Due to metabolic differences, women may benefit from different breakfast foods compared to men. Image credit: Studio Firma/Stocksy. Eating a carbohydrate-rich breakfast for men and a fat-rich breakfast for women can help get your day off to a good start, new research suggests. Women store more fat than men, but they also burn fat faster. According to the computer modeling used in the study, metabolic differences between men and women have historically been understudied due to greater interest in men’s health. One study author suggests that metabolic differences between men and women are probably related to more complex stages in a woman’s life and the demands placed on her body, such as pregnancy.
What type of breakfast is best for men and women? Two completely different menus, according to a new study by researchers at Canada’s University of Waterloo.
The study found that for optimal energy levels and health, men’s metabolisms may respond best to a carbohydrate-rich breakfast after no meal at night, while women’s fat percentages are lower when they wake up. We suggest that you may benefit more from a higher diet.
Choosing metabolically appropriate foods may also help you lose and maintain weight.
Metabolism refers to the complex series of chemical processes in the body by which nutritional substances are converted into energy, growth occurs, and cell damage is repaired.
The study was based on a mathematical model created by the researchers that allowed them to simulate the effects of different dietary choices on men’s and women’s metabolisms.
This model aimed to fill the gap in existing knowledge regarding the differences in how men and women process fat. Because medical research has historically focused on men’s health, far less data is available about the effects of food on women’s metabolism.
The researchers were able to use this model to simulate dietary outcomes, especially in women, where clinical data is lacking.
Human nutrition consists primarily of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Women tend to rely more on lipid-fatty acid-metabolism rather than the carbohydrate metabolic preference exhibited by men.
Most importantly, the study authors say, it is important to better understand these metabolic differences because they can lead to differences in metabolic responses and disease risk. .
Michelle Ruthenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, a preventive cardiology nutritionist at EntirelyNourished, who was not involved in the study, suggests some foods that both men and women should consider for breakfast. did.
“Choosing a carbohydrate-rich breakfast that is balanced in macronutrients and contains soluble fiber can be beneficial for men. This may include oatmeal, a balanced smoothie, berries, nuts, or a bowl of yogurt. Included,” she advised.
Dr. Rothenstein recommended that women “consume heart-healthy fats that are rich in unsaturated fats.” This includes chia pudding, vegetable egg omelet, cottage cheese with flaxseed and apples, and more. ”
Dr. Anita T. Layton, senior investigator on the study, principal investigator in mathematical biology and medicine, and professor of applied mathematics, computer science, pharmacy, and biology at the University of Waterloo, told Medical News Today: He said as follows.
“Existing knowledge seems to present a contradiction: women tend to retain more fat than men during the resorption period, but fat oxidation tends to be significantly higher during the post-resorption period.” Our model can guide gender-specific dietary recommendations that optimize metabolic health and prevent complications such as postprandial hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, allowing any given body type to be simulated. You can see how your body reacts to the composition of your diet.”
“We hypothesize that increased reliance on fat metabolism in women may be influenced by sex differences in liver and adipose tissue, and model simulations suggest possible underlying mechanisms. “There is,” he added.
Leighton also explained the mechanism that may be at work, saying, “The female liver directs more glycerol toward gluconeogenesis.”
“However, because the female liver stores more glycogen than the male liver, there is less glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen) and lower glucose excretion compared to the male model. This reduction in arterial blood glucose “This increases the oxidation of free fatty acids by other organs and tissues, thereby increasing overall fat metabolism,” she elaborated.
Simply put, “women not only store more fat, but also burn more fat during prolonged exercise and metabolize fat more efficiently with post-fasting meals,” Leighton said. Ta.
“Fat is an excellent source of energy and is needed to meet the high nutritional costs of pregnancy and lactation,” Leighton points out. “These sex differences are likely caused by estrogen, as women incur more nutritional costs during reproduction and lactation,” she added.
She suggested considering the complexity of women’s lives from a biological perspective, especially compared to men. “The human lifespan is very simple. We grow from a child to a young man to an old man.”
“On the other hand, a woman may become pregnant and then go through lactation, both of which require significant nutrition and undergo major changes in the woman’s body (…), before reaching menopause and the rest of her period. , these stages may repeat multiple times, “an effect of the aging process,” she noted.
“Many of the sex differences exist to prepare women for the extraneous demands placed on them by pregnancy and breastfeeding,” Leighton said.
Dr. Ruthenstein, who specializes in preventive cardiology, added, “There is a strong sense in the heart health field that much of the past research has ignored women, and that more research is focused primarily on women and the heart.” “There is a conscious and ongoing effort to maintain focus.” Health, especially during the transition period of perimenopausal and postmenopausal life. ”
