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Eating a diet rich in nuts could produce higher sperm count and quality, according to a new study.

Researchers found that those in the nut group saw their sperm count improve by 16 per cent, sperm vitality by four per cent, sperm motility by six per cent and sperm morphology by one per cent.

They also showed a “significant” fall in sperm DNA fragmentation, which is associated with infertility.

So, should men trying to conceive a baby start adding nuts to their everyday diet?

“We can’t yet say that based solely on the results of this study,” says Salas-Huetos.

Brazil nut prices soaring due to reduced harvests after droughts

The price of brazil nuts has increased by 61 per cent from the start of the year

Nutty about nuts? You might want to consider substituting Brazil nuts for almonds or cashews – even if just as a favour to your wallet.

Reduced rainfall in the Amazon region, which covers the main exporter countries of as Bolivia, Peru and Brazil, has affected both the quality and quantity of the crop, leading to shortages.

Collectors reportedly gathered only about a third of last year’s supply, triggering a spike in prices, according to the FT.

The shortage of Brazil nuts comes amid rising demand for healthier snacks in the UK.

Mark Setterfield, managing director of the importer RM Curtis, told The Guardian that prices would stay high due to growing demand coupled with impact of the weaker pound since Brexit.

 

A handful of nuts a day can help to keep the doctor – and the undertaker – away, research has shown.

People consuming at least 20 grams of nuts daily were less likely to develop potentially fatal conditions such as heart disease and cancer, the study found.

Being nuts about nuts reduced the risk of heart disease by nearly 30%, the risk of cancer by 15%, and the risk of premature death by 22%.