Better than Ginseng and Deer Antler at a Fraction of the Cost: WHEY Protein for Seniors
Everyone desires health and longevity. In the pre-20th century East, Taoist monks secluded in mountains pursued longevity practices and often outlived their peers, living into their 70s or 80s instead of the typical 50s or 60s. Today, science attributes their longevity to good nutrition, such as consuming plenty of berries rich in antioxidants and regular exercise, like martial arts practice.
Thanks to advancements in hygiene and modern medicine, life expectancy in developed countries has reached nearly 80 for men and over 80 for women. However, with age comes a higher risk of chronic illnesses and geriatric conditions, making many seniors suffer despite their long lives. Consequently, in many Vietnamese communities abroad, there are advertisements promoting unproven supplements to exploit the elderly.
Furthermore, traditional remedies like Ginseng and Deer Antler are often used at exorbitant prices for vitality according to Eastern medicine. While Ginseng may uplift spirits, its effects on the body, muscles, and cardiovascular system are minimal. In fact, excessive use may raise blood pressure, posing risks to the heart and brain.
Research in the United States over the past 30 years has shown that animals live longer and healthier when fed a diet with adequate nutrition but with 30% fewer calories than normal, which is not realistic for humans.
Fortunately, recent years have seen scientific evidence showing that, in addition to good nutrition and regular exercise, seniors can benefit from supplementing their diet with Whey protein to increase longevity, improve health, and reduce illness.
1. What is Whey Protein?
Milk (commonly cow’s milk) contains abundant protein. 80% of the protein in milk is casein, while the remaining 20% is Whey. Whey is a mixture of soluble proteins, particularly rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) like leucine, isoleucine, and valine compared to other proteins. These essential amino acids promote muscle growth and recovery, as previously discussed in the article “Aging well by fighting Sarcopenia; A tribute to Jack LaLanne.”
In cheese production, Whey protein becomes the natural waste solution after casein solidifies. Nowadays, Whey protein is retained for use as a dietary supplement by weightlifters due to its ability to rapidly increase strength.
2. Why is Whey Protein Supplement Beneficial for Seniors?
Most men of European and Asian descent develop insulin resistance after the age of 40, while women experience it around age 50 after menopause. This often leads to abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome, characterized by high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular complications. This vicious cycle is also associated with muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and cognitive decline in old age. Preventing metabolic syndrome can help seniors live longer and healthier lives.
Recent experiments on animals and humans have shown that Whey protein can help prevent and control sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome by reducing obesity, visceral fat, weight, appetite, cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Notably, a mixture of amino acids in proportions similar to those found in Whey did not produce the same positive effects, especially regarding cholesterol reduction. Mice fed Whey protein lived longer even though they were not calorie-restricted.
Patients recovering from surgery or severe illness who are in a catabolic state recover faster when supplemented with Whey protein because their bodies can synthesize protein more easily to promote rapid anabolic recovery.
3. How to Use Whey Protein in Geriatric Care
To prevent metabolic syndrome, seniors should start supplementing with Whey protein around age 40, taking about 10 to 20 grams once a day (equivalent to 2 or 4 teaspoons, with one teaspoon equivalent to 5 grams).
Seniors over 65 should take 10 to 12 grams twice a day (20 to 24 grams per day).
Those recovering from surgery or severe illness should take 15 grams twice a day (30 grams per day). Patients often use food milk powders like Ensure or Sustacal, which contain soy or milk protein, but supplementing with Whey protein can lead to faster recovery, as mentioned earlier.
Whey protein isolate is available at regular stores like General Nutrition, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc., costing $15 to $30 per container. Seniors can mix Whey powder with water and drink it daily for a month.
In summary, in addition to good nutrition and regular exercise, Whey protein has been scientifically proven to help seniors live longer and healthier lives at a fraction of the cost of traditional remedies like Ginseng and Deer Antler. Statistics show that nearly 23% of Vietnamese seniors in California have type 2 diabetes; Whey protein can help prevent this epidemic.
