How Can You Eat Like That? Diet Differences In Gender

The other night at dinner, I matched my boyfriend's lasagna intake piece for piece. We ate dinner later than usual and I, finding myself famished, surprised us both by keeping pace with him through several plate refills. When dinner was over, he bounded up from the table ready to go work on his car while I sat bloated and barely able to move. Later, still feeling as though I had swallowed a bowling ball, I watched in utter amazement as he happily snacked on some chocolate chip cookies. Still uncomfortably full (and jealous), I wondered how he could fit any more food into his body while I used all of my willpower trying not to explode. As it turns out, there are actually biological reasons for the differences in our eating habits and abilities.

Calories

Men and women have different calorie needs. Although both women and men will lose weight if they expend more calories than they consume, men have a lot more calories to play with. According to Harvard Medical School, those with a moderate activity level can consume about 16 calories per pound of body weight with no ill effects. Men generally weigh more, meaning that while I may have to skip dessert, the men in my life have more wiggle room in their diets and can easily enjoy some cake without gaining an ounce.

Fiber

Both genders should consume a diet comprised of up to 65 percent carbohydrates. Ideally, these carbohydrates should come from whole-grain, high-fiber foods like brown rice and beans. A high-fiber diet reduces the risk of several diseases, such as colon cancer and diabetes. Men need more fiber, however, than women. Up until the age of 50,, men need 38 grams of fiber a day while women need only 25 grams a day. After 50, these numbers drop to 30 grams and 21 grams, respectively. So the next time you ask your wife to make you a sandwich, request wheat bread.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

To improve health, men and women should both reduce the amount of saturated fat they eat and increase the amount of unsaturated fat in their diet. This means reducing your intake of animal products and palm oil, cocoa butter and coconut while increasing your intake of olive oil and fish. But men must exercise caution with certain unsaturated fats. Although generally healthy, omega-3 fatty acids are an unsaturated fat that can be detrimental to a man's health. Found in canola oil, flaxseed oil, walnuts, spinach and some other foods, the vegetable omega-3 fatty acid known as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is good for a man's heart but may contribute to prostate cancer.

Calcium and Iron

Although women's bodies need high levels of both iron and calcium, it is possible for men to have too much of these good things. Although women of child-bearing age rarely have problems with excess iron, men can develop cirrhosis, liver cancer and diabetes if their iron intake is too high. Men should aim for about 8 milligrams of iron a day. Too much calcium increases the risk of prostate cancer, so aim for about 800 milligrams of calcium a day and do not exceed 2,000 milligrams.

So there you have it, gentlemen. The next time the woman in your life asks "How can you eat like that,” you'll have an answer for her.