It’s not a punchline: Eating nuts really can improve a man’s sperm.
That’s according to new research out of Spain, which analyzed the sperm quality of 119 young men.
During the 14-week study, some participants were asked to eat 60 grams of mixed nuts — almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts — while the other group was asked to avoid nuts altogether.
When scientists analyzed the sperm and blood samples, they found that those who ate nuts had, on average, a 16 percent higher sperm count.
So, should you add a sack of Planters to your daily diet?
Maybe, says study author and nutrition expert Albert Salas-Huetos. In a press release, he stresses that the results may not necessarily apply to the general population, since all of the study participants were healthy and fertile.
Still, shifting toward a healthier diet is generally a good idea if you’re looking to conceive, he says.
“Evidence is accumulating in the literature that healthy lifestyle changes such as following a healthy dietary pattern might help conception,” Salas-Huetos writes.
