Carbs or fat for breakfast?

Research published in the scientific journal Science Direct, examined the sex-based differences in healthy young people in the oxidation of energy in different metabolic states such as fasting and eating, and identified different regulation of metabolism according to body composition. The study is based on a mathematical model created by the researchers, which allowed them to simulate the effect of different dietary choices on the metabolism of men and women. The model is designed to fill gaps in existing knowledge about differences between the ways in which men and women process fat. Until now, medical research has focused mostly on men, so there is much less data available on the effects of food on women’s metabolism. Using the model, the researchers were able to simulate nutritional outcomes for women.”The study suggests that for optimal and healthy energy levels, men’s metabolism may respond best to a high-carbohydrate breakfast after not eating at night, while women may benefit more from meals with a higher percentage of fat when they wake up,” explains Chava Kadosh, clinical dietitian In Assuta Haifa, “Thus, choosing the right foods for the metabolism may help to lose weight and maintain a normal body weight.”

 

Kadosh explains that metabolism is a complex series of chemical processes in the body through which nutrients are converted into energy, and growth and damage repair occur in cells. Human nutrition consists mainly of carbohydrates, fat and proteins. Women tend to rely more on the metabolism of fats – fatty acids, compared to men, who rely more on the breakdown of carbohydrates. “These differences in metabolism can cause differences in metabolic reactions and disease risk, so it is important that we get more information about them,” she emphasizes.

 

 

 

>> We are not the same: the physiological differences between women and men that affect fasting

So what should you eat in the morning?

According to Michelle Rotenstein, cardiologist dietitian, “Choosing breakfasts rich in carbohydrates that are balanced in macronutrients and contain soluble fiber can be beneficial for men. The meal can include foods such as oatmeal, a balanced shake or a bowl of yogurt with berries and nuts.” For women, however, Rothenstein recommends heart-healthy fats that are rich in unsaturated fats. “A meal that can include foods such as chia pudding, a vegetarian omelet or cottage cheese with flax seeds and apples.”

 

 

 

Why is fat metabolism faster in women?

“The existing knowledge seems to present a paradox,” explained the senior researcher of the study, Anita T. Leighton, “Women tend to retain more fat than men during the absorptive period—after food is broken down, when nutrients are absorbed into the blood—but exhibit significantly higher fat oxidation in the postabsorptive period. Our model can guide tailored, sex-specific dietary recommendations that optimize metabolic health and prevent complications such as hyperglycemia After a meal or hypoglycemia, you can do simulations to see how a specific body might react to meals of all kinds.” The researcher also added that they hypothesize that the increased reliance on fat metabolism in women is influenced by differences between the sexes in the liver and adipose tissue, for which simulations in the model indicate a basic mechanism.

Leighton described the potential mechanism, noting that “the female liver diverts more glycerol toward gluconeogenesis, a metabolic pathway to create glucose. However, the female liver retains more glycogen than the male liver, resulting in reduced glycogen breakdown and lower glucose output compared to the male model. This reduction in glucose promotes Oxidation of free fatty acids by other organs and tissues, resulting in higher fat metabolism.”

 

 

 

Why are there gender differences in the way we metabolize?

“Women store more fat,” says Leighton, “but also burn more fat during prolonged exercise and break down fat more efficiently at a post-fasted meal. Fat is a great source of energy, which is needed to meet the high nutritional demands of pregnancy and lactation. It is likely that these differences between The sexes are driven by estrogen, as women have higher nutritional requirements during pregnancy and lactation due to the major changes in the female body, and they may repeat these stages several times in their lives. For men, on the other hand, things are simpler – they grow from children to young adults, and then to older adults.” .

“This study shows us in a beautiful way that there are differences between the metabolism of women compared to men, but more studies of this type are needed to understand the mechanisms more deeply,” concludes Kadosh, “other factors must also be considered, such as the difference between one human body and another, lifestyle , genetics and the microbiome that lives in our gut. That is why it is important to tailor a unique nutritional suit for each patient. Emphasis should be placed on the nutritional support of a professional, dietitian or clinical dietitian, in order to lose weight in a safe and normal way, and to maintain a normal body weight and a healthy lifestyle.”