Could a lack of sleep lead to sub par swimmers? That’s what the latest research in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests.
In the study, men who experienced the most sleep related difficulties over a period of 4 weeks—trouble falling asleep or waking frequently throughout the night—had a 25 percent lower sperm count than men who logged a proper night’s sleep.
But, don’t worry, one late night won’t trash your troops. The researchers note that the men with sleep disturbances generally had an unhealthier lifestyle overall (think: a higher BMI or a habit for boozing and smoking); so these poor habits combined may be responsible for the poor sperm quality.
Your main takeaway: Balance builds strong sperm. So that means eat a proper diet, regularly log 7 to 8 hours of shuteye, and don’t forget the gym: Young men who regularly exercise may have better erectile functioning than those who don’t, suggests a recent study published in the International Journal of Sexual Medicine.
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