As we age, our bodies have a harder time turning protein into muscle. It’s one reason why experts recommend that increase our intake of protein as we get older.
But how do we do that without increasing our intake of calories?
The best way, according to these experts, is to use whey powder. As you may remember from “Little Miss Muffet,” whey is one of the components of milk and it is extracted and sold as whey powder. Studies indicate that powder is more beneficial than either pre-packaged protein drinks and bars. That’s because the drinks and bars have more additives, like sugar, that could do more harm than good.
There are two kinds of powder: concentrate and isolate. Isolate powder has been stripped of milk’s lactose and fat, so it has fewer calories and is also suited to those who are lactose-intolerant. If you choose an unflavored powder, it can be added to lots of things: milk, soup, yogurt, pancake mix, cookie dough, even mashed potatoes, or scrambled eggs.
One final tip from the pros: make sure you use the protein powder to supplement and not replace meals.