prospective fathers are recommended to avoid over-eating and they must eat a balanced diet.
  6. Stress – Too much stress and fatigue often depletes a person’s libido by affecting his hormones and mood which may interfere with his close relationship with his wife. Eventually, they can damage the immune system, the heart and deteriorate both physical and mental well-being, increasing your chances of having serious health problems. Studies have shown that fathers who experienced severe stress and burnout decrease their chances of producing healthy babies.
  7. Work environment Working fathers who are greatly exposed to chemicals and solvents in their workplaces will tend to have higher rates of birth defects in their offspring. It is recommended to avoid jobs that involve lead, oil-based paints, or paint products that contain ethylene glycols or hydrocarbon solvents, exposure to carbon monoxide, and gases such as sulfur, chlorine, nitrogen, and fluorine, and many more harmful substances. 

Some Ways for Men to Become Stronger Physically and Maintain their Overall Health

Moreover, sperm quality and quantity can be affected by the aforementioned factors which show that men can actually have control over their fertility. Indeed, studies have shown that performing simple changes to boost their fertility rate can improve sperm quality and quantity in just three months. 

 Even though the woman only has the capability of childbearing, never forget the fact that conceiving a child takes two. For men, it also takes at least three months for a new batch of sperm cells to mature, ready to be ejaculated. Thus, with the help of enhancing lifestyle quality and nutritional changes, men can boost their fertility rate.

Based on the book “Boost Your Fertility” by Marilyn Glenville, several European doctors concluded in their research study that a good three-month program of healthy living and eating will maximize your chances of conception now or in the future. Meanwhile, according to psychologists, you need at least three months to replace dietary and lifestyle habits with healthier ones.

Hence, we gather some information about some useful ways to help men become stronger physically and maintain their overall good health:

  1. Eating a balanced, nutritious, and especially fertility-boosting diet such as foods rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and oily fish, including foods rich in vitamin A, B, C, and E, zinc, selenium, and essential fatty acids. Go on organic foods.
  2. Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day and stay hydrated at all times.
  3. Take food supplements such as Vitamins C and minerals like zinc and folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids. Zinc is necessary for the production of sperm. Vitamin C is proven to reduce the tendency of sperm to clump together or agglutination which causes infertility. Folic acid is essential to protect both the female’s egg and male’s sperm, and their genetic material.
  4. Perform 20-40 mins. daily exercise to boost your strength and immune system.
  5. Take your time to relax and avoid having excessive caffeine, alcohol, and many more.

SUMMARY

In conclusion, we finally know now about the significance of folic acid for men, especially for their fertility. It is not just the woman’s role but it is about working together to have a successful pregnancy. 

So, to stay strong and maintain your husband’s overall health especially if both of you have a plan to have a child, we have our Belta Folic Acid Supplement for Men which consists of 400 mcg of folic acid and is filled with vitamins and minerals with other essential beauty components. 

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