Since infertility is as much a man's issue as a woman's — up to 30 percent of fertility problems can be traced to men — if you are trying for a child it is equally important for your partner to eat as healthily as possible. Your partner’s diet should be every bit as balanced, varied, and nutritious as yours, so here is some specific advice for future dads.

Get his five a day

Getting five portions of fruit and vegetables is crucial because it goes someway to ensuring you get sufficient levels of antioxidants like vitamins C, E, zinc and selenium. Antioxidants are known to help to prevent diseases, such as cancer. Studies have shown that vitamin C has a significant impact on both sperm motility and conception and a sufficient intake of all of the antioxidants is of utmost importance to the production of healthy sperm and helps to prevent sperm defects. Having a good intake of vitamin C can also help with agglutination where the sperm clump together.

Get enough zinc

Several studies show that even short-term zinc deficiencies can reduce semen volume and testosterone levels.

Fuel up on folic acid

Studies suggest that men with low levels of this key B vitamin — the same one women need to reduce the baby's risk for neural tube birth defects like spina bifida — have lower sperm counts. One study in the major medical journal for fertility called Fertility and Sterility showed that men taking both zinc and folic acid showed a significant 74% increase in total sperm count.

Boost calcium and vitamin D

Taking both calcium and vitamin D each day may improve a man's fertility, according to research from University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Cut down on alcohol

Studies show that daily wine, beer, or spirit consumption can reduce testosterone levels and sperm counts and raise the number of abnormal sperm. So if you are struggling to conceive it is better for the man to eliminate alcohol altogether. It’s also a good idea to limit caffeine intake to no more than two cups a day or ideally eliminate it all together. Smoking, of course, is a complete no no, as it can impair fertility in both men and women.

Supplement with Omega 3 fatty acids

Some fertility clinics have started to prescribe omega-3 fatty acids to men because research indicates that it could increase low levels of fertility. Omega 3 essential fats, found in fish oil, are thought to make sperm more resistant to possible damage resulting from the chilling and freezing processes involved in some assisted reproduction techniques. Researchers, from the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, say that men with abnormal sperm tend to consume less omega-3 fatty acids than fertile men .

A good supplement programme for men is:

• NHP Fertility Plus for Men (contains folic acid, zinc, calcium, vitamin D and other nutrients helpful for fertility)
• NHP Vitamin C
• BioCare Mega EPA fish oil

To get all of these supplements go to www.naturalhealthpractice.com

Article written by Dr Marilyn Glenville PhD - Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine, a nutritionist, psychologist, author and broadcaster.

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