There are two distinct categories of protein powders, “standard” protein powders and “women’s” protein powder. If you’ve come to this article via search engine, chances are that you’re performing your due diligence on protein powders for women. The primary aim of this article is to explain what a protein powder is, the differences between standard protein powders and women’s protein powders, and what the best choice for protein powder is for you.
Is Protein Powder Safe for Women?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of “which” particular protein powders are most suitable for females to consume, let’s define exactly what a protein powder is. There is a lot of confusion on the topic as it is a very common misconception that protein powder will necessarily bulk you up. Hence, many women shy away from protein powder for this very reason.
Protein powder does not bulk you up by any means. It is a dietary supplement comprised primarily of proteins. These proteins are derived from food sources. Essentially what happens is that a food is put through a series of processes whereby the proteins are extracted and manufactured into a powder form. Then some flavours (and possibly other ingredients such as vitamins, colours, minerals etc.) are added to the mix. In this sense, the protein consumed within a protein shake is no different to that found in wholefood (just more processed). So just as with food, over-consumption of protein powder will lead to weight gain.
Protein powder should never replace a whole-food based diet, rather it should supplement a whole-food diet. Protein powder can be a useful supplement for:
- Convenience (as it’s much easier to use a protein shake rather than carry around a cooked chicken!)
- Encouraging recovery after exercise (so your body has nutrients available to repair damaged cells and boost the immune system)
- Weight Loss (as a serve of protein powder can be very low in calories)
- Toning (toning is the combination of fat reduction and some muscle gain for shape; protein powder can assist in both areas)
- Muscle Gain (consumed in conjunction with a high calorie diet and an appropriate exercise routine, a protein powder can assist in muscle development)
How protein powder assists in these goals is outside of the scope of this article, however you are encouraged to browse around this website as there are hundreds of other articles that delve deeper into protein and it’s functions within the human body.
Because your typical protein powder is food derived, it is safe to consume. There are protein powders available with and without artificial sweeteners. Particularly if you are following an exercise regime, a protein powder can be a very useful tool within your arsenal.
Women’s Protein Powder Supplements – What Makes them Different?
If you considering the typical marketing of the two main categories of protein powders:
- The typical protein powder is marketed to a male audience with a desire to gain muscle and “bulk up”.
- Women’s protein powder is marketed toward a female audience for weight loss and toning.
Here’s the secret that many of the female protein powder manufacturers do not want you to know – there is no protein more suited to women. Though the marketing may imply otherwise, ultimately the colour of the protein powder bears no resemblance to the effectiveness of the protein product itself.
The main difference between male to female protein requirements the quantity of serving, not the type of protein. Consider within nature – there is no particular food source of protein that only women should consume. Since protein powders are food derived, how can they possibly be an exception to the rule? Women’s protein powders commonly include “soy” proteins, or other inferior vegetable based proteins (relative to milk/whey/casein and egg based proteins). The quality of these proteins is extremely poor and very cheap to manufacture too.
Almost all brands carry a “Standard” protein powder which is commonly marketed to the male bodybuilder. Thus, there is a lot of competition on the market and prices are kept relatively low. In contrast to this, womens protein powder is perceived as a niche market. Consequently these brands are more expensive per serve, made with inferior ingredients and often come in smaller sized tubs. It is common for female protein powders to be sold in 0.5kg and 1kg tubs. Meanwhile your typical protein powder will often come in 1kg, 2.3kg or 4.5kg tubs.
So if you are seeking value for money and product quality, you are generally better off going for a standard protein powder rather than a women’s specific protein powder supplement under ordinary circumstances. You will almost always obtain a superior quality product at a much more reasonable price. If you are interested in seeing the high value products that we stock within our store, please visit the protein powders area.
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