Why women eat better

Women are more likely to eat healthily than men

There may be a reason why men choose a cheeseburger, while women go for a Caesar salad.

Scientists in America have discovered that their bodies react differently to food.

It has already been shown more women than men think eating healthily is important.

But the American researchers say their findings show that this could be down to their bodies, rather than their willpower.

In a separate piece of research, tests in rats have shown hormonal differences mean women are at higher risk of liver damage from drinking the same amount of alcohol as men.

Both studies are being presented to the American Physiological Society's conference.

Digestive differences

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania looked at the vagus nerve, which runs through the body from the brain, passing through the pharynx, larynx, trachea, lungs, heart, pancreas, liver and through the digestive system.

It is essential to digestion, and is activated when people eat.

The researchers looked at how the nerve worked in men and women, both under normal conditions and when its activity was inhibited.

They measured how fast the study subject's stomachs emptied.

In men whose vagal activity had been inhibited, gastric emptying was delayed, but the procedure had no effect on women.

The team also looked at the secretion of hormones once the vagus nerve started working.

They found men released more insulin than women.

And while men produced more pancreatic polypeptide, women produced less.

The researchers say these could be key indicators about why men and women's tastes differ.

Hormonal influence

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh looked at how male and female rats responded to alcohol consumption.

Ethanol, the active ingredient in all alcoholic drinks, is a depressant.

Its effect on the body can also cause liver damage.

To test how males and females reacted differently to ethanol, rats were fed either alcohol or alcohol-free diets for 30 days.

Those given alcohol developed liver symptoms associated with heavy drinking, such as fatty liver and inflammation.

The researchers then looked at gene differences.

They found the natural genetic defence mechanism which protects the liver from alcohol damage worked less well in females than men.

They say this means women are at a higher risk of liver damage when they drink the same amount of alcohol as men.