Eating a lot of seafood is an essential part of a healthy diet. You probably already know the benefits of eating fish: It can be a great source of nutrients, including vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids; it can lower your risk of heart attacks and strokes; it can prevent brain deterioration; and fish can even help and prevent depression. But if you still needed another reason to start stocking up on salmon, we’ve got two: According to science, people who eat more fish have a better sex life. On top of that, eating a lot of seafood can even increase your chances of getting pregnant.
This research comes from a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Researchers looked at about 500 couples who were trying to conceive, tracking their daily seafood intake as well as how often they had sex for four years. What they found was that 92 percent of the couples who ate fish and shellfish more than twice a week were pregnant by the end of one year. On top of that, men and women with the highest seafood intake (more than eight servings per month) had a 22 percent higher rate of having sex. So, yeah: Seafood can keep you healthy and give you a better sex life.
Well, probably. The study didn’t give definite answers. Study author Audrey Gaskins, ScD, a research associate in the department of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said, “It is also possible that couples who consume higher amounts of seafood together share more meals, and thus more time together (including nights).” Basically, it’s possible that the study simply found that couples who dine together have more sex… which makes a lot of sense.
Gaskins does think the fish had an impact on the baby rates, though. She said that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish could improve semen and embryo quality, increase the likelihood of ovulation, and increase levels of progesterone.
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Even though the findings are still a bit confusing, the study did bring up one really important topic: that what both females and males eat have a big impact on pregnancy. Gaskins said, “Our results stress the importance of not only female, but also male diet on time to pregnancy, and suggests that both partners should be incorporating more seafood into their diets for the maximum fertility benefit.”
This brings to mind another study from earlier this year of 250 women in Greece that found that eating a Mediterranean diet might increase the chances of success with IVF fertility treatment. Mediterranean diets include moderate amounts of seafood, as well as lots of veggies, fruits, olive oil, beans, and cereal grains.
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or just trying to liven up your sex life, you might want to try incorporating more seafood into your diet. It’s delicious, so, hey, it’s worth a try!
