Powerful Nutrient BOOSTS Muscles in Older Adults!

Did you know that after you hit 50-years-old, you start losing 1 percent of your skeletal muscle mass every year? 

Unless you’re taking active steps to maintain your muscle mass, you could be on the path to frailty, sarcopenia, physical disability, reduced quality of life… and ultimately, an early death. 

In addition to maintaining an active lifestyle, there are key nutrients that are necessary for helping maintain healthy muscle mass as you get older. 

And one powerful nutrient — usually hailed for its immune-boosting abilities — has been found to be especially critical for healthy muscle mass in older adults. 

Most people take vitamin C for its immune-boosting properties. 

But this powerful nutrient is just as important for maintaining healthy muscle as you get older. 

Researchers looked at data on more than 13,000 people from 42- 82-years-old. They analyzed their vitamin C intake from food frequency questionnaires, tested the amount of vitamin C in their blood, and calculated their skeletal muscle mass. 

They found that people who consumed an adequate amount of vitamin C had the highest skeletal muscle mass. 

This makes sense, since vitamin C helps defend your muscle cells against the free radicals that can otherwise contribute to the breakdown of muscle. 

You don’t have to overload on C, either — just make sure you’re getting the RDA, which is about 75 mg.  

The alarming part of this study was the discovery that 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women weren’t getting enough vitamin C — a deficiency that could be putting them on the fast-track to age-related muscle loss and frailty. 

Age-related muscle loss doesn’t have to be a losing battle — but it IS something you have to take steps to prevent. 

(In addition to an active lifestyle, be sure you’re getting enough of protein in your diet—and plenty of vitamin C, too.) 

Dr. Richard Gerhauser

P.S. Looking to keep your muscles strong? You’ll want to go here and read about the “super veggie” that can BUILD your muscles (no matter your age!).