In daily life, "animal offal" is a favorite for many men. Influenced by traditional beliefs such as "eating what you lack", many men's dining tables are never without animal offal such as bullwhip, sheep kidney, pig liver, and chicken kidney, which are known for their aphrodisiac properties or high zinc content.
However, experts have recently pointed out that the nutritional value and potential dangers of animal offal should be scientifically recognized. Despite the unique nutritional components, animal offal contains the heavy metal cadmium, which can have a negative impact on male fertility.
[Animal Offal is a Favorite for Many Men]
The concept of "eating what you lack" is deeply rooted in China, and many men enjoy eating animal offal, especially the highly regarded "animal offal" known for its aphrodisiac properties.
"Boss, give me two skewers of 'animal offal' and two skewers of 'concave waist'," a man who was eating noodles with his head down shouted at the owner of a snack bar, with a few empty barbecue skewers in front of him.
"It's not just because of 'eating what you lack', I really like the unique taste of 'animal offal' and 'concave waist'," the man told the reporter. Like him, many people who love eating animal offal are fond of its unique taste different from meat.
[High Heavy Metal Content in Animal Offal]
"Animal offal contains a large amount of sex hormones and adrenal cortex hormones, which can increase sperm vitality and improve sexual desire. It is commonly recognized as a food for enhancing male potency and is commonly seen on people's dining tables," said Ding Degang, chief physician of the urology department at Henan Provincial People's Hospital.
However, although animal offal seems to have aphrodisiac effects, it hides a risk of infertility. Recently, experts in Taiwan pointed out that the livers and kidneys of pigs, cows, and sheep contain varying levels of the heavy metal cadmium. In the food pollution monitoring report published by the Hubei Provincial Health Department, the cadmium content in animal kidneys exceeded the national standard by 100 times. "Cadmium can induce structural and functional degenerative changes in male reproductive organs such as testicles and epididymis, ultimately leading to reduced fertility," Ding Degang said. In addition to cadmium, lead can also directly affect the core organ of the male reproductive system, the testicles, causing a decrease in sperm count, an increase in sperm deformity rate, and a decrease in activity, affecting fertility. In theory, the human body has a certain detoxification ability, and toxic substances do not accumulate in the body. However, if excessive intake occurs, the body's detoxification ability becomes insufficient, leading to the accumulation of toxic substances in the body. When a certain level is reached, an explosive effect will occur. "Not only heavy metals, but animal offal also has a high fat and cholesterol content," said Fu Sanxian, a nutritionist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Animal offal is prone to contamination by pathogenic microorganisms and parasites. If not thoroughly cooked, it can increase the risk of infection.
Ding Degang also pointed out that some people eat animal offal with the mentality of "eating what you lack", but it is not advisable for kidney disease patients to eat too much animal kidneys because patients with renal insufficiency need to restrict their nutrient intake. Animal kidneys have a high cholesterol content, and excessive consumption may further burden the kidneys and worsen renal function.
[Sperm Affected Is Reversible]
"There are many causes of oligospermia and asthenospermia, including varicocele, reproductive tract infections, immune suppression, endocrine disorders, and the intake of foods and drugs that affect sperm production," Ding Degang reminded. Oligospermia and asthenospermia should be systematically investigated for the causes before specific treatments can be given. For cases where a decrease in sperm count and infertility are caused by behaviors such as taking drugs that affect sperm production or excessive consumption of animal offal, as long as these inhibitory behaviors are stopped and given enough time to recover, sperm can return to normal levels. Ding Degang suggested that those who enjoy eating animal offal but are concerned about infertility should have their sperm quality checked at a hospital.
Fu Sanxian said that animal offal is not useless "leftovers". They have nutritional value and are rich in iron, zinc, and other trace elements, as well as various vitamins. Consuming animal offal can effectively supplement the body's needs for these trace elements and nutrients.
Fu Sanxian told the reporter that many men love eating animal offal, but attention should be paid to the amount consumed. She suggests eating animal offal no more than once or twice a week, with each serving not exceeding 50 grams. "In addition, when eating animal offal, it is best to pair it with whole grains and vegetables to supplement dietary fiber." Fu Sanxian said that animal offal contains bile acid, and whole grains and vegetables have a binding effect with bile acid, which can increase the excretion of bile acid and reduce cholesterol absorption, thus achieving the health benefits of lowering blood lipid levels.
