Strength is cumulative expression of innumerable myofibrils orderly arranged to form muscle. Strength training attempts to boost these protein motors and biological machinery that supports them. Resistance exercises create a biochemical environment in body wherein turnover of proteins is optimized and protein synthetic machinery is primed for growth. All that is needed to trigger a spurt of growth is a protein rich meal. This response occurs in all age groups, although it is less efficient in elderly. According to Philips SM, Tipton KD and others, in young individuals, muscle is receptive to protein and amino acids for 48 hours after a workout. The only limiting factor for hypertrophy of skeletal muscles during this period is availability of high quality proteins.

A few tricks can amplify growth response to strength training. The synthetic machinery has a ceiling. It can only handle a certain amount of amino acids at a time (specifically, six grams of protein). However, as response lasts for two days, Bohe` J., in a dose-response study published in Journal of Physiology, 2003, recommended that repeated supplementation with three to six grams of high quality protein during 48 hours after a workout can optimize protein synthetic response without topping out protein synthetic enzyme systems. Combining protein supplements with adequate carbohydrate (35g of sucrose with every 6g of protein) is also helpful. The carbohydrate acts as fuel for muscle fibers sparing protein for growth.

Currently, 65+ population comprises slightly more than 12% (35 million) of total US population. By 2030, this percentage is predicted to almost double to just below 20% (71 million)[i]. In other words, within a generation, an unprecedented demographic reality will exist in US: 1 in 5 Americans will be older than 65.

This is indeed news worth celebrating, because it means that more Americans are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. Yet this trend also presents some very real health-related problems that American society must solve.

Various sectors are frenetically trying to position themselves to deal with this aging demographic inevitability. The dental care field is loudly lobbying to increase awareness and resource-support for age-related ailments such as defective denture and reduced saliva-flow conditions[ii]. At same time, allied health care field is similarly trying – and admittedly struggling -- to develop immense resources, such as many more doctors and nurses, who will somehow absorb imminent and overwhelming old age-related demand for surgical procedures and other health care commodities[iii].

Yet while dental and health sectors strive to adjust to this demographic trend, nutritional sector has not kept pace. A quick look at any health food store shelf will see energy bars and powders that are (according to their marketing images) suitable only for high-performance (e.g. young) consumers. Similarly, nutrition sector has not done a good job at destroying myth that macronutrients such as protein are essential parts of all healthy diets – regardless of age.

The nutrition sector’s general neglect of senior community is something that is just barely beginning to show as population ages, and as “baby boomer” generation of 76 million strong moves towards retirement[iv]. However, it is inevitable that this service gap will become larger as future unfolds. Essentially, tens of millions of seniors are going to need to find new and innovative nutrition solutions possibly for first time in their lives.

The prospects that face a 65-year-old searching for a nutrition solution are in some ways much same as those facing a 25-year-old: there are an array of promised solutions on market, including energy bars, drinks, and supplements.