Getting enough protein has both short-term and long-term benefits for overall health and wellness.Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, yet many older adults are not getting enough of it.
What Are the Benefits of Eating More Protein?
While early research showed that too much protein—particularly animal protein—could result in excess acid in the body adversely affecting bone health, long-term studies now show that high-protein diets can actually improve bone health. People who eat more protein tend to maintain bone mass better as they age and have a much lower risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures, particularly in post-menopausal women.
“Protein plays a key role in prevention of osteoporosis,” Jackie Newgent, a registered dietician and plant-based chef in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, told The Epoch Times.
Maintaining high levels of protein is crucial for vitality during the aging process, especially for women.
The Best Types of Protein: An Ongoing Debate
There is much debate over the kind of protein that is best for people, particularly when it comes to animal versus nonanimal sources.
Dr. Ted Naiman, a board-certified family medicine physician, thinks that the argument is much ado about nothing, particularly if someone is considering upping the amount of protein in the diet as a weight loss tool.
“Just getting a total quantity high enough is more important than where it came from, because, at the end of the day, it’s just 20 amino acids that break down immediately in the stomach anyway,” he said in a recent podcast titled “Achieve Your Ideal Body Composition,” with fellow physician Dr. Gabrielle Lyon.
However, some plant-based sources of proteins, known as “incomplete proteins,” do not contain the complete amino acid profile that the body requires for organ function and muscle repair. Proteins found in grains and cereals, for example, contain barely any lysine, an essential amino acid. Others, such as legumes, contain plenty of lysine but not other amino acids such as tryptophan, methionine, and cystine, which is why it is often recommended to eat grains as a complement to peas, beans, or lentils.
According to Dr. Naiman, as long as people get enough nonanimal-based protein, the benefits are the same. However, the less protein that a person eats as part of their overall diet, the more important it is that it comes from animal sources. In short, it is recommended that vegans and vegetarians increase the total amount of protein that they are taking in and eat protein from as wide a range of sources as possible to reduce the potential deficiencies in micronutrients such as vitamin B12 and iron. Kelly Jones, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, recommends pairing legumes such as beans and lentils with higher-protein grains such as farro, bulgur, or quinoa.
This is not to say that quality is irrelevant. The protein in hot dogs and burgers comes with fat, carbs, and food additives.
“I’m worried about the ratio of protein to nonprotein energy,” Dr. Naiman said.
How Much Protein Is Enough?
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound, for someone who is not physically active. This is the minimum amount required to prevent illness and major disease. A physically active person requires more.
However, many nutritionists and physicians agree that more protein is preferable to build and maintain strength and prevent degenerative disease.
Many experts now recommend 1.2 grams of protein per one kilogram of bodyweight at a bare minimum. That number “supports satiety and aids in healthy blood sugar responses, important functions of protein before it’s even used to build other important proteins in the body,” Ms. Jones told The Epoch Times.
She also said women in the perimenopausal and menopausal stages of life should aim for 1.4 grams per kilogram of body weight.
“During perimenopause and menopause, women are more likely to lose muscle mass, as well as bone mass, but higher intakes are found to reduce muscle losses, which can better support long-term muscle functionality and independence at later stages of life,” Ms. Jones said.
How to Get More Protein
To meet protein requirements, Ms. Newgent said it’s important to have a good-quality protein source at every meal, particularly breakfast, and including snacks.
She tells her clients to think “protein plus produce” when it comes to snacks. Combinations such as hummus and cucumber slices or nut butter plus bananas in a smoothie are quick and easy.
However, when considering smoothies, try to avoid those found in restaurants and chain juice stores, as they are often loaded with extra sugar and calories. A high-quality protein powder can simply be mixed with water or a milk of choice and a little low-sugar fruit such as berries. Smoothies are also a great way to add in extra nutritional boosts such as spinach or flax, chia, or hemp seeds for fiber, healthy fats, or extra protein.
Ms. Jones recommends prepping veggie egg muffins or freezer frittata burritos in advance so that you can just heat them to take on the go for breakfast. She also likes Greek yogurt or plant-based Greek yogurt alternatives to enhance a cereal and fruit breakfast. Eggs are a great source of protein and a nutritionist favorite, especially considering that egg yolks do not affect blood cholesterol as negatively as was previously thought
A quick, on-the-go snack can also provide a healthy dose of protein. Meat sticks and jerky have grown in popularity over the past few years. Most provide about 10 grams to 12 grams of protein and very few, if any, carbohydrates. It’s best to find ones made with grass-fed meat and few added ingredients.
There are also meal delivery plans that can tailor meals to include more protein and simplify meal prep.
