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Whey protein powders are beneficial to a woman’s health in many ways. They can help facilitate weight loss and muscle gain, help speed recovery after a vigorous workout, and increase stamina.
While you’ll still need to eat right and put in the time to exercise, pairing your efforts with enough protein intake can help you break performance barriers and help you achieve your desired physique.
That, in turn, will help you avoid a slew of maladies that tend to befall those who let their conditioning slide.
You have a lot of choices today, but we’ve done the research and sifted through the jungle for you. Our list of the best protein powders for women is the result.
Best Protein Powders for Women (March 2023)
1 - Cira Nutrition Bright (Editor's Choice)
If I’m being shallow, it’s the dainty, pastel brand colors for me.
But on a serious note, Cira Bright Whey protein isolate deserves the top spot on our list of the best protein powder for women because it’s low carb, packed with protein, and tastes good.
Apart from the 25 grams of protein, this premium protein powder also contains 125mg of calcium per serving, so you’re not only giving your muscles a boost but also taking care of your bone health while working out.
And if you’re craving something tasty without messing up your diet, this budget protein powder is a good option. It comes in 2 interesting flavors -- cinnamon swirl and cookies and cream.
- Contains 25 grams of whey protein isolate
- Comes in 2 delicious flavor options
- Low carb and sugar-free
- Has a good amount of calcium and potassium
- Contains some artificial flavoring
The only thing that you should be conscious of is the artificial flavoring added. But considering the taste, I think it’s worth it. After all, even while these flavors might seem too sweet, surprisingly, they taste natural and are not too overbearing.
2 - Transparent Labs Grass-Fed Whey Protein
A good protein powder is essential for women looking to lose body weight or gain muscle, but the taste can be a huge deterrent when deciding which protein powder to use.
That’s why the ProteinSeries 100% Grass-Fed Protein Isolate by Transparent Labs is likely one of the best protein powders on the market.
Each serving provides 28 grams of pure protein per serving and all of the nine essential amino acids your body needs to recover quickly after a strenuous workout and build new, more responsive, and durable muscles.
This flavored protein powder is also low in calories and contains only 15 mg of cholesterol.
- 28 grams of protein per serving
- Comes in four flavors: chocolate, strawberry, french vanilla, and salted caramel
- No artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colors
- Not available as an unflavored option
- It will make you feel even better knowing that the ProteinSeries contains no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colors, making it diet friendly. This is also why it's our best protein powder for people with diabetes.
It will make you feel even better knowing that the ProteinSeries contains no preservatives or colors, making it diet friendly. This is also why it's our recommended protein powder for diabetics.
Get 10% off using coupon code: TOTALSHAPE
3 - Essential Protein Daily Shake 18+ by Ritual
Essential Protein 18+ is a vegan protein powder that lacks GMOs, stevia, and other artificial ingredients. As a result, it has a clean formula: gluten, sugar, and soy-free.
With 20g of protein per 30g serving, this protein supplement will help your muscle mass growth.
The amino acid profile, alongside EAAs and BCAAs, ensures nutrition.
The best part is that it uses plant-based protein, meaning you feel fuller, less likely to snack and lose weight eventually.
- Organic, plant-based protein
- Stevia and soy-free to prevent stomach problems
- Sweeter and thicker protein powder
- Only 115 Calories per serving
- Only has a vanilla flavor
Essential Protein 18+ by Ritual only has vanilla as its flavor, but it’s all-natural, derived from vanilla bean extract, fermented sugarcane, and organic monk fruit extract.
4 - FitMiss Delight for Women
With FitMiss Delight, you will likely get a favorable complement of protein and other essential nutrients.
FitMiss is low in calories, gluten-free, and low-carb. If you're on the keto diet (and even if you're not), those features should sound pleasing to you.
FitMiss has been around for a while and built a solid reputation for offering high-quality supplements. Their FitMiss Delight is one of those supplements.
This protein powder has plenty of probiotics to help promote a healthy digestive system and vegetable-based protein that will help curb your appetite.
- Helps users build muscle
- Aids in weight management
- Maintains muscle growth and recovery
- Gluten-free and low-carb
- Doesn't always mix that easy
FitMiss Delight contains Solathin which helps you feel full faster. That is essential if your weight reduction efforts are going to be successful.
5 - Naked Whey Protein Powder
Whey is derived from cow's milk which means the type of cow that provides the milk is crucial if you're to get a supplement that's pure and potent.
Naked is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows that are never subjected to hormone treatments or bombarded with antibiotics the way most dairy cows are.
Every serving of Naked has only one ingredient: grass-fed whey protein concentrate. That's it.
- Pure women’s protein powder from natural sources
- No genetically modified organisms, gluten or soy
- 5.9 grams of beneficial BCAAs per serving
- No sugar, artificial flavorings, or fillers
- Isn’t always easy to mix
It is also made without sugar, stevia, fillers, flavor enhancers, or superfluous ingredients.
Do you want a pure, effective whey protein concentrate to help you achieve better health? Then, this should be it.
6 - Bodylogix Natural Whey
Women's nutritional needs are different than those of men, and it's only right that any supplement marketing itself to ladies should consider it.
One that does is Bodylogix, which contains not only pure, high-potency whey isolate, but enough of a woman’s recommended daily intake of calcium in every serving.
- 100% free of sugar, gluten, artificial sweeteners, and GMOs
- Available in natural dark chocolate or natural vanilla flavors
- Makes favorable protein shakes for women for weight loss
- No added vitamins or minerals just straight protein
- Costs more than some other brands
Calcium is essential for a woman to maintain a healthy skeletal system and strong bones are even more essential if you plan on building muscle. The good news is that Bodylogix is one of the few protein powder supplements to provide this benefit.
