If you do not have offspring despite the desire for children, this is not always associated with a permanent fertility disorder. Factors such as stress, illness or eating habits can also be the cause. In addition to folic acid, vitamins B, C and E and selenium, expectant parents may simply lack zinc. The vital trace element plays a crucial role in the release of sex hormones and fertility. Zinc deficiency can cause menstrual irregularities in women and thus drastically reduce the chances of conception. In men, insufficient amounts of zinc may mean that not enough sperm is being produced or that they are immobile.
According to surveys, 15 percent of couples accidentally left without children – and the trend is increasing. Especially women suffer when the desired child does not appear. This found a study by Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main.
There are many reasons why you cannot have children. One of the most important factors influencing fertility is diet, especially the intake of foods containing zinc. Because zinc is one of the main trace elements playing a crucial role in reproduction.
In this context, Giacomo Girolamo Casanova, the “Serious Destroyer,” can be used as an example: He ate up to 50 oysters a day and, as you know, with great success. What Casanova did not yet know, research groups have now been able to clarify: Oysters top the list of foods rich in zinc, and Zinc, in turn, increases sperm production and increases potency. In men, and especially in the genitals, there is a particularly high concentration of zinc. Zinc protects sperm from free radicals and the structure of genetic material in the cell nucleus of sperm. Finally, it has been scientifically proven that zinc protects sperm from unnecessary energy consumption in a “waiting state” before ejaculation. So, it is not surprising that zinc deficiency in humans can significantly reduce fertility.
Zinc deficiency also has a significant effect on fertility in women. This leads to menstrual irregularities, which in turn reduces the likelihood of conception. Serum concentrations of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone fall below normal limits. The risk of malformations and complications during pregnancy – such as placental abruption, miscarriage and premature birth – is also significantly increased. It is not uncommon for newborns to be premature.
We need to take zinc with our food every day because our body does not have zinc reserves. The Society for Food Medicine and Dietetics recommends a daily intake of 10 mg of zinc, for breastfeeding and pregnant women even 25 mg. As described above, the food richest in zinc is oysters. Followed by beef, sea fish and seafood, dairy products (especially cheese), eggs and whole grains.
Zinc supplementation should be considered, especially when there are difficulties in conceiving( fertility ). This means that you should ask about the appropriate zinc preparation at the pharmacy. The amount of zinc taken with food is often insufficient.
