The overall sperm count should be at least 40 million of which 75% should be alive and

30% should be of normal shape and form. In that, 25% should have a good swimming
speed to move forward. This indicates the fertilizing capabilities of the sperm. Sperm
count below the normal conditions is called as “Oligospermia” and if there are no sperms
in the semen it is called as “Azoospermia.”

Some common causes for low sperm count

- Infected semen
- Heat minimizes sperm count. Some ways of loosing sperms due to heat are by wearing
tight underpants, bathing in hot water, sitting in hot tub for long hours, being
overweight.
- Repeated ejaculation over a short duration of time.
- Increased masturbation
- Smoking
- Increased alcohol consumption
- Excessive physical or mental exertion
- Zinc deficiency
- Anabolic steroid use
- Deformed genitals
- Prostrate gland disorders
- Harmful or toxic pollutants
Home remedies to increase sperm
- Stay away from cigarettes and alcohol
- Practice yoga and meditation to be stress free
- Try to exercise regularly
- Try to maintain a three day gap between two consecutive ejaculations to remain fertile
- Avoid bitter, spicy and acidic foods
- Avoid tight underpants to provide an ambient climate for the testicles
- Have a good massage therapy with herbal oils to improve blood circulation
- Loose excess weight
- Have a healthy diet containing whole grains and vegetables rich in proteins and
vitamins
- Sperm levels are at the highest in the morning and afternoon making it the best time
for love making.
- Celery is one of food products known to have great properties for sexual stimulation. It
contains androsterone, an odor free hormone which is very inviting for women. Raw
celery is the best way to increase that desire.
- Oysters are rich in zinc and are known to increase sperm and testosterone production.
It contains dopamine which increases the sexual desire.
- Bananas, Avocado and Almond or other nuts are some of the other food products which
help in this matter.

A man is labeled with low sperm count when he has his sperms under 20 million a
milliliter of semen. The sperms are the ones that make a woman pregnant i.e. a man is
fertile if he has more than 20 mn sperm in one ml of semen. However, there are plenty
of vices to avoid to keep sperms healthy and within normal limits. The factors such as
liquor and cigarettes may decrease the sperms and hence to be avoided.

It might amaze people that there are many foods to increase sperm count. Simply put,
sperm count oftentimes can be boosted by eating particular foods. Such foods are likely
to boost body's production of testosterone and hence the semen.

There are a number of foods that may increase fertility in men who are trying to get a
woman pregnant. Each has particular nutrients known to help the body produce more
sperm. Popular examples include oysters, because their high level of zinc increases
testosterone and semen production; clams and liver, both of which contain good amounts
of vitamin B-12; whole grains, legumes and leafy green vegetables, known for their
vitamin E content; and vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges and limes.

Getting adequate nutrition not only ensures your body's health, it helps with its
processes, including sperm production. Between 20 million and 100 million sperm per
milliliter of semen is considered normal, with volumes below 20 million per milliliter
believed to cause infertility issues. Foods those are rich in nutrients such as vitamin B-12,
ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and vitamin E are the vitamins that the body requires to
function expeditiously, leading to adequate number of sperms in semen.

While making a modification in the regular diet and to include particular foods, men must
also restrict eating fatty foods, junk foods, canned/packed foods and foods with
preservatives. Taking multivitamin supplements might also work--vitamin B-12, vitamin
C, Vitamin E and zinc, are more essential. In any case, to increase sperm count, one
must stop smoking and avoid alcohol in any form. Regular exercises and avoiding heavy
saunas and hot tubs that can increase the testicles' temperature and reduce the sperm
quality and quantity is better.
Foods to increase sperm count also include raw sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Researchers also favor that these foods have shown to boost male libido and also to
enhance the male sex hormones. It is advised that a man suffering from a low sperm
count should consume 1/4th cup of raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds on daily basis as
food to increase sperm count naturally.

Also, eating a diet including the whole and unprocessed foods to increase sperm count is
very beneficial and hence advised by sexologists. The best foods to increase sperm count
and also to achieve the best health include whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fresh fruit
juice, dry fruits, nuts, and seeds.

According to Ayurveda, foods to increase sperm count include Shatavari, Indian

gooseberry (amalaki), onions, garlic, lady finger, bottle gourd, brinjal etc. They all
possess properties to increase the shukra dhatu (the semen) naturally.

Are there foods that can help increase sperm count?

Roughly half of all couples who struggle with infertility do so because of a problem with
the man's fertility . The most common cause of male infertility is a low sperm count.

There are several dietary measures that a man who has a low sperm count can take to
attempt to increase his sperm count, including:

- Eat a diet that includes whole, unprocessed foods. The best foods for health in general,
and also for sperm count problems, are whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts,
and seeds.

- Eliminate alcohol intake. In addition to the general nutritional benefits of avoiding

alcohol, avoiding alcohol may also assist with sexual performance issues.

- Identify and avoid food allergies.

- Raw sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds have been shown to help with male fertility. It
is recommended that a man with a low sperm count eat 1/4 cup of raw sunflower or
pumpkin seeds each day.

- Drink at least 48 ounces of water every day.

- When possible, try to eat organic foods. Some studies suggest a connection between
chemical fertilizers and pesticides with both male and female infertility .

As you can see, many of these dietary changes are not only useful in increasing sperm
count, many of them just make nutritional sense as well!

There are also a variety of vitamin supplements that may assist with low sperm count.
They include:

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin E

- Vitamin B12 Selenium

- Zinc Arginine

- Carnitine

Other important lifestyle changes can also help increase sperm count, such as:

- Exercise. Regular exercise will help reduce stress, but be careful. Excessive exercise can
cause harm, as can certain exercises that may negatively impact the testicles, such as
bicycling.

