Who says women are made of water? They are made of oil

In traditional culture, women are usually compared to water. There are idioms such as "autumn-water beauty", "lotus emerging from water", and "pupils cutting through water". There is also a famous sentence in "A Dream of Red Mansions" that "girls are made of water"... However, if we step out of the literary context and analyze it completely from a scientific and rational level, the conclusion is exactly the opposite. It can even be said that women are made of "oil" .

1

Men are made of water!

First of all, the saying "women are made of water" is not accurate. Although women's skin looks watery and tender, the water content in their bodies is not much compared to men.

Research has found that water is the most abundant component in the human body by weight, but there is a certain difference in water content between men and women. For example, the water content of an adult male is about 60%-65%, while that of an adult female is only 50%-60% . If we talk about water content, men are made of water.

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02

Women are actually made of oil

Since there is no winner in terms of water content, what component is more abundant in women's bodies? The answer is fat, which is what we usually call "oil".

Statistics show that the body fat (abbreviated as "body fat") content of adult males and females is 15%-18% and 20-25% respectively , which means that the proportion of "oil" in women's bodies is higher than that in men.

Men have more water and less oil, while women have less water and more oil. Why is there such a difference between the two sexes? It is mainly determined by the different physiological structures and functional needs of men and women.

Under the condition of the same height and weight, men have thicker bones and more developed muscles. In order to maintain the function of these bones and muscles, the amount of blood is naturally more, and the muscle and blood are more composed of water. In addition, generally speaking, men exercise more and have a higher basal metabolic rate, so they naturally store less fat.

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Women, on the other hand, do not have as many muscles. After entering puberty, under the influence of sex hormones, fat will gradually accumulate, especially in the chest, lower abdomen, buttocks and other parts, and the amount of "oil" will increase.

03

Don't be nervous even though there is a lot of oil

Some people say that if a woman has too much "oil", she is fat. Is this true? The answer is of course no. A high body fat percentage in women and obesity are two completely different things .

Body fat percentage mainly refers to the proportion of body fat weight in the total body weight, which reflects the amount of fat in the body. Generally speaking, obese people will definitely have a high body fat percentage, but a high body fat percentage does not necessarily mean fat.

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Take women for example, a body fat percentage of 25% is normal for women , but if a man has this fat content, it would be a bit excessive.

04

Blind weight loss is not a good idea

So, why do women need so much fat? Is it just to keep warm? Wouldn't it be better to lose weight and look thinner?

In fact, the "oil" in women's bodies is not given for nothing. Generally speaking, in addition to keeping warm, the fat in the human body has many other uses, including cell formation, heat storage, beauty, bone protection, skin health promotion, fat-soluble vitamin absorption, and synthesis of sex hormones.

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In addition, the fat in women's bodies has other more important functions. The fat in adult women is related to menstruation and fertility. The body fat percentage must reach at least 17% before menarche occurs. To maintain a normal menstrual cycle and conception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, women's body fat percentage must be more than 22%.

The study also found that some women who reduced their body fat percentage through starvation and exercise due to professional needs had abnormal menstruation and even premature menopause. This is because fat and estrogen secretion are closely related, and women with too low body fat percentage will cause insufficient estrogen synthesis.

In reality, many female friends deliberately reduce the fat content in their body in pursuit of a slim figure. This will not only cause endocrine disorders, but also make the skin rough and even affect reproductive function .

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Therefore, although everyone loves beauty, too high or too low body fat content is harmful to health. It is recommended that everyone maintain a suitable body shape, do not pursue a thin body too much, and do not be kidnapped by the scale and abnormal aesthetics . Only a well-proportioned and healthy body can reap true and lasting beauty.

Author: Zhang Yu, researcher at Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Review | Wu Ping Director of Clinical Nutrition Department, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University

Source: Science Refutes Rumors

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