Protein for Women: Why You Need It More As You Age

As a self-confessed lover of carbohydrates, when I entered my 40’s, I felt like I was rapidly losing muscle and my energy levels plummeted. I hadn’t made changes to my exercise routine. I just felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere and that some changes needed to be made.

While studying for my Menopause Fitness Specialist Certification, I had a lot of “aha” moments that resonated, and one of these was that I needed to adjust my nutritional ratio to increase my protein intake and slow down muscle loss. 

As we lose muscle, we increase our chances of bone loss, injuries, weight gain and more (read all about it HERE).

Protein intake plays a crucial role in addressing these concerns by supporting muscle retention and repair. Let’s dive deeper into the significance of protein consumption for midlife health and beyond, and explore diverse sources and strategies to meet your protein needs effectively.

For women 40+, you may notice accelerated muscle loss. Adequate protein intake becomes pivotal in mitigating this loss, preserving muscle mass, and sustaining strength.

Protein is essential for muscle repair post-exercise, promoting recovery, and supporting overall bodily functions. Leucine, a vital amino acid, aids in protein synthesis crucial for muscle repair and growth.

For an active woman engaging in regular exercise (4-5 sessions per week, including weight training), the suggested protein intake ranges from 1.5 - 1.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. For instance, a 65kg woman should aim for 95 - 120 grams of protein daily.

Achieving these protein goals is feasible, even for individuals following vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian diets, through a combination of diverse protein sources and potential supplementation.

Lean beef, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products serve as excellent sources of high-quality protein for muscle maintenance and repair.

Plant-based options like beans, chickpeas, seeds, nuts, and tofu offer valuable protein alternatives suitable for various dietary preferences.

• Importance of Leucine: Prioritize protein sources with adequate leucine content (minimum 2.5mg per serving) as it significantly contributes to protein synthesis and muscle repair.
• High Leucine Foods: Chicken, beef, pork, fish (such as tuna), tofu, canned beans, dairy products, and eggs are rich sources of leucine.

Supplements serve as an effective means to meet daily protein requirements. When selecting a protein powder, opt for those with low sugar content, less than 5 grams per serving.

Whey and plant-based protein powders are viable options, offering 20-25 grams of protein per serving and help to maintain adequate protein levels.

You may find that as you age, whey protein might feel uncomfortable and switching to a plant-based protein might help.

Ensuring adequate protein intake stands as a cornerstone in managing muscle loss and supporting overall health from midlife and beyond.  By incorporating a diverse range of protein sources, understanding the significance of leucine, and considering suitable protein supplements, women can effectively address their nutritional needs during this life stage, promoting muscle health and overall well-being.

AND, if you are planning to add a protein smoothie, here is my favourite recipe!
1 cup coconut water

• ½ cup ice cubes
• ½ banana
• 2 scoops of protein powder
• 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, hemp seeds and ground flaxseed.
• I teaspoon of almond butter
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon
• Options: frozen berries and baby spinach.