The Protein Puzzle

A question I often get is, “So, how much protein do I need?” This is often followed by, “Is it healthier to be vegan or vegetarian?”

To answer the first question, it depends. As we grow older, our bodies gradually decline in muscle mass and strength. After the age of 35 or 40 for instance, we lose 2-3% of muscle mass per year. This process, known as sarcopenia, can be influenced by various factors, such as hormonal changes, sedentary lifestyles and inadequate nutrition.

One dietary adjustment that can help combat age-related muscle loss is increasing protein intake. If you are over 40, you actually need more protein than you did in your 20s to build (muscle synthesis) repair and maintain your skeletal muscle. And we know the more lean muscle we have, the better our metabolic health can be.