Lee Swanson and Ori Hofmekler Introduce New Senior Muscle Retention Formula
Lee Swanson, President of Swanson Health Products
Ori Hofmekler, Author of The Anti-Estrogenic Diet
SWANSON: Ori, as author of The Warrior Diet, you have a deep understanding of muscular fitness. Tell us why muscle retention is so important for seniors.
HOFMEKLER: Retention of muscle tissue is more critical than commonly thought. Muscle aging, if left unchecked, could lead to devastating consequences. Skeletal muscle is the largest energy-producing tissue in the body, and energy is the driving force of life. Loss of muscle mass means loss of capacity to utilize energy. Chronic impairments in energy production have been linked to a variety of common health concerns. This is why preventing muscle wasting is so critical. Even though we were told that age-related muscle wasting is natural, the truth is that we can’t afford losing our largest energy producing facility, regardless of how old we are.
SWANSON: What role do exercise and nutrition play in muscle maintenance? Apparently, muscle loss happens whether we work against it or not. Are our muscles a lost cause?
HOFMEKLER: Certainly not! You may have been told that losing muscle mass is normal and okay, “Everyone ages; everyone becomes weaker.” But I’m here to tell you it does not have to be that way! There is a way to overcome muscle aging and restore your power. Look at your childhood hero Jack LaLanne—he’s a great example of how well we can maintain our muscularity if we take care of ourselves. There is also historical evidence that getting older doesn’t mean getting weaker. Legendary King Leonidas was over fifty years old when he fought with his 300 Spartan warriors against a million-man Persian army. Julius Caesar was over sixty and still participating in combat activities. This is real. You may age as time goes by, but your muscles can sustain their youthfulness. Bad nutrition and inadequate physical activity are major contributors to age-related muscle wasting. But aging presents additional problems. The loss of appetite and digestive enzymes, along with wrong food choices, can lead to protein malnourishment, nutritional deficiencies and increased oxidative damage, which altogether lead to waste of muscle tissue. However, with proper nourishment and the right exercise, you can stop muscle wasting and even build lean muscle well into your advanced years.
SWANSON: You recommend consuming small protein meals frequently throughout the day, yet you do not recommend meat, fish or poultry as ideal foods for muscle. Why is that?
HOFMEKLER: I make this recommendation to accommodate the needs of seniors who often experience loss of digestive power and loss of insulin sensitivity. The purpose is to grant maximum protein uptake by muscle without indigestion, insulin spikes or metabolic toxicity. This can be done by incorporating specially designed low-glycemic muscle meals made with easily digestible, fast-assimilating proteins. Meat, fish and poultry are good sources of protein, but they are not fast-digesting, fast assimilating foods. They are great for the evening meal, but for the purpose of fully nourishing your muscles and supporting development you need easily digestible muscle meals throughout the day.
SWANSON: What makes our Senior Muscle Retention formula different from a standard whey protein supplement?
HOFMEKLER: This formula was developed using a special protein blend that can grant complete muscle nourishment. The mission was to create a super muscle meal—an alternative to other protein products that are made with inferior ingredients or are poorly processed and thus lack the nutritional capacity to satisfy muscle needs. The main ingredient is a unique whey protein concentrate that took years to perfect. It is derived from grass-fed cows that are not hormonally treated and are guaranteed BSE- and rBGH-free. This biologically advanced whey contains all key amino acids needed for muscle buildup and performance including glutamic acid, leucine, cysteine and the very important branched-chain amino acids, all of which are critically needed for muscle energy and sustainability. Plus, because we source only from naturally grass-fed cows, we get higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA has been shown to help discourage fat buildup and encourage lean muscle development. Pure organic sweet whey powder is also included along with evaporated goat milk, which altogether yields a perfect blend that not just ensures good flavor and consistency, but also grants an even greater biological value and nutritional impact to this formula. Next there’s immune-supportive arabinogalactan, which combines with a specially modified fiber called Fibersol®-2 to provide nearly 10 grams of digestionfriendly, water-soluble fiber per serving. You won’t find that in a standard whey powder supplement. Finally, soy lecithin is added to provide essential phospholipids and ensure complete nutritional support to muscle.
SWANSON: Why is this particular protein blend so uniquely beneficial to muscle?
HOFMEKLER: This protein blend was carefully designed to yield the highest biological value and thus become the best protein meal for muscle. The best way to maximize the biological value of protein is by skillfully combining proteins together. The best way to combine proteins is by mixing together protein foods that complement each other in respect to their amino acids, fat-soluble nutrients, vitamins and mineral content. The special protein concentrate in this formula provides the best amino acid profile with a full spectrum of immunosupportive nutrients and cofactors. The second protein ingredient, called sweet whey, has been used by Swiss physicians as a digestive aid and a traditional health remedy. Pound for pound, sweet whey is a most viable source of minerals, fat-soluble immunonutrients and cofactors. It’s also a great prebiotic food for supporting healthy gut flora. The combination of these two proteins not only provides virtually everything muscle tissue needs for sustaining itself, it also supports digestion and enhances nutrient assimilation. Finally, this protein blend is combined with a small amount of goat milk powder. Goat milk adds nutrients that are missing in bovine milk products. It has a unique protein composition with a higher concentration of certain beneficial proteins called alpha lactoglobulins, which appear in human breast milk but are virtually missing in cows’ milk. With this unique protein combination, the Swanson Ultra® Senior Muscle Retention formula provides everything needed for muscle retention and development: a complete protein profile and a full spectrum of nutritional cofactors—minerals, immuneboosting compounds and digestion-supporting nutrients.
SWANSON: I’m impressed with the flavor and texture of this formula. I’ve tried hundreds of protein powders over the years and this is truly the best-tasting product ever.
HOFMEKLER: The goal was to create something that is as pleasing to the palate as it is nourishing to the body. I personally use it, and so do my family and friends. I know your customers are going to love it! Those who try it tell us that the taste is almost “addictive.” This is a safe treat that can help satisfy cravings for sweets. It is very low-glycemic with no sugar added, so you can enjoy it frequently with no side effects even if you are sensitive to carbs. This is a great advantage to seniors concerned about blood sugar.
SWANSON: Thank you, Ori, for helping us introduce yet another excellent supplement. I know it’s going to help a lot of people.
HOFMEKLER: I appreciate your true dedication to this important issue, Lee. Muscle retention is indeed a critical concern that deserves further discussion. Let me just emphasize to your customers that it is never too late to restore your physique, but you need to take action. Do not procrastinate. The sooner you start your muscle retention plan, the better your chances for success.
