Review of the Changing Protein Requirements for Seniors

Written by Protica Research


Youth, it is said, is wasted onrepparttar young. Too busy figuring life they hardly takerepparttar 113999 time to enjoy it. Fortunately, with medical research and scientific progress, lifespans have doubled overrepparttar 114000 last century. We can now start life at fifty and have another go at youth. Health consciousness, appropriate diet and exercise, can makerepparttar 114001 later years of life a pleasant experience. Dietary principles play as especially important role in this regard. Compensating forrepparttar 114002 physiological changes of aging, they can give us better odds at achieving our genetically determined lifespans.

The advancing years experience a complex interplay of changes affectingrepparttar 114003 mind, body, andrepparttar 114004 environment. Alterations in organs systems and cellular function can often predispose to malnutrition and a host of chronic illnesses (Servan 1999). Some of these problems can be attributed torepparttar 114005 decrease inrepparttar 114006 total protein content and are in themselves preventable with appropriate attention torepparttar 114007 protein content ofrepparttar 114008 diet.

A decrease in protein turnover, such as that seen in aging, has far reaching effects (Chernoff 2004). Vital organ systems likerepparttar 114009 heart and lungs slow down, becoming incapable of further exertion. Neural processes like thought, planning and cognition are also affected. The immune system becomes weak, exhibiting a delay and difficultly in dealing with infections (Thompson 1987). Wound healing and repair, which requires a constant supply of amino acids, is also compromised.

Another issue associated with aging isrepparttar 114010 reduced capacity to deal with free radical species. These highly reactive molecules are produced by cells under stress. Free radicals can precipitate a chain reaction, damaging cell membranes andrepparttar 114011 genetic code. They have been implicated in a variety of disease processes from infection, heart attacks and cancer. This inability to handle free radicals is also responsible for aging. It is now believed a high protein diet can be helpful in attenuating many of these problems (Chernoff 2004).

Merely providing proteins through regular diets fail to meetrepparttar 114012 special requirements ofrepparttar 114013 elderly. A protein supplement is often needed to ensure easy digestion, rapid absorption and assimilation. The protein supplement should also be of good quality and contain allrepparttar 114014 essential amino acids in adequate quantity. Such a supplement can adequately provide essential amino acids irrespective ofrepparttar 114015 gut’s ability to assimilate them. Such a protein supplement will be able to addressrepparttar 114016 increase protein demand and malnutrition seen inrepparttar 114017 elderly, restoringrepparttar 114018 ability to build and repair tissues. A good protein supplement also has other significant benefits inrepparttar 114019 elderly that often go unrecognized.

A high protein diet has a ‘thermogenic’ or fat-burning effect. The body spends more energy to assimilate protein than carbohydrates or fats. This energy is often derived fromrepparttar 114020 adipose tissue, thus burning fat in exchange for protein (Bloomgarden 2004). Then ifrepparttar 114021 protein supplement has whey in it, it can also inhibit cholesterol absorption inrepparttar 114022 gut, reducingrepparttar 114023 risk of obesity and cardiac disease (Nagaoka 1996). Protein supplements that have casein can form a clot inrepparttar 114024 gut, thereby slowing down intestinal motility (Boirie et al. 1997) and givingrepparttar 114025 gut enough time to absorb allrepparttar 114026 amino acids from a meal. This property is important considering that aging also slows down and compromises digestion.

Protein supplements that combine casein with whey multiplyrepparttar 114027 advantages of each component. Both casein and whey protein have a group of substances called kinins that can lower blood pressure by relaxingrepparttar 114028 blood vessels (FitzGerald, 2004.). Both proteins enhancerepparttar 114029 immune system through several mechanisms (Ha and Zemel, 2003). Lactoferrin, in whey protein, binds iron and depriving many micro-organisms of a growth stimulus. Free iron inducesrepparttar 114030 formation of free radicals and is one factor responsible for colon cancer. This is also prevented by protein supplements that contain lactoferrin (whey).

Whey also has other antioxidants to offer. It is rich in cysteine, a precursor of Glutathione that is potent at mopping up free radicals (Counous, 2000). This generalized improvement in antioxidant capacity can counter cancerous and aging processes seen inrepparttar 114031 later years of life. Whey protein is also known to enhance memory as it promotesrepparttar 114032 synthesis of a neurotransmitter, serotonin that is involved in cognition and thought (Markus 2002). Milk basic protein, a component of whey, hasrepparttar 114033 ability to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of bone forming cells as well as suppress bone resorption as found in vitro and animal studies. This can protect against weak bones, or osteoporosis, especially inrepparttar 114034 post-menopausal women (Toba 2000).

Chronic head, facial or neck pain that won’t go away… Could it be TMJ?

Written by Naweko San-Joyz


I stumbled across TMJ when I needed treat a literal pain inrepparttar neck that would not go away. It seemed thatrepparttar 113998 pain in my neck came from my jaws. “TMJ” refers to disorders ofrepparttar 113999 jaw muscles and ofrepparttar 114000 temporomandibular joint,repparttar 114001 hinge atrepparttar 114002 side ofrepparttar 114003 head that joinsrepparttar 114004 lower jaw, mandible, torepparttar 114005 temporal bone ofrepparttar 114006 skull. TMJ expert John Taddey, D.D.S. states that onerepparttar 114007 most common symptoms of TMJ is a dull, aching pain aroundrepparttar 114008 ears which can radiate torepparttar 114009 neck, shoulders, and back ofrepparttar 114010 head. These symptoms may be coupled with tenderness ofrepparttar 114011 jaw muscles and a headache.

Whilerepparttar 114012 causes of TMJ are many,repparttar 114013 condition is usuallyrepparttar 114014 result of a collective malfunctioning ofrepparttar 114015 chewing muscles,repparttar 114016 teeth, andrepparttar 114017 temporomandibular joint. The face and jaw muscles may go into spasm or cramp and lead to tissue damage, pain and tenderness. The level of damage and pain varies.

Diaganosing TMJ can be elusive. Recognizing TMJ requires a thorough understanding ofrepparttar 114018 two-inch area just in front ofrepparttar 114019 ears that housesrepparttar 114020 temporomandibular joint, sinuses, glands,repparttar 114021 middle and inner ears, throat tissues, brain tissue, muscles, ligaments, nerves blood vessels, lymphatic tissues, bones and teeth. TMJ can mask itself with a “referred pain”. This occurs when pain felt in one area ofrepparttar 114022 body originated from another source. For example, you may visit your doctor with an earache and find your ear is healthy, while a decayed tooth or TMJ isrepparttar 114023 root cause ofrepparttar 114024 earache.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use