Whether you are a busy mother, successful entrepreneur, fitness guru or all three, maintaining a healthy body is key to living an empowered life. A vital component of female health is protein, which ensures energy and restorative powers to the body throughout the day. High amounts of protein can be found in whole foods such as eggs, meats, and certain vegetables, but it is the powder form that is currently sweeping the health and fitness world.
This powder, like many other fitness components, is largely male-focused in advertising and sales, and it can be frustrating to find valid information on the best protein powder for women. Here you can find the information you need to select the one that works for you.
What Exactly Is Protein Powder?
Protein is a necessity in our everyday lives. Our bodies need protein for muscle strength, bone growth, immune health, and cardiovascular wellness. For athletes, protein is important for building muscle and increasing body mass or going lean and shedding pounds.
The thing to remember about protein is that even if you’re not an athlete, it is still necessary to get the right amount on a daily basis. Women are said to need around 50 grams of protein daily, and protein powders on the market average at about 25 grams per serving.
The protein powder that you see online and on store shelves is a powdered substance with either a dairy base (whey or casein) or soy or pea base (what are referred to as plant-based protein powders). Depending on the brand and type, protein powders are blended with added vitamins, flavors and sometimes sweeteners. The most common way to use protein powder is to take a scoop and blend it into a smoothie, milkshake or iced beverage.
How the List Was Created
This list was carefully crafted based on research and existing customer reviews. When considering the categories, we thought of the most important qualities that a woman might look for when choosing a protein powder. From there, each powder was narrowed down and judged based on three key components:
- Content: What is it made of, what is added to it, etc.
- Affordability: How does each product compare with others like it on the market?
- How healthy it is: Each one obviously contains protein, but what other benefits come with it?
Once the choices were narrowed down, they were divided into categories decided to be the most relevant to women today.
Best Overall: Nature’s Bounty Complete Protein and Vitamin Shake Mix
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It was difficult to choose the best overall protein powder for women because of the number of great quality brands out there on the market right now. Nature’s Bounty Complete Protein and Vitamin Shake Mix were chosen for a couple of different key reasons. For one, this powder is natural with no added artificial sweeteners, making it trustworthy for the health-conscious woman.
Another important reason is the added vitamins and health benefits. It not only provides 15 grams of protein per serving, but it also comes with vitamins built into its system that help with immune system health, hair and skin health, bone health, and digestive health. It comes in either chocolate or vanilla, which both scored high among customers based on written online reviews.
Finally, this protein powder is affordable. You can purchase it on Nature’s Bounty website. Based on affordability, make-up and overall health benefits, Nature’s Bounty Complete Protein and Vitamin Shake Mix pass the test with flying colors.
Best for Gaining Muscle: MTS Nutrition Machine Whey Protein
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If building muscle mass and adding on some weight play into your fitness goals, the MTS Nutrition Machine Whey protein powder is an excellent choice for you. This product is packed with 25 grams of protein per serving, giving your body the boost and muscle support that it needs. It is made up of 80 percent whey, making it the perfect post-workout protein powder for increasing muscle growth.
The MTS Nutrition Machine Whey comes in 12 different unique flavors, ranging from peanut butter cookies & cream to ice cream sandwich. A negative aspect gathered from customer reviews is the super sweet taste, which is unappealing to some. Machine Whey is affordable for a 2 lb. container and can be found on MTS’ website.
Best for Losing Weight: Perfect Keto Grass-Fed Collagen Protein Powder
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Protein powder often comes with a connotation of weight gain and increased muscle mass, but it is commonly used to achieve goals of getting lean as well. This Keto Grass-Fed Collagen protein powder is perfect for women wanting to shed some pounds while maintaining healthy levels of protein and energy. It is low in carbohydrates and contains zero artificial additives. This powder is also Keto-friendly and comes with grass-fed collagen to provide healing to the powerful and hard-working female body. Perfect Keto Protein Powder has a variety of flavors to choose from, including vanilla, chocolate, and salted-caramel, as well as an unflavored option.
The negative reviews for this product are hard to find, but some people have complained about the taste of the natural stevia being too sweet for those who are used to the Keto diet. If you’d like to purchase this powder, you can find it in a 12 oz container online at Perfect Keto’s website.
Best Gluten-Free: Lean Body Jamie Eason Signature Series Whey Protein Isolate
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The diversity of the female body is endless, so why not ensure that the diversity of your protein powder options is as well? If you are gluten-free, you deserve an effective and tasty powder that meets your diet needs. Created by a successful fitness trainer and dedicated mother, Lean Body is a company that can be trusted by women. Jamie Eason believes in the importance of health and holistic happiness, and she knows the power of protein in achieving your lifestyle goals.
Lean Body Whey Protein is not only free of gluten, but it is completely free of lactose, GMOs, artificial preservatives and any other artificial additives. It is important to also note that Lean Body’s protein powder comes with only three grams of fat per serving because gluten-free ladies should not have to sacrifice having a diet low in fat.
The most popular features of this powder are the gluten-free benefits, the non-GMO status, and the delicious chocolate flavor. Of the negative reviews, one of the few common complaints was about the higher price. You can purchase this and other protein powder variables here, and the website offers free shipping on orders above $49.
Best Vegan/Plant-Based Option: Ora Organic So Lean & So Clean Vanilla Protein Powder
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Living a vegan lifestyle requires even more thought into how you’ll get your healthy levels of protein. With the most popular protein powders on the market being whey-based, it is important to have the information you need on how to find the best protein powder for women that doesn’t contain animal products. The Ora Organic So Lean & So Clean Vanilla Protein Powder was chosen as the best vegan option because not only is it plant-based, but these products offer richly flavored powders free of gluten, soy, and GMOs, and are a trustworthy addition to any vegan woman’s diet.
Possibly the only downside to this product is the Ora Organic Vanilla Protein Powder is a little costly, coming in at $49.99 per 21 oz container. However if this product fits into your budget, it may be worth your investment. You can purchase the So Lean & So Clean Vanilla Protein Powder here, along with many other plant-based health products for the vegan ladies out there.
Best Option on a Budget: Isopure Zero Carb Isolate Whey Protein Powder
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Some of the protein powders listed in this article may not fit your budget, and that’s okay. If you need to crunch numbers but still want the power of a protein supplement, the Isopure Protein Powder is perfect. Recently rated “Amazon’s Choice,” this powder is a gluten-free and lactose-free option that costs only $14.41/lb.
The Isopure protein powder has a whopping 18 flavor options, by far the most out of the powders listed in this article. You can enjoy any flavor from vanilla and chocolate to apple, or you can choose the popular unflavored option. Although this was the highest rated low-priced option on multiple avenues, we found a couple of negative comments about a “chalky” texture. Buy Isopure Zero Carb Isolate Whey Protein Powder here to start gaining energy and saving pennies.
Verdict: Finding the Type That Works for You
Now that you have read through this list and gained a new understanding of the best protein powders for women, it is up to you to find which one works best for your lifestyle and goals. Are you trying to lose weight? Are you trying to find a meal replacement to bulk up? Or do you want vegan-friendly protein to supplement the subtraction of animal products from your diet? Whatever your reasons may be, this list should provide a good start for choosing the best option for you.