Protein Powder For Women – What to Look For in a Protein Powder For Women

The growth in the use of protein powders in recent years has been pretty astounding. Once seen as the domain of hardcore bodybuilders, they are now becoming a part of most workout routines and weight loss diets, and the use of protein powders among women continues to pick up pace.

Now, as we know, men and women have physical differences and so have different requirements when it comes to nutrition. So naturally, we ask ourselves…

Are most protein powders OK for women to use or are they made specifically for men?

What’s the main difference between a protein powder for women and one for men?

What should a woman look for when she goes shopping for protein?

In general most protein powders these days are designed for BOTH the man and woman in mind. They often provide separate serving suggestions for men and women, since a woman’s required protein intake is naturally lower than a man’s. A serving for a woman should typically contain around 20 grams of protein.

The main difference between protein powders made specially for women is that they tend to contain less carbs, fats and sugars, and often have extra vitamins that are essential for women’s health – things like Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, and Iron.

When looking for a good protein powder for women, try to get something derived from protein isolates rather than concentrates. Although there is not a huge difference between the two, the one containing isolates tends to have a lower content of carbs and fats, and is absorbed slightly quicker into the body.

If you’re using protein powder for women as part of a weight loss diet, watch out for the sodium levels in some protein powders…sometimes these are added to increase flavour. Avoid anything that uses flavour enhancers like monosodium glutamate as these will tend to make you hungry and crave sugary foods.

Soy protein is good for dieters as it is a low-GI food and sugar-free so you won’t have to worry about excess sugar intake.