Optimal - The Blog

June 23, 2023

Optimal - The Podcast: Episode 19

Optimal - The Podcast: Episode 19 - Muscle Loss No More: Taking Charge of Sarcopenia an Interview with Kathie M. Swift

Dr. Dicken Weatherby & Beth Ellen DiLuglio, MS, RDN, LDN

Welcome to Episode 19 of Optimal - the Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Dicken Weatherby and Beth Ellen talk to Kathie M. Swift about sarcopenia, a condition that results in the loss of muscle mass and strength.

Kathie's interest in sarcopenia stems from her early observations as a nursing student, where she notices muscle loss in elderly patients. Her personal experiences with her mother's battle with ALS and her own struggle with Lyme disease further fuel her curiosity about muscle health. She discovers that sarcopenia is not widely recognized as a diagnosis and decides to delve deeper into the topic.

Kathie shares the definition, risk factors, and the importance of personalized nutrition and exercise in maintaining muscle health. Additionally, she talks about protein intake, micronutrients, assessment tools, lab biomarkers, and potential supplements. Katie also covers the importance of collaboration and personalization in addressing the condition.

Tune in and take action now to combat sarcopenia and maintain muscle health by prioritizing personalized nutrition and exercise in your daily routine.

Episode Highlights:

( 01:03 ) Kathie’s experience have made her develop an interest in sarcopenia and muscle health
( 03:42 ) Statistics on the prevalence of sarcopenia
( 09:43 ) Impact of early life history on sarcopenia and the first studies conducted on the subject
( 18:57 ) Role of animal protein in sarcopenia and the need for a holistic approach to nutrition.
( 28:58 ) Kathie’s research on whole food diets and the importance of studying food combinations
( 35:03 ) The use of the mini nutritional assessment and other tools for assessing risk of sarcopenia like body comp analysis
( 41:37 ) Multimarker approach to biomarkers and the use of nutritional and inflammation markers
( 45:03 ) Research on gut microbiota signatures in relation to sarcopenia
( 50:06 ) The role of supplements and exercise for preventing and treating sarcopenia, and the importance of individualized treatment plans
( 57:51 ) The importance of myography and wearables for monitoring sarcopenia

Want to Learn More?

CLICK HERE to learn more about sarcopenia and maintaining muscle mass.

About Kathie Swift

Kathie Swift, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, EBQ is a registered dietitian nutritionist who has been dubbed “the mother of integrative and functional nutrition” by thought leaders in the field and has been recognized by Today’s Dietitian as “a dietitian making a difference.”

Kathie maintains a heart-core approach to educating healthcare professionals. She received her Master of Science in Nutrition from Arizona State University and has held diverse positions throughout her career. Kathie pioneered leading-edge functional nutrition programs at Dr. Mark Hyman’s UltraWellness Center, Canyon Ranch Health Resorts, and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She has been the Nutrition Education Director for the Center for Mind-Body Medicine’s highly acclaimed “Food As Medicine” professional training program for over 20 years.

Kathie is a contributing author for the medical textbooks Integrative Gastroenterology and Integrative Women’s Health, published by Oxford University Press, and the clinical nutrition textbook Krause and Mahan’s Food & Nutrition Care Process. She serves on numerous advisory boards, including 3×4 Genetics, Integrative Healthcare Symposium, and Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. Kathie is a scientific reviewer for Military Medicine and served on the Institute for Functional Medicine’s inaugural Nutrition Advisory Board.

An inspirational educator, you’ll meet Kathie at numerous health and nutrition conferences and online summits. She has been interviewed in hundreds of articles published in the US and internationally. Kathie teaches her audience and students how to create vibrant, nourishing lives for themselves and their clients, combining the very best of modern nutritional science, integrative and functional medicine, mind-body modalities, and ancient healing practices.