Sperm killers
are everywhere. They saturate you in the shower, seep into your skin in
the checkout line, and even ooze into the convenience food you grab on
the fly. No matter the point of entry, many everyday chemicals are
zapping sperm counts and even silently scrambling DNA sperm data for men
all over the world. Some cause sperm mobility problems, leaving your
swimmers not swimming so well.
You
might already know that narrow bikes seats have been linked to erectile
dysfunction, and maybe you’ve heard about the study connecting
antidepressants to sperm DNA damage. But other everyday habits are
acting as sperm slayers too. Once you understand the scope of harmful
products on the market, it’s easy to see why fertility clinics are
packed with customers, both male and female. The good news is these
everyday toxins are easier to sidestep than you may think.
1. Cash register receipts
Think how many
times a day someone slips a cash register receipt into your hand: Your
morning coffee, your gas fill-up, your stock-up trip to the grocery
store, your dinner and a movie. The transactions are endless. The
problem is, about 40 percent of receipts today are coated with the
hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), which has been linked to
fertility problems and heart disease. A new study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility
just discovered that men with higher BPA levels in their urine
experienced low sperm counts and lower sperm quality than men with lower
levels.
Protect yourself: While there’s no direct evidence linking receipt handling to infertility,
why take chances? Until electronic receipts become commonplace, say
you don’t want a receipt at the point of purchase. If you do need one,
store it in an envelope or folder, not in a pocket or in the wallet
you’re constantly breaking open. Keep receipts out of the recycling bin,
too; their BPA can contaminate water and recycled-paper products.
2. Canned food
Many researchers believe the biggest source of BPA contamination comes
through food packaging. Sure, canned food is convenient, but almost all
of those metal cans are coated with a BPA resin, which migrates into
the food. Acidic canned products, such as tomato paste or sauces, are
particularly saturated with BPA.
Protect yourself:
Choose fresh or frozen food instead of canned whenever possible, and
buy foods like pasta sauce sold in glass jars rather than cans.
