The diet of men and women: real differences or simple marketing?
The nutritionist and researcher, Dr. Pietro Senette, answers.
«In the world of nutrition, the idea that men and women have different dietary needs is often a subject of debate. While there are some physiological variations between the sexes that can influence nutritional needs, the issue unfortunately lends itself to simplifications and marketing tactics. The reality is that men normally tend to have a slightly higher metabolic rate than women while women for their part may have a greater need for certain nutrients such as iron due to monthly blood loss during the menstrual cycle and need for greater quantities of some micronutrients such as folic acid and calcium during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Hormonal fluctuations, such as those related to the menstrual cycle, can also affect appetite, metabolism and food preferences. Having clarified this, it is necessary to underline that too often, many marketing campaigns tend to exaggerate gender differences, suggesting that there are "men's diets" and "women's diets". This approach can lead to harmful stereotypes and a distorted view of individual nutritional needs."
