Our goal should be 25 to 30 grams of protein per meal to help our body build muscle and not fat.Īnother top consideration: Protect our bone health. To keep what we’ve got, we have to stay physically active and work some strength training into our exercise routine.īagan says we also need more protein to help build muscle. We also lose muscle mass as we age- about 1 percent to 2 percent a year once we blow past 50. “This additional fat not only contributes to weight gain, but also puts women at an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.” “Hormonal changes result in an increase in body fat for women, especially around the midsection,” Bagan says. And women have the additional challenge of hormonal changes from around age 40 and through menopause. For example, a 50-year-old man burns about 300 calories less than he did at age 20. Registered dietitian Shelley Bagan, RD, LD says we simply don’t need as many calories as we get older. (Mom and I joke that whoever coined the phrase “the golden years” was full of bologna.) I can’t eat like I used to and not pay for it in some way, such as weight gain and higher cholesterol.

My body is different at age 60 than it was at 50. I’m not fishing for compliments, just stating the facts. How many times have you run into an old friend you haven’t seen in years and they say, “You haven’t changed a bit!” While that may be true for some of you, it’s certainly not true for me… at least not from what I see in the mirror.

It starts with eating right, boosting your vitamin intake and adding some strength training to your exercise routine.

Facts about bagan