The preservation of muscle mass, strength and metabolic function is an important nutritional component that tends to be overlooked in dietary intake recommendations to maximize health. This paper will examine how physical activity, proper diet and beneficial lifestyle behaviors contribute to optimal health; while a reduction in muscle mass, by lack of exercise, can result in poor health or disease (Keys 1950). I will also consider possible solutions to prevent muscle loss, and the benefits of increasing protein and amino acids to optimize muscle strength. In the United States, we have a growing issue 50% of Americans don’t do enough physical activity to reach the national health recommendations. I believe most Americans lack
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For example, half of female patients 65 years or older who undergo hip surgery after suffering a fall will never walk again. Researchers note that these patients tend to have very low muscle mass percentages (Paddon-Jones, Sheffield-Moore, Zhang, 2002). However, no long term studies have been conducted on a large scale to assess how muscle mass and metabolic function may prevent illness and disease. But, large studies have established that increased levels of muscle mass prevent obesity. Obesity occurs from an energy imbalance over a period of time in individuals who consume a lot of negative energy such as sugars and fats. These individuals do not do physical activities or exercise so the body stores the energy as fats. The balance of energy can be balanced by either increasing or reducing energy intake or increasing or reducing energy expenditures until there is no weight gain or loss (Biolo, Tipton, Klein, Wolfe 1997). The more muscle mass an individual has- the more calories are needed to maintain the level of muscle. The average young male has 35 to 50 kg of muscle mass, while an elderly woman may have less than 13 kg of muscle mass. A young male burns significant calories from his body’s renewal of muscle mass, while an elderly woman with little muscle mass is burning very few calories to maintain muscle mass. The maintenance of muscle mass and muscle protein metabolism may prevent obesity (Biolo, Tipton, Klein, Wolfe
For example, half of female patients 65 years or older who undergo hip surgery after suffering a fall will never walk again. Researchers note that these patients tend to have very low muscle mass percentages (Paddon-Jones, Sheffield-Moore, Zhang, 2002). However, no long term studies have been conducted on a large scale to assess how muscle mass and metabolic function may prevent illness and disease. But, large studies have established that increased levels of muscle mass prevent obesity. Obesity occurs from an energy imbalance over a period of time in individuals who consume a lot of negative energy such as sugars and fats. These individuals do not do physical activities or exercise so the body stores the energy as fats. The balance of energy can be balanced by either increasing or reducing energy intake or increasing or reducing energy expenditures until there is no weight gain or loss (Biolo, Tipton, Klein, Wolfe 1997). The more muscle mass an individual has- the more calories are needed to maintain the level of muscle. The average young male has 35 to 50 kg of muscle mass, while an elderly woman may have less than 13 kg of muscle mass. A young male burns significant calories from his body’s renewal of muscle mass, while an elderly woman with little muscle mass is burning very few calories to maintain muscle mass. The maintenance of muscle mass and muscle protein metabolism may prevent obesity (Biolo, Tipton, Klein, Wolfe