Protein at Every Meal: How to Make Sure You’re Getting Enough

Getting enough protein has both short-term and long-term benefits for overall health and wellness.

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Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet, yet many older adults are not getting enough of it.

One study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, found that up to 46 percent of older adults get less than the daily recommended amount.

What Are the Benefits of Eating More Protein?

While early research showed that too much protein—particularly animal protein—could result in excess acid in the body adversely affecting bone health, long-term studies now show that high-protein diets can actually improve bone health. People who eat more protein tend to maintain bone mass better as they age and have a much lower risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures, particularly in post-menopausal women.