Is Reducing Protein Key To Better Ageing? A Longevity Expert Weighs In

New research suggests, for some people, reducing protein intake could promote healthy ageing.

Parents editor at HuffPost UK

Protein is a key nutrient made up of tiny building blocks called amino acids. It provides us with energy, helps the body grow and repair, and is typically found in meat, fish, dairy, eggs, nuts, beans and lentils.

For healthy adults, the recommended daily amount of protein is about 0.75g per kg of body weight, notes the British Heart Foundation, adding that’s about 45g a day for a 60kg woman, and 55g a day for a 75kg man.

The reality is we’re easily consuming that. Helena Gibson-Moore, nutrition scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), said people in the UK are, on average, “eating more than enough protein”.

Society has become pretty obsessed with protein, evident in the protein-fortified foods popping up everywhere and popularity of protein-rich ‘carnivore’ and ‘boy kibble’ diets touted by influencers on social media.

While protein is good for you, experts have long cautioned that not all protein is created equal. And now, a new study suggests that less – not more – protein could be key to healthy ageing in people who aren’t as active.

“It’s absolutely crystal clear that there are benefits of protein to muscle growth and exercise response of active individuals,” said study author Dudley Lamming, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“But because most people are relatively sedentary, many people are likely consuming more protein........

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