Prevent Muscle Loss While You Age

A gradual loss of muscle mass or Sarcopenia begins as we reach our late 30s and can continue a steady, downhill course quicker than you think.  If you are physically inactive you can lose as much as 3 to 5 percent of your muscle mass per decade after age 30.  

While everyone loses some muscle mass with age, it is possible to prevent and even reverse with regular exercise and other natural methods:

Exercise
Without question, exercise is the most powerful tool to prevent muscle loss.  Research has shown that a program of resistance training, in particular, can improve muscle strength and frailty in elderly adults.  Daily exercise is recommended, but a minimum of 3 days per week can slow muscle loss and prevent Sarcopenia.

Eat More High Quality Protein  
Protein is the most valuable food for building and repairing muscle fibers.  Studies show that both men and women over age 70 eat significantly less protein than recommended on a daily basis.  But when it comes to preventing or repairing muscle loss, it's not just how much you eat, but also what type of protein you are eating as not all protein is created equal. We recommend the following proteins are included in your diet:

1.  Free-range eggs
2.  Egg, Pea or Vegetable based protein powder (organic)
3.  Lentils
4.  Wild-caught fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna etc)
5.  Organic Chicken
6.  Grass-fed beef
7.  Black beans (or other bean varieties)



Supplements

If you find it difficult to get enough protein from your diet, supplementing with a high quality, plant-based protein powder may be a good idea.  One of our favorites is Ultra Protein Green.  Ultra Protein Green gives you a good dose of protein plus all of your greens for the day, and it tastes great.  Click here to order.

Hormone Balance
Hormone imbalances can significantly affect muscle mass.  For older women in particular, it is believed that hormonal changes may play a role in Sarcopenia.  Menopause is linked to reduced concentrations of a hormone called estradiol. There appears to be impaired muscle performance during the postmenopausal period due to a decrease in ovarian hormone production.  There are many ways to balance hormones naturally, which is important to prevent muscle loss. Get your hormones tested to see where you stand.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency for older adults.  Up to 90 percent of adults in the U.S. are believed to have low vitamin D blood levels.  Many studies have shown that low blood levels of vitamin D (under 30) are associated with lower muscle strength, increased body instability, falls and disability in older subjects. Supplementation of vitamin D can help improve muscle function and muscle mass.  An optimal level would be between 70-100.  We recommend Vitamin D 5000 from Douglas Labs.  Get it here.

As always, if you have any questions or would like additional information on the services we provide, visit our website at www.sciencewellness.net or schedule a free 30-minute nutritional consultation with Dr. Nickels at one of our convenient locations.

 904.834.2337


0479228001564423242.jpg




We look forward to hearing from you

Office Hours

by appointment only

Mon - Wed

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thu

12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Fri

1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Sat, Sunday

Closed

Mon - Wed
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thu
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Fri
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Sat, Sunday
Closed

Location

Find us on the map