A new study conducted by researchers in England has found that a chemical in Soya, tofu and legumes could be harmful to sperm and reduce male fertility.
The chemical is called genistein. In laboratory tests in mice, the presence of genistein had a profound affect on the sperm of the rodents, causing them to 'burn out' and lose fertility.
As much as the chemical limited mouse sperm, the affect was even greater in tests on human sperm. According to Professor Lynn Fraser of King's College of London, even small amounts of genistein caused human sperm to burn out.
'Human sperm proved to be even more responsive than mouse sperm to genistein,' Fraser announced at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
The key, according to Fraser, is for women who are trying to get pregnant not to eat too much Soya and other foods high in genistein because they would destroy a sperm's ability to fertilize an egg once inside the female's body.
'Maternal exposure to the compounds is probably more important than paternal exposure,' Fraser told Reuters.
'On the basis of what we have seen, it might be a practical thing to do if you are in the habit of eating lots of based-based products to restrict your diet for a short time over the window of ovulation,' Fraser recommended.
So research shows that a healthy diet low in fat and high in Soya proteins and tofu is not the best thing for a woman trying to conceive a child. Pass the steak...
