Why older adults should eat more protein (and not overdo protein shakes)

There is a growing consensus that as people age they need to eat more protein-rich foods, particularly when dealing with a chronic or acute illness, or facing a hospitalization. During these stressful times, aging bodies process protein less efficiently and need more of it to maintain muscle mass. UTMB’s Elana Volpi said it is not just the total amount of protein one eats, but also how much they eat at a given meal. “If I eat too little protein during a meal, I may not adequately stimulate the uptake of amino acids into skeletal muscle. If I eat too much, say from a large T-bone steak, I won’t be able to store it all away,” Volpi said. The Chicago Tribune, Gay San Diego, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Salon, The Washington Post and others all publish Navigating Aging.