CHICAGO (AP) – It happened to nurse Jane Byron years after an in-line skating fall, business owner Haralee Weintraub while doing “men’s” push-ups, and avid cyclist Gene Wilberg while lifting a heavy box.
“It” is that pop, strain or suddenly swollen joint that reminds active older adults they aren’t as young as they’d like to think.
Even among the fittest baby boomers, aging bodies just aren’t as nimble as young ones, and they’re more prone to minor damage that can turn serious if ignored or denied. But not every twist or turn needs medical attention, and knowing when it’s OK to self-treat pays off in the long run, in dollars and in health.
Costly knee replacements have more than tripled in people aged 45-64 in recent years and a study released last week found that nearly 1 in 20 Americans older than 50 have these artificial joints. Get more…
In the late 1990s, soy protein powder manufacturers benefited from the decision by the FDA to allow them to label their products as helping to decrease heart disease risk amongst users. When this happened, soy protein powders can really be said to have taken off.The question remains of course whether or not soy protein powders can live up to this original hype.Soy protein powders do provide the essential amino acids needed by the body. These can help with growth, cellular maintenance and coping with stresses and strains. Soy protein is actually the most complete protein of all the various vegetable based proteins. As such, soy protein comes closest to the animal derived varieties.Whey protein does however score higher when it comes to looking at the digestibility but only of a difference between 1 (for soy protein) and 1.14 for whey protein.Both soy protein and proteins derived from milk and meat are found to be very easily digestible in human clinical studies. Sources of soy protein include tofu, soy milk, miso and soy flour. You can eat these in these forms or even now as soy burgers, cheeses, yogurts and various other soy products. Using soy supplements and protein powders can also help provide you with some of the amino acids in higher amounts than your regular whey protein formula. As such, some experts suggest mixing the two in order to get the most out of each.Using both a whey protein powder and a soy protein powder can therefore give benefits than either alone lacks. Most importantly though for those who are lactose intolerant, a soy protein formula offers a great alternative. Make sure to check labels though as some soy supplements may still utilize milk proteins.
Dr. Robert Franke, who fought to live in a retirement home that rejected him because of his HIV status, died December 26. He was 78. Franke wanted to be closer to daughter Sara Franke Bowling in Little Rock, Ark., so he applied to live at Fox Ridge, an assisted-living facility. He moved in after fulfilling residency requirements, but after it was discovered that he is HIV-positive, Franke was abruptly ejected from his home. After working with Lambda Legal, he settled with the facility’s operators in 2010. Scott Schoettes, Lambda Legal HIV project director, called Franke “courageous” and added that his crusade paved the way for more seniors living with HIV as they seek elder care.