Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. It may sound trite and hackneyed, but recent research proves that men and women are very different and not just in the obvious ways.
We know that we all need basic nutrients and the human body has certain basic nutritional needs. That’s why we are so focused on getting sufficient vitamins A, B, C, D, E and more. That’s why we chow down our magnesium, selenium, CoQ10 and more.
Yet in the past few years, scientists are finding that some substances that are good for women may actually be harmful for men and vice versa. The wonders of red wine, iron and healthy fats may not be right for everyone.
Here is where some of the big differences lie:
Alcohol: There is strong body of evidence that shows the health benefits of moderate intake of alcohol, especially antioxidant-rich red wine, for almost everyone. In fact, moderate alcohol consumption has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and promote long life into old age.
Doctors are reluctant to recommend that their patients take up drinking for its health benefits—and for good reason.
The line between the health benefits and health detriments of alcohol consumption is an extremely fine one. There is conflicting evidence, so no one can say for sure where that line lies, especially for women.
Several studies show that women who drink even moderate amounts of alcohol are at increased risk of breast cancer.
In fact, less than one drink a day can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer by as much as 30 percent, according to a huge study of nearly a quarter of a million women sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
And Johns Hopkins researchers found that drinking even small amounts can more than double the risk for women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer.
The bottom line: Don’t start drinking because it’s “healthy” and if you’re a woman and you’re at high risk for breast cancer, you might want to reconsider giving up the daily glass of wine.
Good fats: Healthy fats are essential to all human health and both men and women benefit from omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish and flax in terms of heart and brain health, strong joints, child health and overall longevity. Most experts also recommend monounsaturated fats like those in olive and canola oils.
However, alpha linolenic acid (ALA) found in canola and flaxseed oils may increase the risk of prostate cancer in men.
The bottom line: There are conflicting studies on the subject, but if you’re at high risk for prostate cancer and you want to protect your heart, gets your good fats from fish and olive oil.
Iron: Here’s another one when where what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander. Women are often deficient in iron, but men rarely are.
Watch out for those steaks and burgers, guys. Two Harvard studies show that men who ate the most heme iron (the kind found in red meat) had much higher risks of Type 2 diabetes and fatal heart attacks. University of Kentucky researchers found that these red meat eaters also had a higher risk of gallstones.
The bottom line: Go easy on the red meat and opt for chicken or fish most of the time.
