| Why do the Elderly Need a High-Protein Diet |
| Why Do We Need More Protein as We Age |
| How Much Protein Do Older People Need |
| Does Protein Help Injury Recovery |
| A Word from HealthKart |
Do you think of athletes when you talk about a high-protein diet? Since they build muscle, bodybuilders require a lot of protein. However, protein is also helpful for the elderly. Proteins are essential for maintaining good health at all life stages. Protein is necessary for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. It is required for the proper functioning of your body. In elderly, particularly, there’s a high requirement of protein for wound healing.
This blog examines the impact of protein in healing injury in elderly, as well as physical activity, in preserving muscle mass and strength in older persons, which is critical for staying agile and energetic. This nutrient is also necessary for recuperating from illness and regaining muscular tissue that has been lost. Protein intake combined with physical activity can help build the resilience required to deal with significant periods of inactivity that illness, accident, infection, or hospitalisation can cause.
Why do the Elderly Need a High-Protein Diet?
Protein is one of the most important nutrients in your body. It is required for the proper functioning of every cell of the human body, including:
- Skin
- Hair
- Nails
- Muscle
- Bones
- Internal organs
Protein is required for cell and body tissue regeneration, growth, and repair. It is required for the following tasks:
- Helps you recover from your injuries
- Maintains a healthy balance of fluids
- Helps you get back on your feet after a surgery or sickness
- Supports immune health
- Transports/stores nutrients vital for functions
- Balances your hormones and digestive enzymes
Your body begins to break down muscle mass and bone strength if you don’t eat enough protein. According to research, elders have a harder time digesting protein than younger folks, thus their bodies may require extra protein to meet their requirements.
A high protein diet for wound healing can help you avoid losing muscle. You can get out of a chair, walk to the market, perform house chores, dance, or play with your grandkids if your bones and muscles are strong.
It’s natural to shed muscle mass as we become older but a reduction in strength can also lead to a fall. You may be more prone to disease and injury as well. Elders aren’t eating sufficient protein for injury recovery, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with 6% of men over 71 and 4-6% of women over 50 not obtaining the required quantities.
Why Do We Need More Protein as We Age?
As we get older, our nutritional demands vary and one of those changes is that we need more protein. But why is that? Protein for injury recovery is particularly needed in the muscles that connect your bones. These muscles contain 30% of the body’s protein in lean, young individuals. In fact, muscle could account for up to half of their whole body weight (like those bodybuilders).
Muscle mass can deteriorate as you get older. On average, just 25% of one’s physique is constituted of muscle by the age of 75-80. The majority of the muscle is lost in the legs, resulting in weakness, and a fatigued and sore feeling when walking.
Aging depletes your reserves as well. When you’re young, you can get by on a low-nutrition diet because you have a reservoir of nutrients. You may have depleted your reserves by the time you reach 65. You can become weak and fragile as a result of a poor diet.
How Much Protein Do Older People Need?
Protein should account for 10-35 percent of your calories, according to the National Institute of Health. This indicates that if you consume 2000 calories per day, you will require 100 g of protein. In most cases, one ounce of a high-protein product contains 7 g of real protein.
According to new research, the recommended protein intakes for elderly persons may be too insufficient. For every kilogram of body weight, elders may require 1.0-1.3 g of protein. If you weigh 180 pounds, for instance, you should consume 80-104 g of protein per day, irrespective of your calorie consumption.
Does Protein Help Injury Recovery?
Protein is needed to repair the muscles and tissues as well as instrumental in fighting infection. Protein needs are higher during illness, inflammation, and infection, as well as after an accident. Malnourished elderly at risk of malnutrition due to (chronic) illness should consume 1.2 to 1.5 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight each day. People with severe illness or injury as well as those who are severely malnourished may require as much as 2.0 g/kg bodyweight per day.
Malnutrition caused by disease has a variety of implications, including poor immune response and wound healing, decreased respiratory and muscular strength, and slowed recovery with poor clinical results. Appetite may be affected and patients may fail to reach protein goals due to a lack of nutritious meals.
Muscle mass and strength loss after sickness, infection, or injury is linked to poorer medical outcomes and a higher risk of falls and injuries. Appropriate energy intake and increased protein for wound healing are the most crucial nutritional aspects for patients to improve their recovery. When elderly consume enough protein for injury recovery, it allows them to rebuild lost muscle mass and regain strength, helping them resume everyday activities and enhancing their quality of life.
A Word from HealthKart
Protein for wound healing is a crucial dietary approach for the elderly who want to keep the muscle they need for good ageing and recovery from disease. It is critical to educate elderly people about the benefits of high-quality protein for injury recovery combined with physical exercises.
