Despite many people assuming that men and women’s nutrition is the same, studies have shown that women’s nutritional requirements differ from that of men. For example, when exercising, women use fewer carbohydrates and burn more fat than men do, even when they are working at the same intensity.
The Reasons
There are a variety of potential reasons for this. One is that the hormone estrogen, which women have more of than men, has a better capability when it comes to burning fat than testosterone, which is the male equivalent. Another theory is that women have more intracellular fat (that means fat within the muscle cell) and it is this that burns away first, and burns quickly. Other studies suggest that it is because women have a generally higher percentage of body fat, and that means that there is more fat to oxidize and burn away for fuel. Whatever the exact reason or reasons, this seems to point to the fact that women can have a diet that is higher in fat and lower in carbs than a man can (as long as they are also exercising).
Less Hunger
One of the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet that includes higher levels of fat is that women will feel less hungry, and therefore snack less between meals. They will feel fuller for longer and fill up more quickly, so they’ll eat less during their main meal too, and this is a great boost for any weight loss targets that they may have. Cravings and binging are therefore far less common, and the good results that come with a balanced diet and regular exercise are more likely to stay.
Better Insulin Sensitivity
Having good insulin sensitivity is great for both general health and weight loss, and a diet that is higher in fat can promote it in women. The more insulin sensitive someone is, the better a diet will work, and so improving your insulin sensitivity by exchanging some carbs for fats (in a regulated way) can assist in weight loss in the long term.
Female Specific Supplements
The fact that there are supplements that are specifically tailored for women shows that males and females require different diets and nutritional input to stay fit and healthy. Some of the supplements that might be considered staples are great for everyone, but if you want to enhance your ability to keep healthy and even, along with a tailored diet and exercise regime, lose weight, then Sportsfuel supplements for women should certainly be considered.
A Tailored Diet
If women do want to lose weight and keep it off, then cycling through a diet that is in turns more carbohydrate loaded and then more fat based can be of great help. However, it’s important to remember that everyone is different, and what can work for one person may not work for another, even if they go about it in the same way. Therefore it is best to speak to an expert about which kind of diet is best for you as it will depend on body type, weight, height, and even what your resting metabolic rate is.