Official dietary guidelines apply to everyone, but a new Australian study published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases indicates that certain vegetables may be especially beneficial depending on a person's sex, HealthDay reports.
Researchers examined the dietary habits of more than 600 young adults and compared them with early signs of cardiovascular disease.
Different hormones may play a role
The researchers believe the difference may be explained by the fact that men and women absorb and utilize nutrients and plant compounds differently.
According to HealthDay, compounds found in legumes may influence testosterone, while compounds in cruciferous vegetables may affect hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
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However, the researchers emphasize that further studies are needed before this link can be confirmed.
These vegetables may be best for you based on your sex
The study also found that eating one daily serving of these vegetables was associated with fewer early risk factors for cardiovascular disease, even among people in their early twenties.
Men who ate more legumes, such as beans, lentils, and peas, showed fewer signs of high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, unhealthy cholesterol levels, and increased waist circumference.
Women, on the other hand, benefited most from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, which were associated with fewer early signs of cardiovascular disease as well as type 2 diabetes.
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