Scientific research supports the need for nutritional guidelines for men’s prenatal health to support healthy pregnancies
Seattle WA, September 28, 2020, -- Beli, Inc., helping couples achieve healthy pregnancies with science-backed prenatal products, today issued a call for the Department of Health and Human Services to include guidelines for male prenatal health to address the effects sperm has on conceiving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy.
By the end of 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is scheduled to release the ninth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. The report is an analysis of the most recent science and recommendations regarding nutrition, supplementation, and overall health throughout the various stages of life. The report covers the importance of women’s prenatal health for conception, pregnancy, and the long-term health of the baby. However, the report completely fails to recognize the scientific evidence regarding the nutritional needs of the father and the role sperm health plays in conceiving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy and the long-term health of the baby.
“The fact is these guidelines have been around for more than 100 years and they have not kept up with modern science. With stories hitting daily about the massive decline in sperm counts, couples having children later in life, pressure to freeze eggs, rise in infertility and IVF treatments, and the growth of fertility centers and sperm banks, one of the easiest things we can do and what we must do is get healthy during our reproductive years – and that goes for both him and her. We need to elevate that message because science tells us this is a big part of the equation that is not being addressed,” said Joni Hanson Davis, CEO and Founder of Beli.
Scientific research has proven that nutritional deficiencies in males contributes to poor sperm health leading to increased risk factors for infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, placental health, and the future health of the baby, so the emphasis on nutritional optimization for the male is critical. Research and market data trends from the National Institute for Health prove that men’s and women’s fertility issues are on the rise. One in five couples will seek fertility care over their lifetime. More than 40% of couples who have fertility issues are due to poor sperm quality and quantity. According to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Health and Human Development reports that overall, one-third of infertility cases are caused by male reproductive issues, one-third by female reproductive issues, and one-third by both male and female reproductive issues or unknown factors. In fact, only one in four men have optimal semen quality.
Most men produce millions of new sperm every day and it takes around three months for sperm to fully mature. A lot can happen in those three months that can affect the overall health and capabilities of that sperm. The sperm provide 50% of the genetic material for the baby, and if the sperm is not healthy enough to preserve that material or penetrate the egg, that fetus will never occur or properly develop. Evidence shows that the most common cause of sperm deficiencies are nutrient shortages. Just like women, men’s bodies need different vitamins and minerals to produce healthy sperm. Taking steps to maintain sperm health, even if no fertility issues are present, can improve how quickly the woman conceives the viability of that conception and set the foundation for a healthy child.
“Fertility and reproductive health is a $24 billion dollar industry and growing at warp speeds but men are often overlooked in the pregnancy equation, despite the fact sperm health is 50% of the equation and plays a dramatic role in not only creating, but also sustaining a successful pregnancy,” continued Davis. “Despite the importance of the male side of the equation, the vast majority of products on the market have been focused on women. It is surprising that in 2020, women still bear the physical and psychological burden of getting and staying pregnant when science is telling us men’s sperm health is just as important as her egg health in the health of the pregnancy and the long term health of the baby. One of the easiest ways to increase sperm health is to take a male prenatal that is optimized for his reproductive health. If you are in your reproductive years, we believe men should be taking Beli Men’ Prenatal over a general multi-vitamin during their reproductive years.”
Beli Vitality, a male prenatal, was specially formulated to help the 100+ million people trying to get pregnant each year increase their chances of conceiving and sustaining a healthy pregnancy. The company is leading a campaign called #spermcounts bringing awareness to the importance of optimizing sperm health to increase a couple’s chances for a healthy pregnancy.
About Beli
Beli is designed to create a positive foundation of health through one small, yet significant act of a daily vitamin. Beli is modernizing the nutritional science market bringing the latest research, science, data, and innovation to consumers to support some of the most pressing health needs facing us today, including reproductive, prenatal, and fertility health, among others to come. Our bodies are constantly changing and rejuvenating, which is amazing, but what those cells are being created from is what we consume. What we put in our mouths is one of the biggest factors how our bodies work and feel, and perhaps the only thing we can control. Our formulas contain high quality, highly activated, bio-available ingredients at optimized levels to ensure nutrients are readily absorbed by the body and can do their job in the way they are intended. Beli takes pride in researching and producing each product with great care and integrity. All products are vegan friendly, gluten free, Non-GMO, made in an FDA registered facility in the United States, and follow the Good Manufacturing Process Guidelines (cGMP).