Older Americans Miss the Mark on Protein; Pork Provides Solutions

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from researchers at Abbott and the Ohio State University found that more than one-third of adults over 50 years old are not getting the daily recommended amount of protein they need, according to AgWeb.com . "Despite the protein craze in America, the data shows there's still a big gap in adults' protein intake," says Christopher Taylor, associate professor at Ohio State and study author. The report, published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging , says overall diet quality among adults aged 51 years and older needs improvement. Current recommendations suggest the average healthy adult eat 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight or 0.36 grams per day for every pound they weigh. That's about 56 grams for men and 46 for women. But some experts recommend getting almost twice that amount as you age, especially if you're recovering from surgery, battling an illness, or are malnourished. "As people get older, their bodies begin to slow down their ability to break down foods and absorb nutrients," observes research scientist Jacqueline Boff. "That's why making sure adults are eating regular meals with 25-30 grams of protein and that are well-balanced can make a big impact on living a healthier, more active life."