7 - Bob's Red Mill Protein
If you want one of the most potent forms of protein available, Bob’s Red Mill should be considered on your nutritional radar.
The people at Bob's Red Mill put in a lot of time and effort making sure their product is derived from the highest quality organic sources and as a result, this pea protein powder is among the most potent supplements on the market today.
Bob’s makes sure that a good organic base isn't sullied with genetically modified organisms, artificial flavors, color enhancers, or sweeteners that may help the flavor but stunt any nutritional value.
- Sourced from organically grown peas
- Plenty of branched chain amino acids and probiotics
- One of the great-tasting protein supplements for women
- You may want to add fruit to thicken it up
Red Mill is also packed with natural probiotics and mixes easily with your favorite beverage.
Benefits of Protein Powders for Women
The best protein powders are filled with whey protein concentrate, which represents an essential component of any health and fitness strategy. [1] Here are some benefits to justify it:
They help you control your weight - Protein powders provide vital proteins to help you feel satiated and avoid the food cravings that many women struggle with.
Clinical studies confirm that those who drink protein powders in conjunction with a diet and exercise regime are more likely to lose a few pounds than those who don't.
They help build lean muscle - Let’s face it, without the proper protein intake there is no hope for lean muscle. It's true for both women and men. Muscle protein will enable you not only to meet your body and health goals but also to replace fat with taut, responsive muscles.
They provide what you need in a convenient package - Eating healthy can be quite an involved process but adding a protein shake or two per day to your diet helps provide you with the essential, high-quality nutrients you need all in one place.
Government studies concluded that the impact of whey on body weight was evident. Using whey isolate helped women achieve results faster than dieting alone.
protein can also help you get slim, help you stay lean, help you recover fast, and help you boost your immune system for better overall health.
- Lindsey Mathews, Head Trainer & Nutritionist at IdealFit
Read more: Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
... protein can also help you get slim, help you stay lean, help you recover fast, and help you boost your immune system for better overall health.
- Lindsey Mathews, Head Trainer & Nutritionist at IdealFit
Tips When Buying Protein Powder
It’s easy to conclude that you need to start eating protein-rich foods if you engage in regular exercise.
What’s not easy is trying to determine which protein powders are worth the investment.
Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for the best protein powder for women.
How much do you need? - The average protein intake for women is around 12-15 grams per meal. But that number increases if you engage in vigorous workouts. If you plan to use protein powder to enhance your health goals and workout efforts, you'll want to make sure that it contains 20-25 grams per serving.
What else is in it? - The goal of using whey isolate is to enhance your overall well-being. You’ll have a difficult time achieving that goal if the protein powder you are using is loaded with genetically modified organisms, sweeteners, colors, sugar, and carbs. In addition, the general rule is less is more. Some products also include essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins D, C, and E.
Remember who you are - Are you lactose intolerant? If so, be aware that many protein powders are sourced from cow’s milk or any type of dairy product or milk proteins. Are you on a vegan diet or dairy-free? Again, protein powders made from whey isolate or animal protein is going to give you problems. Are you diabetic? If so inspect the labels very carefully looking for sugar, fructose, or other sweeteners.
Do you prefer organic? - Many women prefer organic protein powders. If you are one of them, don't just go assuming that any dietary supplement you have your eyes on uses organic protein. Not all supplements are organic, so read the label carefully even if you're buying a vegan protein powder.
Enjoyed this post? You might want to see our article on the best protein-filled bars for women.
FAQs
What is the best protein powder to build muscle for women?
The best protein powder to build muscle for women is protein sourced from grass-fed cows. It is digested very quickly and provides the complete amino acid profile that your muscles need to repair and build new fibers.
If you're looking for the best vegan protein powder or any other plant-based protein powder alternative, I highly recommend pea or soy protein isolate. Another plant-based protein powder containing complete essential amino acids is hemp.
Is too much protein powder bad for women?
Yes, too much protein powder is bad for women because large volumes of protein can cause some stomach upset.
Even with a fast-digested whey concentrate, your stomach will struggle to process very large volumes which can cause an imbalance in your gut flora and result in nausea and cramping.
Is it okay for women to take protein powder every day?
Yes, it is okay for women to take protein powder every day, but make sure to stick to the recommended dose and skip rest days. Excessive amounts of whey isolate can become hard to digest, and you won’t get any muscle benefits on rest days.
Are there any side effects for women taking protein powder?
Yes, there are a few side effects for women taking protein powder. These are mainly caused by exceeding the recommended dose and food intolerances or allergies. In such cases, stomach upset, nausea, and cramps may occur.
What’s the difference between protein powders for men and for women?
The main difference between protein powders for men and women is the amount of protein provided in each serving. Men need more protein for muscle growth and recovery. Women require less protein synthesis to reach the same goals.
And Our #1 Whey Protein Powder for Women Is...
The best whey protein powder for women is one that provides plenty of protein, delivers important nutrients necessary, and still tastes good.
And that’s why you should consider the best premium protein powder on our list- Bright Whey Protein from Cira Nutrition.
This protein powder contains 25 grams of protein per serving and the cinnamon and cookies and cream flavors taste so good.
If you’re looking to build muscle with a yummy protein powder that doesn’t seem like a chore to take, adding protein powder like Bright Whey will help you reach your body goals and overall health goals.
Our #1 Protein Powder for Women
Cira Nutrition Bright
- Contains 25 grams of whey protein isolate
- Comes in 2 delicious flavor options
- Low carb and sugar-free
- Has a good amount of calcium and potassium
- Get 10% off using code: TOTALSHAPE
- Contains some artificial flavoring
About The Author
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Hi, I’ve been drinking FitMiss Delight for a while now and I can say that it’s really effective for weight loss. I already lost 11 lbs by following a strict workout and diet plan. I tried a lot of protein supplements and this one is the best protein powder for women.