Adding more good-quality protein to the diets of older adults can combat muscle loss

Getting out of bed and sitting on the toilet may be relatively simple tasks for many people, but they become more difficult with age. This is because of one of the many bodily changes associated with aging: our muscles shrink and become weaker, a condition known as sarcopenia.

Most people are aware of the recommendations for regular physical activity, and the associated health benefits. They also know that good nutritional habits complement a healthy active lifestyle. Unfortunately, few people know what to put on their plates to ensure they hold on to their muscles as they age.

Food comprises three key energy-yielding macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats and protein. Protein –most commonly found in meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and to varying degrees in plants and grains – provides the building blocks (amino acids) to make important bodily tissues, such as skeletal muscle.

Aging may reduce our ability to digest, absorb and utilise the nutrients in food. To ensure older adults can continue to do the things they love well into their later years, we must emphasise the importance of increasing the amount and improving the quality of protein they consume.

More protein, older adults

Unlike carbohydrates, which are stored in muscle and liver as glycogen, and fats, which are stored in adipose tissue, we have nowhere to...

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