Arrest malnutrition, muscle mass loss early to age healthy

While many people around the world are living longer, they are not necessarily living healthier. This results in them being unable to live their life to the fullest extent. There are multiple factors that contribute to this lower than optimal health chart. One of the key and most obvious factors is nutrition or the lack of it. After all, it’s food that fuels every cell in the body and supports muscular strength.

“Today, a lot of people in India come under the category of being skinny fat – a term that refers to having a relatively high percentage of body fat and a low amount of muscle mass. It occurs when the body doesn’t get the appropriate amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, and fat) or micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that it needs, to function,” says Prof Dr Salil Bendre, Head, Pulmonary Medicine, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital.

He added that as we age, muscle mass plays an increasingly important role in not just body mobility and strength but also supporting our overall immunity shield.

Studies have however shown that starting at age of 40, adults can lose up to 8 per cent of their muscle mass per decade. After 70 years old, that rate may double. To avoid muscle loss and to protect muscle health, it is important to focus on physical activity and following proper nutrition is important especially when we grow older.

“It is important to choose a balanced diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, proteins, healthy fats and key vitamins and minerals like calcium and Vitamin D. Developing healthy eating patterns not only gives you energy, they can also help prevent obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes,” said a city-based dietician.