Three ways to stop age-related muscle loss
Many people find that they're hitting their stride around age 35. But the body has other ideas. That's when the gradual loss of muscle mass begins. Folks typically experience a 1% to 2% loss of muscle annually up to age 60, then it accelerates to around 3%. This creates a condition called sarcopenia. And while muscle is lost, folks often substitute fat for muscle mass. That ups the risk for chronic health problems. For example, a recent study found that folks who have excess fat on their arms are 18% more likely to develop Alzheimer's and Parkinson's than folks with low levels of fat in that area!
But you don't have to accept the slow erosion of your strength and accumulation of excess fat.
1. Get enough protein. A meta-review of studies concluded that older adults should eat more than the recommended amount of protein to counter muscle loss. The researchers suggested a 180-pound man eat 82 grams to 130 grams daily.
2. Do strength training (using resistance bands, your body weight, dumbbells, or weight machines) three to four times weekly.
3. Enjoy high-protein snacks and muscle-building supplements. Nuts, peanut butter, chia seeds and edamame satisfy hunger and help build muscles. Creatine, an amino acid made from arginine, glycine, and methionine, doesn't build muscle itself, but along with resistance training and a healthy diet, it may offset muscle loss, according to Harvard Medical School.
For more information on staying strong, read Dr. Oz's blog at iHerb.com/blog, "Dr. Oz's 9-Step Daily Wellness Routine," and sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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