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Men are better off abstaining from vegetarianism
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Statistics show that in the modern world there are a huge number of people who have consciously given up animal products. The number of vegetarians is growing every day, as information about the harm of meat products is spreading daily with amazing speed. The majority of vegetarians are young people aged 20 to 35. In the last few decades, scientific studies have been regularly conducted to prove the benefits or harm of a vegetarian diet.
While scientists around the world are trying to determine the impact of a plant-based diet on the human body, specialists from Western Europe have proven that vegetarianism can have a destructive effect on the male body, or more precisely, on its reproductive function. Specialists believe that men who have decided to radically change their lifestyle should spend more time studying the nutrition system.
European scientists have managed to prove that such popular meat substitutes as soy and its derivatives have a negative effect on sperm. Scientists are confident that a lack of animal food in the body can also affect sperm motility.
During the study, specialists conducted several experiments that proved the effect of soy products on the reproductive function of the male body. The experiment consisted of volunteers being divided into two groups, one of which ate only plant foods and soy products for several months, and the second - products familiar to any person, not excluding meat and fish. After several months, sperm and blood samples were taken from each participant in the experiment. The test results showed that the men who ate soy products had lower sperm concentration rates. Doctors also noted that men suffering from excess weight also had lower sperm counts. Further study of the results showed that the main reason for the deterioration in sperm quality is the active components of soy - isoflavones. These are natural chemicals found in soy, clover and other plants. The structure of these elements resembles the structure of estrogens - steroid hormones produced by the female ovaries.
Some scientists believe that too much isoflavones, which are similar to female hormones, can lead not only to poor sperm quality, but also to infertility. Early studies of the effects of soy on animals showed that with a lifestyle that involves giving up meat, sperm quality drops, and the likelihood of having healthy offspring decreases several times.
Also, many nutritionists believe that vegetarianism is unacceptable for children under 16. In their opinion, at this age, a person needs food of both plant and animal origin, and any restrictions in nutrition can negatively affect the development of a young organism. Pregnant and nursing women should also refrain from a vegetarian diet, because the health of more than one person depends on their diet.
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