Why protein is a game-changer for healthy aging

(Aging Untold) — Protein does more than fuel muscle — it supports strength, healing and independence as we get older. But older adults can fall short on their daily needs, especially when appetite shrinks or meals get smaller. Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, breaks down why protein matters so much with age and how to get enough of it. Protein supports more than muscle “Protein is the raw building blocks that your body is using for muscle, for strength, for inflammation, for healing and for independence,” Rogers said. “So you need protein, but you also need strength training to utilize it.” As the body ages, it naturally becomes more frail — losing muscle and gaining fat, a condition known as sarcopenia, Rogers said. “So your body tends to break down tissue more and not build it as fast,” Rogers said. Illness and surgery raise protein needs Rogers said chronic conditions, infection, inflammation, surgery or wounds can push the body into what’s called a catabolic state. “Me