Dodge death from sarcopenia with THIS dietary secret?

Sarcopenia is a condition marked by losses in both muscle mass and muscle function.

It leads to a steep decline in quality of life. And sometimes it even ends in death.

Plus, the older you are, the higher your risk.

That’s because you start losing muscle mass at the early age of 30. So, if you haven’t taken measures to preserve your muscles as you age, death could soon be knocking at your door.

Oddly enough… eating sauerkraut could help!

Fermented protection

According to a new study published in Clinical Nutrition, eating foods rich in live microbes could stave off sarcopenia.

Researchers examined data from nearly 5,400 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

A questionnaire was used to collect dietary information (including microbe consumption). And dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition and muscle mass.

Next, researchers divided participants into groups based on their consumption of microbes: low, medium, and high.

(Fermented foods, like sauerkraut, yogurt, kimchi, and tempeh, are high in microbes.)

Ultimately, even after adjusting for other factors that might influence one’s risk for sarcopenia—like age, gender, and pre-existing conditions—researchers found a statistically significant protective effect of microbe-rich food…

Those who consumed low, medium, and high amounts of microbes only experienced a 15 percent, 12.6 percent, and 10.4 percent risk of sarcopenia.

The importance of protein

This isn’t the first time I’ve reported on the power of fermented foods.

In fact, according to researchers from Stanford University, consuming fermented foods can also help prevent diabetes and inflammation—two factors that drive disease risk, including sarcopenia.

Of course, this study serves as an important reminder that what you eat matters.

And in addition to enjoying some microbe-rich food, I encourage you to eat plenty of protein in your quest to preserve muscle mass as you age.

As a quick reminder, aim to eat your body weight in grams of protein on days you don’t exercise—and 1.5 times your body weight on days that you do exercise.

For additional, science-backed tips for staving off sarcopenia—and deadly falls—check out the December 2019 issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives (“The common occurrence that’s as deadly as any chronic disease”).

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Source:

“Consuming foods rich in live microbes may prevent muscle loss.” NutraIngredients-USA, 06/12/2024. (nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2024/06/12/consuming-foods-rich-in-live-microbes-may-prevent-muscle-loss)