Where's the beef?

This article caught my attention because it confirms the importance of eating protein-rich food to build muscle mass. Of course, lack of exercise is also an important contributor to loss of muscle mass. Transplant patients know only too well how quickly muscles deteriorate when confined to a hospital bed for any length of time.

GALVESTON, Texas — August 9, 2007 - Scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have good news for people who want to stay strong in their old age: older bodies are just as good as young ones at turning protein-rich food into muscle.A new study published today suggests that a diet containing a moderate amount of protein-rich food such as beef, fish, pork, chicken, dairy or nuts may help slow the deterioration of elderly people’s muscles. Reducing the decline in muscle mass among the elderly is crucial to maintaining their health and independence, these researchers say. And they add that consuming adequate protein is essential for making and maintaining muscles. Since nutritional studies show that many elderly individuals eat less protein than the average person, researchers have reasoned that if the elderly simply increased their protein intake, they might slow down muscle loss — as long as old age doesn’t inherently interfere significantly with the ability to make muscles out of the protein in food. Read the full Full Article.

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