Heart health tops health concerns for 35-65 year olds: Survey

Almost 85% of American adults are concerned about their heart health, according to survey results from Solae of 35-65 year olds.

Over 4,000 adults were surveyed in 13 countries in 2011, and heart health came out as one of the top two health concerns in more than half of the countries surveyed, said the company.

For American adults, weight management was also a concern for 75% of responders.

Solae is emphasizing the potential of soy and soy protein to benefit weight and heart health, with Ratna Mukherjea, PhD nutrition group lead at Solae, saying: “When you look at the listing of top ranking health concerns, it’s clear that soy protein can be a beneficial addition to the diet of someone in this age group.

“Protein can help preserve lean muscle mass and manage weight by promoting satiety.”

While aging individuals list the health concerns that can be affected by protein intake, only 64% of those surveyed say that they are getting the right amount of protein in their diet and half think they need to consume more protein as they age, added the company.

Eighty percent of the consumers surveyed also noted they preferred to get their protein by consuming foods or beverages that naturally contain it.

While soy has the highest usage among plant proteins commonly used for protein fortification, only 40% of this group selects soy protein as a part of their diet, added Solae.

“This age group can benefit from the unique benefits of soy protein,” said Mukherjea. “Soy protein is a high-quality plant protein that supports healthy maintenance of lean muscle mass while also providing heart health benefits that animal proteins do not offer.”