When it comes to issues involving nutrition, women clearly have unique needs when compared to the nutritional requirements for men. Women's bodies are obviously very different from men's bodies and therefore have their own uniquely defined nutritional requirements. In fact, many food experts are beginning to argue that the food guidelines currently offered need to be redefined so that they clearly convey the unique nutritional needs for both women and men.
For one thing, the caloric intake of men and women differ significantly, not solely because of gender, but because of average body size and height as well. Women are, more often than not, smaller and more light-weight than a man, which means they require fewer daily calories than men do, at least in most instances. On average, the appropriate daily caloric intake for females falls right around the range of 2000 calories per day, while the range increases by 800 additional calories for men. Of course, the latter figures are clearly affected by exceptions to the rule and are directly affected by one's weight and lifestyle factors as well.
Women have larger calcium needs than men do in most cases too. Women are particularly prone to diseases like osteoporosis later in life, and this issue can be readily addressed with the appropriate amount of calcium consumption on a daily basis. It is true that men can fall victim to a disease like osteoporosis, but the disease is far more prominent in aging women. Researchers have also revealed that the consumption of calcium does not seem to supply men with the same beneficial osteoporosis-reduction advantages that it offers to females. Further, there have been some studies that support the notion that too much calcium consumption by males can lead to later life diseases affecting only men, like that of prostate cancer.
Like calcium, females require significantly higher amounts of iron than males do. The fact that women menstruate and men do not is one of the primary reasons for the additional iron requirements; the regular loss of blood through the monthly cycle can place a drain on a female's iron levels. Later, when a female passes through menopause, her iron requirements are diminished some, but for the majority of a woman's life she will require more iron intake than a man. Women should get at least eighteen milligrams of iron every day, and the daily recommended amounts of iron that men need are a mere eight milligrams in order to maintain optimum health levels.
Women need to consume more lignan compounds than men. Since women are far more prone to developing breast cancer, their dietary needs differ in terms of lignan consumption. Lignans can be consumed safely via flaxseeds, which can be mixed with other foods; the consumption of flaxseeds has been recently proven by researchers to significantly slow down the growth of cancerous tissues. While flaxseed is beneficial to both men and women, women should definitely incorporate a good source of lignan compounds into their regular diet with more consistency.
Robin's Wellness Resource Center is an education-focused natural health and wellness resource center offering reliable information on a variety of health related issues. Go to http://www.wellness-bee.com to learn how you can take back control of your health and well-being.
Robin Reichert has been studying natural health for the past 10 years. She is certified as a Nutrition and Wellness Consultant and holds a Master of Science degree in Natural Health. Her passion is lifelong learning and educating others about natural health.
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