Differences between men and women

The subject that we will discuss below has been outlined from some approaches made through the previous guides. It is an important point to consider when talking about nutrition and diets.

Thinking that men and women, just because they belong to the same species, function biologically identical, is one of the most common mistakes when analyzing the content and program of a diet. This issue, if ignored, can inevitably lead to the implementation of an erroneous diet, and that is why we consider of vital importance to expose the most significant points that we consider in this regard.

Next, we will try to approach the subject from the aspects that you should consider before planning your diet, so that you can adjust it to your real biological conditions.

Are there differences to consider between men and women?

Yes, differences exist and they are noticeable. Logically we have the same needs and consume the same products, but it is the way each organism interacts with these foods that makes the differentiated treatment between both sexes special.

There are many aspects that influence this phenomenon, from the simplest to appreciate, we could mention processes that only concern women, such as the menstrual period, to obvious characteristics such as the difference between the muscle mass of a man and a woman. Aspects such as these will be dealt with in the following points of this guide.

Muscle mass

In order to avoid confusion, we must clarify that the data we will provide below are based on general statistics; it is not valid to attend to particularities that are reflected in certain men or women. They are issues present in considerable samples of a population.

This is because surely we all know a woman who has a notably more muscular physique than many men, but once again, in large population samples, this would be an exception to the rule, so if you are a woman and do not consider yourself to be included in that group, these aspects apply to you.

Men have a third more muscle mass than women, the level of testosterone in men is much higher than in women, and this translates into genetics that tends towards less fat and more muscle.

All this is important when talking about nutrition for the simple reason that the metabolism associated with muscle mass is considerably higher than that corresponding to fat, and therefore more muscular people burn, as a general rule, more calories than those who are less muscular.

This has a second reading: we can say, in principle, that a man needs more calories than a woman if he wishes to maintain his muscle mass. This is one of the factors why diets should be adapted, not copied. Because a bad plan that makes you consume the same calories as a man could show unfavorable results in its effects.

Having said all this, there is a certain genetic tendency that favors men in the burning of calories associated with muscle mass. If you are a woman, keep in mind that your effort should be doubled in this regard, and following this logic, it is valid to note that men and women who reach similar characteristics in this aspect, will enjoy the same benefits, because it is not your sex that directly influences, but the characteristics that your body possesses. So, this is a disadvantage that we can overcome by doing things the right way.

Macronutrient requirements

Once we have analyzed the differences in muscle mass between men and women, the thesis to support would be that a man needs more macronutrients than a woman.

But this is not entirely true. It applies only if the man weighs more than the woman, and the reality is that although muscle mass has a lot to say in this regard is not decisive in any way.

So if you've heard that men should eat more than women, it's totally false. Heavier people need to eat more food than lighter people if they want to maintain their current body patterns.

Micronutrient needs

The above applies only to macronutrients (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) but in the case of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals derived from food intake) there are certain rules to consider.

Iron, for example, an essen