I WAS LISTENING to a podcast interview that featured Tim Spector, the creator of Zoe, talking about a personalised nutrition program that I tried and quit because it impacted too much on my lifestyle.
Spector has built a vast subscriber base in a crowded wellness and nutrition market, which is valued higher than the drug industry,
During the interview, he rubbished most foodstuffs. A lot of what he said made perfect sense. Until he rubbished protein supplements that I have been using for years and know that they work – but who am I to contradict a professor? Well, my body and capacity to do what I do gives me the right to have an opinion.
Protein is a necessary nutrient for creating and repairing muscles, keeping bones strong, maintaining the immune system, and keeping our brains, hearts, and skin functioning correctly.
Knowing how much you, as an individual, might need depends on age, health and exercise routine. Some midlifers don’t have much appetite, meaning they need more protein from their diet. Most adults in the West get at least the daily protein recommended by health authorities.
But what if you are a Meta-Age athlete who generally has similar body composition, muscle mass, and aerobic fitness as untrained adults over half their age?
And if we have similar muscle characteristics, physiological responses to exercise, and protein metabolism as young athletes, do we need to have the exact protein requirements as our younger contemporaries?
According to research, we have higher protein needs than younger people, with one study recommending 1.5-1.6 grammes of protein per kilogramme of body weight daily.
Is it true that eating more protein helps you build muscle, strengthens your bones, and boosts your immune system? Could more help everyone? Or are there any drawbacks to including more protein in this manner?
Luckily, there have been some trials that can guide us. They reveal, for the most part, that protein powders can help grow muscle, as many claim. The problem is that this only works if you also undertake some strength exercise; otherwise, the extra protein will do nothing.
Dieticians frequently highlight that we should look to our food for what we need before taking supplements. They don’t know why, but intact food is the best for us.
Unlike the Zoe app, which is NOT scientifically proven, scientific evidence supports using protein powder to enhance body composition metrics, either as a supplement with resistance exercise or as part of a weight reduction or weight maintenance diet.
Also, experts say insufficient evidence exists to determine a healthy microbiome or recommend specific dietary interventions for gut health, raising concerns about people measuring too much.
I will continue to use my protein powder in my smoothies and promote Meta-Age’s approach to living a healthy lifestyle focused on overall intuitive living standards and choices – exercise and eating fresh fruit and vegetables, which have been known to be beneficial for generations.
