Eighty percent of Americans prefer to get their protein by consuming foods or beverages that naturally contain it, such as meat, milk, eggs, nuts and beans, survey says

Nevin Barich

ST. LOUIS , November 16, 2012 (press release) – Maintaining heart health and a healthy weight are among the top ranked concerns of active, aging consumers in the United States. A recent survey conducted by Solae shows that among adults aged 35-65, heart health is their top concern, followed by maintaining an active lifestyle and a healthy weight.

While a variety of conditions can affect adults as they age, the three main causes of death are heart disease, cancer and stroke. Solae’s survey showed that 83 percent of adults were concerned about heart health and 75 percent listed weight maintenance as a top concern. Older consumers (50-65) were more likely to have high concern around heart health, maintaining an active lifestyle and cholesterol.

“When you look at the listing of top ranking health concerns, it’s clear that soy protein can be a beneficial addition to the diet of someone in this age group,” said Ratna Mukherjea, nutrition group lead at Solae. “Protein can help preserve lean muscle mass and manage weight by promoting satiety.”

In addition, many studies suggest protein consumption should increase as we age to counteract muscle loss and the natural decline in protein utilization with aging. Studies have suggested that 90 grams may be the ideal target for aging individuals, with that consumption spread out evenly throughout the day. This is different from the typical diet, where the majority of protein is consumed during an evening meal and very little is consumed in the morning.

While the health concerns of this age group can be affected by protein intake, only 64 percent of those surveyed say that they are getting the right amount of protein in their diet and half think they need to consume more protein as they age.

When it comes to the types of protein that they ingest, 80 percent prefer to get their protein by consuming foods or beverages that naturally contain it. Traditional food protein sources – meat, milk, eggs, nuts and beans – dominate protein usage in this segment. While soy has the highest usage among plant proteins commonly used for protein fortification, only 40 percent of this group selects soy protein as a part of their diet.

“This age group can benefit from the unique benefits of soy protein,” said Mukherjea. “Soy protein is a high-quality plant protein that supports healthy maintenance of lean muscle mass while also providing heart health benefits that animal proteins do not offer.”

Soy protein can decrease total LDL cholesterol and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease when consumed as a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats. In 1999 the FDA issued a health claim for soy protein saying: “25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Solae’s survey was conducted in 13 countries in 2011 and more than four thousand adults were interviewed. While there were slight differences in each region, heart health was listed as one of the top two health concerns in more than half of the countries surveyed.

Solae, LLC is a world leader in developing soy-based ingredients for nutritious, great-tasting products. Solae provides solutions that deliver a unique combination of functional, nutritional, economical and sustainable benefits to our customers. Effective May 1, 2012, DuPont acquired full ownership of Solae. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Solae is part of DuPont Nutrition & Health, a world leader in specialty food ingredients. Solae is a recipient of the 2011-2012 Ethisphere's Ethics Inside Certification and was recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" in 2010, 2011 and 2012. For more information, visit www.Solae.com, or follow Solae on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/SolaeLLC, Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SolaeLLC, and LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/Solae-LLC.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

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