Protein for Women: Myths vs Facts

Is protein necessary for women too?

There's still a myth going around that protein isn't good for women and that it gives them huge, bulky muscles. We can put your mind at ease: that belongs firmly in the realm of fairy tales. It's simply not possible to build huge muscle mounds from an excessively high protein intake. Most people actually struggle to build muscle mass in the first place. There are plenty of young men who'd love to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime. Only around 1 - 2 % of men have the genetic potential to build an excessive amount of muscle mass. For women, it's also around 1%.

What actually are proteins?

Proteins are made up of amino acids. Some amino acids have to be supplied through food, which is why they're known as essential amino acids. Other amino acids can be produced from these essential amino acids, which makes them non-essential. When you consume protein through food, it's broken down into amino acids in your digestive tract. The amino acids then enter your bloodstream and are distributed to your tissues and organs. Once they reach their destination, amino acids are used, for example, to build up and break down tissue.

Why is protein important for women?

If you want to shape and tone your muscles, there's no way around getting enough protein. What woman doesn't want a firm bum or toned arms?
To reach this goal, you need to build muscle and lose fat. Building muscle requires regular strength training to stimulate your muscles, as well as the right amount of protein at the right time.

Do protein shakes make sense for women?

Many women still hold the belief that protein shakes are only for men. Lots of people think protein shakes are only suitable for bodybuilders.

As already mentioned, alongside training, the right amount of protein at the right time is crucial for successful muscle training. Ideally, you should take in around 20 g of protein every 3 - 4 hours. As a rule, this can mainly be covered through your regular meals. However, if there are longer gaps between meals (for example, between lunch and dinner), a high-quality protein shake can bridge that protein gap.

So you can safely let go of the fear of bulky, masculine muscles from too high a protein dose. Protein is therefore just as suitable for women as it is for men.

Have fun trying it out!