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Should Men And Women Eat Differently At Breakfast?

‘The difference between men and women’ has long been a contentious topic – ever since language was invented. But thanks to science, we can now agree on one thing, at least: men and women can both benefit from eating differently at breakfast…

Woman Breakfast - © 2024 mibluedaily.com

We both have two arms and two legs. We both have 5 fingers and toes each. Two eyes, two ears, two nostrils… And one mouth apiece. Aside from our reproductive paraphernalia, we all possess the same internal organs. The differences are most decidedly in the details. And there are so many… Don’t get me started!

Different needs

It follows that women and men should have differing preferences according to what their bodies tell them about their fundamental nutrition needs.

We recognise the phenomenon of ‘cravings’,  and how they vary between men and women. Especially under different circumstances and in different situations.

But so often, overwhelmingly when we dine at home as a couple or a family, we all eat the same meal, with only minor personal tweaks.

Closer attention to breakfast?

Breakfast, a new survey suggests, deserves closer attention with a focus on both the needs and de-sires of men vs. women.

“We live busy lives, so it’s important to understand how seemingly inconsequential decisions, such as what to have for breakfast, can affect our health and energy levels,” says Stéphanie Abo, Lead Author of the University of Waterloo (Canada) study.

“Whether attempting to lose weight, maintain weight, or just keep up your energy, understanding your diet’s impact on your metabolism is important,” she emphasizes.

What they did

We’re all aware that even the most recent learned studies have reaffirmed the importance of a good breakfast to start the day. But Abo and her team wanted to go deeper, quantifying the findings with an eye to making specific recommendations. And discovering what differences might be indicated for men vs. woman.

The study employed a mathematical model of men’s and women’s metabolisms, with respect to how their systems handle proteins, carbohydrates found in common breakfast foods.

What they found

Results showed that men’s metabolisms respond better on average to a meal laden with high carbo-hydrates like oats and grains after fasting for several hours. But women are better served by a break-fast with a higher percentage of fat, such as omelettes and avocados.

“Since women have more body fat on average than men, you would think that they would burn less fat for energy, but they don’t,” says Anita Layton, Professor of Applied Mathematics and Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine.

The takeaway

“The results of the [new mathematical] model suggest that women store more fat immediately after a meal but also burn more fat during a fast.” Layton explains.

And that indicates the need for a very different nutritional intake at breakfast, if women are going to perform at their peak through a busy morning.

My take

The findings are just the first such results of what may become a string of studies using mathematical models to analyse other metabolic functions.

And that could produce a flood of new information on why – and how – women should eat differently then men.

And, no… I didn’t that one coming at all!

~ Maggie J.

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