Bad news for vegetarians! If you want grandchildren, make sure you eat MEAT, study finds

• Researchers found that a lack of meat in a father's diet can have a further impact
• In a study on flies, it was found that it can damage their children's fertility rates
• Skipping out on protein made their sperm much lazier, according to scientist
  Don't think about turning vegetarian if you want grandchildren.
  New research suggests that a lack of meat in a father's diet could massively impact their children's fertility. In a study on fruit flies, scientists found skipping out on protein can damage their offspring's chances of conceiving. Not consuming enough of the essential nutrient, which is found in high quantities in animal products, made their children's sperm lazier. New research suggests that a lack of meat in a father's diet could massively impact their children's fertility (stock)
  Researchers from Monash University, Melbourne, tested the effects of protein on fruit flies.
  The animals, which are believed to be similar to humans, were either raised on a high-protein diet, or a low one.
  
  
  However, both groups spent their adulthood eating similar levels of the essential nutrient.
  Researchers from Monash University, Melbourne found that those fed lots of protein produced children with more competitive sperm.
  

  
  

  In a study on fruit flies, scientists found skipping out on protein can damage their offspring's chances of conceiving. This was defined as being more likely to win against a competitor's sperm within the female tract. In their reproductive process, a female fly will mate with several males in the space of just a few hours.  The immune system was weaker in those who consumed a diet low in protein, the study published in Biology Letters found. But metabolic and reproductive processes were increased in sons of fathers on a high protein diet. 

  However, scientists are unsure if the effects could be reduced if the mother eats a heavy protein diet.

  This comes after research suggested in December that men who eat lots of soya may be harming their chances of becoming a father.

  Spanish fertility experts found evidence that natural chemicals in soya – used to make vegetarian and vegan products such as tofu – could damage sperm.

  Researchers in Spain believed the issue could lie with phytoestrogens, chemicals which mimic female hormones and are found in soya.