Lisette de Groot has been conducting research into nutrition and the elderly since 1988. “There was little attention for this subject before then,” she says. “Dietary advice was mainly aimed at young people and adults, not at the elderly. I saw that there was much to be done. A lot has changed since then, and there is now a lot more attention for the subject. The challenge now is to reduce the burden of ageing and help elderly people to stay in good shape.”
As we grow older, the strength and mass of our muscles decreases. Food scientists from Wageningen University and Research have now discovered how to reverse this process. Protein-rich food and strength training can help older people to become stronger, improve their balance and stand up with less effort. These were…