- Ejaculating less often. The more often a man ejaculates, the less dense the semen will
be. Maintain a gap of three days between ejaculations.

- Refrain from smoking.

- Massage body with herbal oil, which may improve blood circulation.

- Have sex in the early morning or afternoon. It is believed that sperm levels are often
highest in the morning.

- Avoid tight underwear, saunas, and whirlpools, all of which may increase the
temperature of the testicles
5 Foods That Increase Sperm Count, Production, and Motility

1. Red peppers, carrots, oatmeal, dried apricots. The vitamin A in these foods help
grow healthy sperm. “Deficiencies in vitamin A in men have been linked to lowered
fertility due to sluggish sperm,” writes Heidi Murkoff in What to Expect Before You’re
Expecting . To increase sperm count and motility, eat dark green lettuce, broccoli,
spinach, sweet potatoes, and dairy fortified with vitamin A.

2. Asparagus, snow peas, cooked tomatoes, strawberries. The vitamin C in these

foods affect sperm motility and viability. Vitamin C and vitamin A are found in many of
the same foods: kale, red peppers, sweet potatoes, yellow veggies and fruits. The
antioxidants in these foods help increase sperm count by decreasing harmful free
radicals.

3. Turkey, eggs, seafood, oysters, pumpkin seeds. “Inadequate amounts of zinc an

lead to low testosterone levels and diminished sperm count,” writes Heidi Murkoff in
What to Expect Before You’re Expecting. Zinc is actually quite widespread – it’s also
found in beef, yogurt, oatmeal, corn.

4. Leafy green veggies, avocados, beans, whole grains. Make sure you’re getting
enough folic acid, because low levels can lead to birth defects. Men with low levels of
folate have more sperm with chromosomal abnormalities. To increase your sperm count,
production, and motility, make sure you’re eating lots of dark green veggies and fruit.
You may want to consider a folic acid supplement.

5. Salmon, sardines, anchovies, walnuts. “DHA and other essential omega-3 fatty
acids help improve blood flow to the genitals and increase sexual function,” writes Heidi
Murkoff in What to Expect Before You’re Expecting. “Fertile men’s sperm contains more of
this essential fatty acid than the sperm of infertile men.” Other foods high in omega-3
fatty acids include arugula, crab, shrimp, flax, and chicken. To increase sperm count,
load up on foods that contain healthy omega-3s!

Also — you might consider a sperm supplement for male infertility. Sperm
supplements and vitamins such as FertilAid for Men may not increase male fertility for all
men — it depends on the cause of the infertility or health issues. But, supplements may
not hurt! Always talk to your doctor or fertility specialist about supplements for sperm
production, especially if you’re taking prescription medication.
0 Foods That Increase Sperm Count
By Amanda Morin on October 11, 2009

If you and your partner are trying to conceive, diet and nutrition are an important part of
increasing your odds. Both men and women need to keep an eye on the foods they are
eating. Adding items to the menu that are not only healthier but also known to increase
sperm count can help increase the chances of conception.

Oysters

It's not just folklore that oysters can act as an aphrodisiac. Because oysters contain high
levels of zinc, they are effective in increasing sperm count. In fact, a study published in
the "Journal of Laboratory Clinical Medicine" found that zinc deficiency in men decreased
sperm count in four out of five study members. The sperm count increased as soon as
the men increased their zinc intake.

Spinach

Mom had it right all those years when she insisted that you eat your greens. Dark, leafy-
green vegetables, such as spinach, contain high levels of folic acid. When eaten in
conjunction with foods high in vitamin C to help absorption, the folic-acid containing
vegetable helps to increase overall sperm health and motility. Furthermore, according to
a study published in the March 2002 issue of "Fertility and Sterility," the combination of
zinc and folic acid were found to have a positive effect in increasing sperm count.

Eggs

Eating eggs can not only help increase sperm count, but it can also improve the chances
of fertilization. Eggs are in high in vitamin E, an ongoing deficiency of which has been
linked to testicular tissue degeneration. The antioxidant quality of vitamin E can help to
counteract the negative effects that free radicals have on our body's cells, including
sperm.
Fruit Salad

Oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, cherries and other foods high in the antioxidant
vitamin C are incredibly effective in preventing low sperm count and damage to sperm.
Eating a fruit salad can help your body absorb folic acid and helps to counteract free
radical damage. Interestingly enough, the semen of men with a diet of up to 1,000 mgs
of vitamin C a day has less clumping than that of their deficient counterparts. This can
increase motility, which in turn, increases the chance of fertilization.

Walnuts & Almonds

Both walnuts and almonds are rich with arginine, an amino acid that increases sperm
production and blood flow. Increased blood flow makes for stronger erections, which,
though unrelated to sperm count, is correlated with higher rates of fertilization.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts contain high amounts of the nutrient selenium which, according to a 2001
study in the "Journal of Andrology," is essential in development of normal sperm and in
increasing sperm motility.

Water

You may not think of water as a food, but it is an essential nutrient and an important
factor in increasing sperm count. Adequate hydration is necessary to keep body cells
functioning optimally, sperm included. Drinking eight to 10 glasses of water a day can go
a long way toward helping your sperm go a longer way.

Whole Grains

Whole grain foods such as bread, cereals and crackers can increase your chromium
levels, thereby increasing your sperm count. In a literature review of studies of the
effects of chromium, the journal "Biological Trace Element Research" found that many
studies indicate low chromium levels are correlated with decreased sperm count.

Decaffeinated Beverages

Giving up your morning cup of coffee or your midday soda may be difficult, but it may be
essential if you are trying to increase your sperm count. Though the mechanism by which
it happens as of yet eludes scientists, men who ingest caffeine daily have lower sperm
counts than their decaffeinated counterparts.