KTK-Nutrition

One of the nutrition topics trending today is “what are high-protein snacks”?    I see cereals advertising “protein”.    But cereals aren’t really a good source of protein.    But many foods are.    Whether young or old, we need protein in our diets.    Young people need protein for growth and muscle development.    Older people need protein to help maintain their muscle mass and prevent sarcopenia – the loss of muscle mass as one ages.   What about cereal and protein? As noted, some cereals advertise “protein” on their label such as Cinnamon Cheerios Protein.    But ask AI if Cheerios are a good source of protein and the answer is: “Cheerios are not a good source of protein on their own”.    Why?    Because cereal provides only a small amount of protein, about 3-5 grams, and the protein isn’t the highest quality.    Cereals like Cheerios are great for adding whole grains to your day...

We have all seen frail, elderly people who have seemed to have lost a lot of muscle.   But did you know that you start losing muscle long before you become elderly?   Studies have found that after the age of 30, yes 30, you begin to lose about 3-8% of your muscle mass per decade.   This loss accelerates after the age of 60.   Environmental Nutrition (April 2024) has a great article, “Preserving Muscle is a Key Part of Healthy Aging”.   But this information isn’t just for the elderly but for anyone who wants to preserve muscle mass.    What is sarcopenia? Sarcopenia is a fancy name for losing muscle and muscle strength as we age.   Building muscle requires your body to make muscle protein.   Unfortunately, our body’s ability to make muscle protein declines as we age.   Sarcopenia is more common in people over 60 and it affects both men and women.   Studies estimate about 5-13% of people over 60 have sarcopenia and up to “50% o...