07/05/2023 / Health and Fitness
Caffeine, a natural stimulant, can affect your fertility. So, is drinking coffee safe anymore?
We all have been there - debating over whether coffee is good for health or tea is good for health. Other than that, you would have often heard that coffee can cause male infertility and lower sperm production. Well, we assure you that you will find all your answers here.
Caffeine is a neuro stimulant and also the most commonly consumed drug in the world. Though coffee is the major source of caffeine, cocoa and tea plants also have them in significant quantities. Since it stimulates your nervous system, it directly works on your brain to keep you awake and mindful. This work is done by caffeine by blocking neurotransmitters like adenosine. Many people consume coffee as their favorite drink as it helps them to focus on their work without feeling drowsy. So, is caffeine really good for your health?
Before going into the negative effects of caffeine, let us look at its positive side. Some of the benefits of caffeine include,
Decreased fatigue
Increased alertness
Lower risk of heart diseases
Increased metabolic rate
Helps weight loss
Fights cancer
Slows the onset of Alzheimer's
Natural Pre Workout
Cleanses the digestive system
Though caffeine is loaded with several health benefits, they have certain side effects too.
Causes addiction
Elevates blood pressure
Reduced control of fine motor movements
Insomnia or sleep deprivation
Reduced fertility
Heartburn
Having decreased sperm motility, reduced sperm count, low testosterone levels, little semen volume, low or no sex drive (libido) and erectile dysfunction are all various facets of male infertility. There are many causes of male infertility and some of them are given below,
Diabetes
Genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis (abnormally high mucus that blocks endocrine glands)
Ejaculation issues
Chemotherapy or exposure to toxins or drugs (like caffeine)
Damaged sperm DNA
Chronic stress
Hypogonadism
Overheating of testicles
Bacterial or viral infections
High use of steroids
Trauma or prior testicular surgeries
Undescended testicles
As we discussed above, male infertility is also caused due to high caffeine intake. Apart from this, coffee can cause various other serious effects on males. Some of them are,
Headaches
Anxiety
Heart palpitations
Jittery feelings
Racing heartbeat
Sleep disruptions
Raising blood pressure
This study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology concluded that low (101-200 mg) to moderate (201-800 mg) consumption of caffeine can't cause a reduction in sperm production or sperm motility.
The same study showed that excessive caffeine (above 800 mg) can cause a decrease in sperm concentration, semen volume and total sperm count.
From this, we can conclude that excessive consumption of caffeine is the one which affects your health. So, try to keep your caffeine intake at a minimum.
An average cup of coffee contains around 96 mg of caffeine so one or two cups of caffeine per day wouldn't have much effect on fertility.
Other than caffeine, these are some of the other causes that can decrease your sperm count,
Stress
Alcohol
Tobacco
Drugs
Obesity
Depression
The study published in the journal of fertility and sterility found that men who had stressful lives have a lower percentage of sperm motility and distorted sperm morphology.
Although the researchers weren't able to pinpoint the exact reason how stress affects semen quality, it is suspected that the stress steroids affect the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fats, thereby causing the low production of testosterone and sperm.
Other than this, stress hormones also cause oxidative stress, which in turn affects semen quality and sperm production.
We all have been there - arguing over tea or coffee being good for health and fertility. Well! We have some insights to share.
A recent study discovered that tea consumers had better sperm production and semen volume than non-tea consumers. This may be due to the lower concentration of caffeine in tea compared to coffee.
To put an end to the debate - tea or coffee - we would suggest having everything in moderate quantities. Having at a minimum level will do no harm to your health and well-being.
Managing your stress would not only improve your fertility but also help you in developing positive mental health. Here are some tips to help you in better stress management,
Exercise regularly for improving your body and mind
Try deep breathing techniques that help you in relaxing during stressful hours
Eat a clean diet with fewer processed foods
Add a list of healthy foods to your diet
Slow down, declutter and relax from time to time
Avoid being too critical of yourself
Take breaks and do the tasks you enjoy
Build a community that has common goals and aspirations
Be open about your mental health and don't shy away from approaching therapists
Here are some of the foods that can help in better sperm production and can increase semen volume,
Vitamin C-rich foods: Oranges, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.
Vitamin D-rich foods: Egg yolks, cod liver oil, yoghurt, cheese, tuna, herring, salmon, oysters and shrimp.
Zinc-rich foods: Oysters, cashews, legumes, chickpeas, lentils and shellfish.
Herbs: Ashwagandha and maca root
Caffeine is a neuro-stimulant which is found most commonly in coffee and in fewer quantities in tea.
Though caffeine has many positive effects, it equally has negative consequences as it can cause insomnia, infertility and anxiety.
Consuming a limited amount of tea or coffee hasn't been proven to affect fertility.
An unhealthy diet, chronic stress, illicit drugs, obesity, smoking and drinking can all kill your sperm count.
Maintaining an ideal weight, having healthy foods, abstaining from smoking or drinking and managing stress will help you in producing efficient sperm.
Among the different types of teas, only green tea has been found to increase sperm count.
Yes! Many researchers indicate that caffeine intake negatively affects men's fertility.
No! Drinking caffeine in limited amounts wouldn't affect your health but when it exceeds certain limits (more than 4 cups per day) it can cause serious issues.
Yes! Drinking caffeine reduces your sperm concentrations and semen volume.
Yes! Regular intake of energy drinks negatively affects male fertility.
Yes! Having chronic stress for a long period can bring down sperm production and can affect overall fertility.
No! There is no relation between caffeine and sperm morphology.
Yes! Psychological issues like depression or prolonged emotional stress can affect your sperm count and semen volume.
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