Nutrition adviser says protein is key to healthy ageing

Nutrition adviser Liis Orav says a high-protein diet is especially important for longevity, ERR reported after her appearance on the morning television programme Hommik Anuga.

Orav said the body absorbs protein less effectively with age, making the amount of protein in the diet increasingly important. She also highlighted Greek yoghurt and skyr as foods to consider for their high protein content.

On the programme, actors Anne Reemann and Piret Kalda sampled dishes based on recipes from Elujõud toidust, a book Orav wrote with food editor Lia Virkus. The dishes included a quiche with extra spinach and flourless chocolate muffins made with beans.

Orav said women in Estonia live about 60 years in good health and men nearly 57. She said healthy life expectancy in the Nordic countries is eight to 10 years longer. She also described Estonians as prone to stress and said external pressures can contribute to personal stress and emotional strain, affecting overall health.

Orav said plant-based milk drinks are ultra-processed foods, while dairy products are whole foods for people who tolerate them. She also recommended bread made with rye or buckwheat flour over wholegrain wheat bread.