Dear ladies your body could be naturally more fitter than your male counterparts. According to a latest study, females are more fit naturally as they can process oxygen more quickly than males, thereby putting to rest the age old assumption pitting men to be more athletic than females.
The study conducted by the researchers at the University of Waterloo researchers, claimed that the processing of oxygen may differ from gender to gender and females may have slight edge while excercsing for their ability to process oxygen quicker. Quick oxygen uptake places less strain on the body's cells and forms an important component of aerobic fitness.
The findings published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, is compared oxygen uptake and muscle oxygen extraction between 18 young men and women of similar age and weight during treadmill exercise.
Lead author Thomas Beltrame said that while they are not sure what makes women more quipped in processing oxygen faster but the findings are debunking the age old theories stating that men's bodies are more naturally athletic.
The team said that the women consistently outperformed men with around 30 percent faster oxygen handling throughout the body.
Researchers also said women's muscles extract oxygen from the blood faster, which indicates a superior aerobic system.By processing oxygen faster, one is less likely to accumulate molecules linked with muscle fatigue, effort perception and poor athletic performance.
So ladies, gear up and fight it out at the gym or any physical activity you are fond of. Whilr you are at it, make sure you keep a track of your diet too. The perfect state of health and fitness is a combination of both diet and exercise. Follow these tips and stay fit as a fiddle always.
1. Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables
The body needs a constant inflow of vitamins and minerals. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables ensures that your body gets all the nutrients required. All fruits and veggies play their part in providing various vitamins and minerals. Include a lot of bright and deep coloured veggies and fruits like oranges, red tomatoes, purple berries and leafy greens as they are all rich in antioxidants that fight disease-causing free radicals. You toss some interesting salads, or even make a delicious fruit chaat or blend them in thick smoothies.
2. Stay Hydrated
Drinking water regularly through the day is essential because we keep losing water from our body in the form of urine and sweat. Water carries out several important functions such as flushing bacteria out of your bladder, aiding digestion, carrying nutrients and oxygen to the cells, preventing constipation and maintaining the electrolyte (sodium) balance. Bangalore-based Nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood tells us, "I recommend that a person should consume at least 2 and a half liters of water a day. To replenish the loss of water, this is essential. The water intake needs to increase if the activity pattern of the person is very high like those for athletes or those who gym regularly as they tend to lose a greater amount of water."
3. Don't Skip Your Meals
Ever meal plays its part. Hence, skipping one of the three major meals of the day can have a negative impact. Your brain and body need fuel to run. Your brain needs a supply of glucose and a lack of it can make you lethargic. Skipping meals can cause your metabolism to slow down, which can lead to weight gain or make it harder to lose weight. When you skip meals, your body switches on the 'survival mode', which simply means that it craves more food than usual, and that ultimately results in binge-eating.
4. Avoid Fatty, Processed Foods
The fresher, the better. Fast food and processed or packaged food often come with a number of preservatives and additives to increase shelf live. Moreover, they may hide high levels of sugar and sodium that can increase the risk of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, obesity and more. Processed foods also have 'rewarding' quality which means that for their salty, sweet or spicy taste your brain starts considering them as 'reward' foods and that leads to unnecessary cravings.