The human body is designed for various physical movements such as pushing, pulling, jumping, squatting, lifting, running, and walking. These movements are made possible by our muscles. However, when we talk about muscle mass, the common image that comes to mind is lifting heavy weights at the gym. Interestingly, muscle mass tends to decrease by around 3-8% per decade after the age of 30, and this decline becomes even more pronounced after reaching 60. Instead of focusing solely on "getting bigger," it is crucial for individuals to adopt the mindset of maintaining their muscle mass throughout their lives to avoid its loss.The involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength, and function is a primary cause of disability in older adults. Research has shown that muscle mass is inversely related to the risk of death, and individuals with sarcopenia (defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength) may experience a 60% higher relative risk of death compared to those without sarcopenia.In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jonny Bowden, a board-certified nutritionist and renowned expert on fat loss and healthy aging. With his no-nonsense, myth-busting approach, Dr. Bowden has been a sought-after guest on numerous television shows and a popular keynote speaker at various events, including Beijing University and the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He has also been featured in documentaries such as "Fat Fiction" and "Heart of the Matter." Furthermore, Dr. Bowden is the best-selling author of several books, including "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth," "The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer," and the groundbreaking book "The Great Cholesterol Myth," co-authored with the late cardiologist Dr. Steven Sinatra.Our guest experts for this episode are Larry Kolb and Shawn Baier. Larry is the co-founder and President of TSI Group LTD. He currently serves as the President of the Innovative Products Division at TSI and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University. Larry's extensive experience includes roles as Vice President of Charles Bowman and Co. and Marketing Manager for Nurture, Inc. He is also an advisory board member for the United Natural Products Alliance, Nutrition Business Journal, and the University of Montana's World Trade Center.Shawn Baier, the Chief Operating Officer for MTI Biotech and the VP of Business Development Innovative Products Division at TSI, is our other guest expert. He holds a Master of Science degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Iowa. Shawn's career at MTI Biotech began in 1997 as a Research Scientist, where he supervised external research projects focused on HMB and muscle performance. He played a key role in overseeing a year-long NIH/NIA funded research study that explored the benefits of an HMB-containing nutritional supplement on muscle mass and function in older adults.A sneak peek: what exactly is myHMB? It stands for beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate, a metabolite of the essential amino acid leucine that plays a crucial role in preserving muscle tissue. Proteins are vital to our bodies, and amino acids are the building blocks that make up proteins. Leucine is one of these amino acids and is classified as one of the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), along with isoleucine and valine. Leucine is the most potent activator of protein synthesis among all amino acids. Our cells can sense the levels of leucine, and in response, initiate protein synthesis.HMB is a metabolite of leucine that acts as a helper to maintain and repair muscles. While leucine is present in most proteins, it is challenging to consume enough protein through diet alone to
