This session will cover:

• Why we need dietary protein (muscle / bone)
• How does the body process dietary protein into amino acids?
• Protein classification and requirements (inc amino acid classification, conditional AA, etc)
• Do we eat sufficient protein in the Western diet?
• What is the current balance of animal vs plant protein in Western diets?
• Protein quality (anabolic response to protein in muscle, AA score, PDCAAS, DIAAS) Is the scoring fit for purpose?
• Plant proteins and essential amino acids
• Whole diet approach versus complementary proteins – is complementary protein needed anymore?
• The role of the non-essential amino acids eg collagen protein, arginine. What are conditionally essential AA?.in terms of nutritional, metabolic and functional perspectives (Reed PJ, 2000)
• Animal versus plant protein for muscle health (i.e., impact of animal and plant protein sources on muscle mass, muscle protein synthesis etc) Whole diet approach: lot of intervention studies
• compare whey protein with plant protein. How does whey compare to animal protein in the diet?
• Is there an ideal protein intake, blend or amino acid profile for building muscle?
• Blended protein approaches for muscle health (i.e. mix of plant/plant proteins, animal/plant proteins).

Learning objectives:

GAIN CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF:

• Importance of dietary protein for muscle health
• Protein scoring methods
• Differences between animal and plant proteins for supporting muscle health

BE AWARE OF:

• Amino acid classification
• Differences between protein scoring methods
• Differences between protein sources

BE ABLE TO:

• Articulate the importance of dietary protein for health
• Articulate the impact/importance of different protein sources
• Appreciate the role of blended approaches

Benjamin Wall obtained his BSc from the University of Birmingham and his PhD from the University of Nottingham Medical School, where his thesis addressed the integration of fat and carbohydrate metabolism during exercise. Thereafter, Benjamin worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands where he studied the nutritional regulation of muscle mass in health and disease before taking up a faculty position at the University of Exeter, UK, in 2013. Benjamin is now a Professor of Nutritional Physiology at the University of Exeter, where his research interests concern how nutrition and physical (in)activity influence muscle mass, metabolic health and performance in a variety of populations. A particular interest is placed on developing an evidence base around novel and sustainable dietary protein sources in various populations.

This session will cover:

• Regulation of muscle mass via nutrition and exercise
• Understanding the factors that dictate the anabolic potential of a protein source
• Describe the empirical evidence available (or required) in support of differing protein sources within sports nutrition

• Scientific methods to evaluate the efficacy of protein sources
• Data available in support of animal, plant and alternative protein sources I support of muscle reconditioning
• Differing level of importance of total and type of protein for training individuals

• Describe what constitutes a high-quality dietary protein source
• Discuss the relevance of total and type of dietary protein to support training adaptations
• Consider what the future may hold for diversity of proteins within sports nutrition

Prof Lisette de Groot, PhD is Professor in ‘Nutrition and Ageing, with due attention for older adults’ at the Wageningen University. Her research aims to identify dietary strategies that optimize nutritional health status to slow down or reverse stages preceding ageing related pathologies (cognitive decline, sarcopenia, osteoporosis) as to preserve functional health and quality of life.

This session will cover:

• Ageing and nutritional concerns
• Protein needs and sarcopenia later in life
• The impact of shifting towards more plant-based diets on muscle mass and strength

Learning objectives:

GAIN CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF:

• Ageing and specific nutrient needs later in life
• Protein needs for the maintenance of muscle mass and function
• The potential of blending plant protein sources

BE AWARE OF:

• Current intakes of animal and plant based proteins in older adults from Western populations
• The heterogeneity of the older population
• Challenges in improving protein intakes of older adults

BE ABLE TO:

• Work towards tailored nutritional guidance for older adults

Corné van Dooren is senior advisor sustainable diets at World Wildlife Fund Netherlands (WWF NL). Prior to this, he worked as a sustainable food expert at the Dutch Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum). He studied human nutrition at the Wageningen University and finished his PhD at the Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam ‘Simultaneous optimisation of the nutritional quality and environmental sustainability of diets’.

This session will cover:

• Impact of protein choices and production sources on planetary boundaries
• Protein sources from optimisation studies
• Adequate protein intake in an environmentally sustainable way
• What is the ideal plant-protein ratio in the diet for a healthy planet

Learning objectives:

GAIN CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF:

• The environmental impact of different protein sources
• The relation between protein choices and planetary boundaries
• What a planet-based diet looks like

BE AWARE OF:

• The effect of plant-based choices on protein quality
• The cultural acceptability of more plant-based diet
• Loss of biodiversity through Western diets

BE ABLE TO:

• Advise nutritional adequate plant-based foods
• Inform about the impact of animal-based foods
• Explain what a planet-based diet is

Session outline and learning objectives:

This session will cover:

• A look at what consumers are currently eating versus what is recommended
• Barriers
• Motivators
• Top tips and inspiration for
  – 1-2-1 situations
  – Gov
  – Organisations
  – Media

Learning objectives:
Gain clear understanding of:

• Definition of a plant-based diet vs. what it is not
• Plant based nutrition in relation to national and international guidelines
• Why is it important to move towards a more plant-based approach? health outcomes / sustainability/ ethics

Be aware of:

• Where are we standing right now with regards to plant-based nutrition: what are consumers eating vs what is recommended, focus on plant protein
• nutrition education is an important part to drive health behaviour change: Where to start to move plant based?
• Main barriers for individuals to move towards a more plant-based diet

Be able to:

• Communicate the role of a plant-based diet for one’s health to patients/ clients/ audience
• Translate scientific insights to actionable nutrition advice
• Address main barriers of behaviour change