EXTRA PROTEINS ARE NECESSARY BUT EATING MORE IS OFTEN NOT ACHIEVED
PROTEINS ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS
Proteins in our food are the building blocks for our muscles. Through exercise, most of the consumed protein is converted into muscle tissue. Many experts believe that particularly seniors need extra protein to reduce muscle loss. Seniors eat less because their energy requirement decreases. Nevertheless, the required amount of protein per kilogram body weight remains the same. Because seniors eat less, they are at risk of not consuming enough protein, resulting in an imbalance. This is why more protein in the dietary patron is important.
Malnutrition occurs when people have a shortage of essential nutrients. In the Netherlands, mainly seniors have to cope with malnutrition. Loss of appetite is one of the main reasons why people do not ingest enough nutrients. Especially in case of illness and rehabilitation, the body needs more nutrients than usual.
LOSS OF APPETITE RESULTS IN PROTEIN DEFICIANCY
Through many studies and the use of validated screening instruments, we are starting to gain more insights into the extent of malnutrition. In case of undesired weight loss, there is loss of muscle tissue as a side effect. Seniors can quickly have profound consequences due to muscle loss, such as reduced mobility and an increased risk of falling, which results in a greater risk of bone fracture.
Recent studies indicate that there is a large group of vulnerable elderlies who get insufficient protein intake due to loss of appetite. Therefore, they are at risk of malnutrition. When malnutrition is diagnosed, in case of unwanted weight loss or during a screening, we are already too late. That is why we must also focus on the much larger group, who do not yet score on the screening but are already on the verge of protein deficiency. If more protein would be offered in their daily menu, malnutrition could be prevented.
EATING MORE IS OFTEN NOT ACHIEVED
In case of malnutrition and rehabilitation, the required amount of protein intake is 50% to 100% higher than usual. For many elderly people, it is an impossible task to eat this amount of protein extra. In that case, medical beverages are used to fill in the shortage. The performance indicator of the Healthcare Inspection is 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram body weight. That corresponds to an intake of 90 grams of protein for a person with an average weight of 75 kilograms. But, even with an energy enriched diet and medical beverages, most patients fail to reach the norm. Moreover, a well-known drawback of medical beverages is that it is difficult to sustain due to its taste and saturating character. Furthermore, many seniors do not even attain the norm that applies to healthy adults (0.8 grams of protein per kilogram body weight). Therefore, many experts believe that the recommendation norm for all seniors should be increased from 0.8-1.2 grams. In case of malnutrition, this should be 1.2-1.5 grams of protein per kilogram body weight to reduce muscle loss and stay vital. This is almost double the amount to what a healthy adult consumes per one day. The extra protein intake will never be reached with normal nutrition and that is why Carezzo offers protein enriched food. This way, there is no need to eat more to get the amount of protein needed. And this makes it very easy to consume more protein, because the assortment offered by Carezzo, consists of well-known and reliable products.
PROTEIN INTAKE DURING THE DAY
More protein intake without eating more is made possible with Carezzo’s protein enriched food and beverages. Simply replacing ordinary food with protein enriched food is the new approach. Research has shown that due to this method, the desired amount of protein is achieved. Also, because the protein enriched food is better spread throughout the day, the extra proteins are more effective.
MORE PROTEIN IN SANDWICHES AND SNACKS
Because diner often contains enough protein, it is very important that extra proteins are consumed during breakfast and lunch. Therefore, distributing extra proteins over the three main meals is more favorable to build up muscle tissue. Extra proteins can also be consumed during snack moments, to achieve a better variety of protein intake. The optimal dietary plan would be three meals, each consisting 25 to 30 grams of protein, combined with three snack moments each containing 10 grams of protein.
PROTEIN INTAKE MUST BE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DAY BECAUSE CONSUMING TOO MUCH PROTEIN AT ONCE DOESN’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Overconsuming protein at once does not make a difference because this way the human body cannot convert it into muscle tissue. This is exactly why Carezzo offers a wide variety of products that can be consumed during breakfast, lunch or as a snack. Due to this large assortment, the dietary pattern remains unchanged.
THERE IS NO NEED TO EAT MORE TO AQCUIRE A HIGHER PROTEIN INTAKE
THE SOCIAL COSTS OF MALNUTRITION ARE HUGE
LOWER THE HEALTH CARE COSTS
The social costs of malnutrition are enormous and add up to 1.8 billion euros per year. This has been known for some years and should be something to start worrying about. Studies have shown that addressing this problem with food is cost effective. The joint nutritional medical beverage manufacturers have calculated this based on a normal treatment where the patient must drink 2-3 bottles of medical beverages per day for three months.
Carezzo offers a new nutritional concept with a large variation of food and beverages, which effortlessly increases the protein intake and is easy to maintain. We are convinced that this is an affordable solution that contributes to the reduction of health care costs.
But, this new dietary concept does not fit under the current legislation, because of separate budgeting for regular and medical nutrition.
We therefore want to make an appeal to all policy makers in health care and plea for decompartmentalization and a vision that nutrition helps to contribute to prevention of malnutrition and recovery. Additionally, will the urgency increase with a shift from intramural care to extramural care, which results into more vulnerable seniors.
COSTS DO PLAY A ROLE: CHEAPER IN REGULAR NUTRITION
Higher costs to overcome malnutrition are among others caused by more expensive food. Malnutrition can be countered, when the protein enriched food is taken into a patient’s familiar dietary pattern. This is a way the products will become cheaper. Snacks also help with the supplementation, but providing these cost extra staff hours.
The reason why protein enriched products are slightly more expensive is, because protein is a costly ingredient.
But, when you want to provide extra proteins, this is the most affordable solution because it does not become more expensive per extra gram of protein. People consume twice as much protein with the protein enriched products from Carezzo, but do not have to eat or drink more than they are used to.
NO WASTE
Logically, dietitians ask for more choice in nutrition that is easy and tasty. Also, it is important that the products contain a lot of protein and are not too expensive. But, when you provide them products their patients do not want to eat or drink, food will be wasted. Because some of the Carezzo products are part of the familiar dietary pattern, there is no need to eat or drink more than usual and will there be no waste of products. Besides, the Carezzo products are found to be very tasty. Consequently, waste does not play a role anymore.