Eating vegetables isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all solution for health, new research suggests. The study, published in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, indicates that the types of vegetables offering the best heart protection may depend on gender.
Researchers analyzed dietary data from more than 600 young adults in Australia and found clear differences between men and women.
Young men who consumed higher amounts of legumes — such as beans, lentils, and peas — showed significantly fewer early signs of cardiovascular disease. These included lower rates of high blood pressure, reduced waist circumference, and healthier levels of cholesterol and blood sugar.
In contrast, young women appeared to gain the greatest benefit from cruciferous vegetables — including broccoli, cauliflower, and white cabbage. Higher intake of these was linked to fewer early markers of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Notably, even a single daily serving of the “right” vegetables for each gender was found to substantially reduce health risks — even among people around the age of 20.
Why do the benefits differ by sex?
“Our results suggest that men and women may metabolize certain nutrients and plant compounds from vegetables differently,” said Teresa O’Sullivan of the Nutrition and Health Research Institute at Edith Cowan University in Australia.
For example, compounds found in legumes may have a stronger effect on testosterone, while those in cruciferous vegetables may interact more significantly with female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
More research is needed to fully understand these mechanisms, but the researchers note that these vegetables are affordable and easy to incorporate into everyday meals.
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