Why the elderly should pile on the protein
Published: 27 Aug 2019
To preserve muscle mass and strength, older adults should eat more protein than what is currently recommended for the general adult population.
The current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight per day is found to be insufficient, particularly for older people.
Head and Senior Consultant of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at NUH and Associate Professor at NUS Medicine’s Department of Medicine, Assoc Prof Reshma Merchant has been advocating high protein foods for older adults, with the exception of those with renal problems, for more than a year now.
“The current RDA of 0.8g/kg/day is not sufficient for many seniors who are at risk of becoming frail or sarcopenic,” she said.
Assoc Prof Merchant also shares that most older people do not eat enough protein due to a few reasons. For example, they may prefer foods that can be consumed easily, such as porridge. Some may also avoid meat as they have poor chewing ability due to decreased muscular strength, dental problems and swallowing issues.
Other misconceptions about protein may also prevent people from eating enough of it. For instance, some believe that protein makes the blood acidic and leaches calcium out of their bones, when the opposite is actually true.
Overall, a balanced diet containing enough protein is needed to fight sarcopenia, particularly during periods of illness.
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