Is eating meat recommended for elderly people?

Meat is part of a balanced diet for seniors, and is even recommended, since it provides both animal proteins of a high biological value and trace elements including iron, zinc and selenium.

The muscle mass starts to diminish when adulthood is reached, and the pace at which it diminishes increases after the age of 50: the muscles represent approximately 45% of body weight between the ages of 20 and 30, falling to only 27% of body weight at the age of 70. This tendency to lose muscle tissue accentuates if food intake of proteins is insufficient. To slow the muscle-tissue loss, protein intake must be sufficient and physical activity is encouraged. It is preferable to choose the meat cuts according to the way they are to be cooked, and according to the strength of the chewing muscles: thus, long-cooking cuts for braising or boiling should be preferred.
 
It is important to encourage the elderly to eat meat, since they often lack appetite for it.

Source: IFN