Source: Fox News
Summary
Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that older adults who avoid meat may be less likely to reach age 100 than their meat-eating counterparts. The study tracked over 5,000 adults aged 80 or older and found that those who did not eat meat were less likely to reach their 100th birthday. However, this association was only observed in participants who were underweight, and no such association was found in people who maintained a healthy weight. The researchers suggested that including small amounts of animal-sourced foods could help older seniors maintain essential nutrients and avoid muscle loss.
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The advice sounds familiar.
This study’s findings seem to contradict previous research that linked vegetarianism and plant-based diets to lower risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and obesity. However, the researchers noted that most evidence supporting the benefits of plant-based diets comes from studies tracking younger populations. As people enter their 80s and 90s, the nutritional priority often shifts from preventing long-term chronic diseases to maintaining day-to-day physical function. The study’s results highlight the importance of maintaining muscle mass and bone density with age.
It’s another turn in the cycle of nutritional guidance, where what’s good for one age group may not be good for another.
Author: Evan Null
