Nuts arranged as sperm cell

Boost Your Fertility Naturally: The Power of Nuts for Healthy Sperm

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new study reveals how adding nuts to your diet can significantly improve sperm quality and male fertility, offering a simple and delicious way to enhance your chances of conception."

In today's world, many couples face challenges when trying to conceive, with male infertility contributing to nearly half of these cases. Factors like pollution, stress, and unhealthy diets, typical of a Western lifestyle, have been linked to declining sperm quality worldwide. But what if a simple dietary change could make a significant difference?

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition explored the potential of nuts to enhance sperm quality and functionality in healthy men. Researchers investigated whether adding nuts to a Western-style diet could counteract the negative effects and improve various semen parameters.

The results were compelling: men who incorporated nuts into their daily diet experienced notable improvements in sperm count, motility, vitality, and morphology. This article delves into the specifics of this groundbreaking research, revealing how nuts can be a natural and effective way to boost male fertility.

How Nuts Can Transform Sperm Health: The FERTINUTS Study

The FERTINUTS study, a 14-week randomized controlled trial, aimed to evaluate the impact of nut consumption on semen quality. Researchers recruited 119 healthy men aged 18-35 who regularly consumed a Western-style diet. Participants were divided into two groups: one group added 60 grams of mixed nuts (30g walnuts, 15g almonds, and 15g hazelnuts) to their daily diet, while the other group continued their usual Western-style diet without nuts.

Throughout the study, the team collected semen and blood samples from participants at the beginning and end of the intervention. They carefully monitored dietary intake and assessed various semen parameters, including:

Sperm Count and Concentration: Measuring the total number of sperm and their concentration in semen.
Motility: Assessing the ability of sperm to move efficiently.
Vitality: Determining the percentage of live sperm in the sample.
Morphology: Evaluating the shape and structure of sperm.
DNA Fragmentation: Analyzing the integrity of sperm DNA.
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Production: Measuring oxidative stress levels.
Chromosome Anomalies: Identifying any chromosomal abnormalities in sperm.
DNA Methylation and microRNA Expression: Examining epigenetic factors that could influence sperm function.

The findings revealed significant improvements in the nut group compared to the control group. Specifically, participants who consumed nuts experienced increases in total sperm count and vitality, as well as enhanced total motility, progressive motility, and sperm morphology. Further analysis indicated that these improvements might be linked to a reduction in sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).

Nuts: A Simple Addition for Enhanced Fertility

This research suggests that incorporating nuts into a Western-style diet can be a simple yet effective strategy for improving sperm quality and potentially boosting male fertility. The improvements observed in sperm count, motility, vitality, and morphology, along with the reduction in DNA fragmentation, highlight the beneficial effects of nuts on reproductive health. While further research is always valuable, these findings offer promising insights for men looking to enhance their fertility naturally.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy181, Alternate LINK

Title: Effect Of Nut Consumption On Semen Quality And Functionality In Healthy Men Consuming A Western-Style Diet: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Subject: Nutrition and Dietetics

Journal: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: Albert Salas-Huetos, Rocío Moraleda, Simona Giardina, Ester Anton, Joan Blanco, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, Mònica Bulló

Published: 2018-11-01

Everything You Need To Know

What was the FERTINUTS study about?

The FERTINUTS study was a 14-week randomized controlled trial that looked at how eating nuts affects semen quality. It involved 119 healthy men aged 18-35 who regularly consumed a Western-style diet. The participants were divided into two groups: one group added 60 grams of mixed nuts (30g walnuts, 15g almonds, and 15g hazelnuts) to their daily diet, while the other group continued their usual Western-style diet without nuts. Semen and blood samples were collected and analyzed to assess various semen parameters.

What is sperm motility and why is it important?

Sperm motility refers to the ability of sperm to move efficiently. It's a crucial factor in fertility because sperm needs to travel through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize the egg. Improved sperm motility increases the chances of successful fertilization. The FERTINUTS study showed that consuming nuts can enhance both total motility and progressive motility.

What does sperm morphology mean and why does it matter?

Sperm morphology refers to the shape and structure of sperm. Normal morphology is essential for sperm to properly penetrate and fertilize an egg. Abnormal sperm shape can hinder fertility. The FERTINUTS study revealed that incorporating nuts into the diet improved sperm morphology, suggesting that nuts can help promote the production of healthier sperm.

What is sperm DNA fragmentation, and how can it affect fertility?

Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) refers to the damage or breakage of the DNA within sperm cells. High levels of SDF can negatively impact fertility by affecting fertilization, embryo development, and pregnancy outcomes. The FERTINUTS study indicated that consuming nuts may lead to a reduction in SDF, suggesting that nuts could protect sperm DNA integrity and improve reproductive health.

Besides count, what other specific aspects of sperm health were evaluated?

The study assessed several semen parameters including sperm count and concentration (the total number of sperm and their concentration in semen), vitality (the percentage of live sperm), DNA fragmentation (the integrity of sperm DNA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production which measures oxidative stress levels, chromosome anomalies (any chromosomal abnormalities in sperm), and epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation and microRNA expression which influence sperm function. Improvements in these parameters indicate better sperm quality and fertility potential.