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Protein is vital for everybody to consume, but many people just donโt get enough of it.
While many protein powders on the shelves are marketed towards men, women are in need of the muscle-building macronutrient, too.
In addition to boosting muscle mass, protein is critical for increasing satiety, maintaining a healthy body weight, and supporting immunity.
If you donโt eat enough protein in the dayโor are a regular exerciserโprotein powder can help to bridge the gap.
In this article, check out our list of the seven best protein powders for women, including our top picks for plant-based and whey proteins as well as budget-friendly, organic, pregnancy-approved, and age 50+ options.
Organic and vegan protein from pea, flax, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia; Contains digestive enzymes, fruit and veggie blend, and 12 vitamins and minerals
USDA Certified Organic and Certified Plant-Based; 20g of protein from organic pea protein, peanut flour, pumpkin seed, almond, and chia; 35% of the Daily Value for iron
Contains BCAAs, glutamine, and glutamic acid to support muscle growth; Contains probiotics and a muscle recovery blend (tart cherry, turmeric, blueberry, and more)
Contains compounds (organic chaste berry, blueberry, pomegranate, and beetroot) to support menopausal symptoms like mood swings, insomnia, and hot flashes; No added sugar; 100% organic ingredients
14g
$68 for 30 servings ($2.27/svg)
Best Overall Protein Powder for Women: Naked Nutrition Whey
3g added sugar per serving (organic coconut sugar)
Not suitable for vegans or people intolerant to dairy proteins
Not suitable for people with tree nut allergies (contains coconut sugar)
Best for: Women wanting a clean protein powder; those who tolerate dairy protein well; women who want to buy in bulk.
Naked Nutritionโs Naked Whey protein powder contains just three ingredientsโwhey protein concentrate, organic coconut sugar, and organic natural flavorโand 25g of protein per serving.
This grass-fed whey is one of the cleanest protein powders on the market, making it an excellent option for women who want a dairy-based protein powder that provides all of the essential amino acids.
Naked Nutrition sources their whey protein from small Northern California and Idaho dairy farms, where the cows are grass-fed year-round and raised without growth hormones like rBGH or rBST.
At $94.99 per canister, Naked Whey seems like a lotโhowever, you get plenty of bang for your buck with this 5-pound, 61-serving container.
Best Overall Vegan Protein Powder for Women: KOS Organic Plant Protein
Contains digestive enzymes and a fruit and veggie blend
Contains 12 vitamins and minerals
Top-rated taste
Cons
On the expensive side
Only 15 servings per container
Not suitable for people with peanut or tree nut allergies
Best for: Women wanting a plant-based vegan protein powder; women wanting additional benefits in their protein powder (digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals, and fruits and vegetable blends).
Our best overall pick for vegan protein powder is the KOS Organic Plant Protein, which contains 20g of protein per serving from organic pea, flax, quinoa, pumpkin seed, and chia seeds.
Plus, this protein powder also provides digestive enzymes, a fruit and vegetable blend (shitake mushroom, broccoli, tomato, carrot, cranberry, apple, and orange), as well as 12 vitamins and minerals.
According to many reviewers, the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor also qualifies as one of the best-tasting protein powders for women. However, although Kos Organic Plant Protein is dairy-, egg-, and soy-free, this protein powder is not suitable for people with peanut or tree nut allergies, as it contains organic peanut flour and organic coconut milk and sugar.
Best Value Protein Powder for Women: NOW Plant Protein Complex
No added sugar (sweetened with xylitol and stevia)
High amount of protein per serving
Suitable for vegans and vegetarians
Cons
Texture described as grainy
Some people donโt tolerate sugar alcohols well
Best for: Women looking for a budget protein powder option that doesnโt compromise on quality.
For women looking for a good value protein powder, NOW Plant Protein Complexis an affordable, high-quality choice.
This NOW protein powder is a vegan option, getting its 22g of protein per serving from pea, hemp, and quinoa.
NOW also has plenty of certifications to back up their products, including the Informed-Sport certification, which tests every batch of products for over 270 prohibited and harmful substances.
However, some reviewers donโt love the grainy texture of this protein powder, and others experience digestive issues when consuming the sugar alcohol xylitol.
Best Organic Protein Powder for Women: Orgain Simple Organic Plant-Based Protein
This vegan protein powder provides 20g of protein per serving from organic pea protein, peanut flour, pumpkin seed, almond, and chia.
Orgainโs Simple Organic Plant-Based Protein is also great for women because it contains good amounts of ironโa mineral commonly depleted in womenโat 35% of the Daily Value per serving.
However, this is not a sugar-free optionโrather than using stevia, monk fruit, sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners, Orgain opted to add organic coconut sugar, totaling 5g per serving.
Best Protein Powder for Pregnant Women: Ritual Prenatal Protein Powder
Suitable for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women
Excellent source of choline
No added sugar
Informed-Sport Certified
Cons
Expensive
Only 15 servings per container
Best for: Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women who want a clean, vegan protein powder.
Pregnant and postpartum women still need proteinโbut many protein powders donโt have the right amounts of nutrients to support their needs.
Each serving of Ritual Prenatal Protein Powder contains 20g of vegan protein from organic peas, 0g of sugar, and 250mg of cholineโan essential nutrient for prenatal and postpartum women.
Ritual also provides high transparency, with full traceability of all ingredients.
For example, they source choline from Missouri (made using nature-identical tartaric acid to support a growing babyโs neurodevelopment), and their handcrafted vanilla flavor comes from vanilla farms in Madagascar.
Best Protein Powder for Active Women: Garden of Life Organic Vegan Sport Protein Powder
For example, this protein powder contains probiotics to support immunity, BCAAs and glutamine to promote muscle growth, and organic tart cherries, apples, turmeric, goji berries, and blueberries to help with post-exercise recovery.
Plus, Garden of Life has quadruple third-party certifications to back it up and is NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Choice for Sport Certified. Overall, Garden of Life Organic Vegan Sport is one of the best protein powders for female muscle gain and active women.
Best Protein Powder for Women Over 50: XO Jacqui Menopause Support Protein
Contains compounds (organic chaste berry, blueberry, pomegranate, and beetroot) to support menopausal symptoms like mood swings, insomnia, and hot flashes
No added sugar
100% organic ingredients
Cons
Lower protein content (14g per serving)
On the expensive side
Best for: Women over age 50 or who are going through any stage of menopause.
One of the most unique protein powders on the market, XO Jacqui Menopause Support Protein contains beneficial nutrients and compounds to support women going through menopause.
This protein powder may help to reduce menopausal symptoms like bloating, joint stiffness, mood swings, insomnia, and hot flashes with the addition of organic chaste berry, blueberry, pomegranate, and beetroot.
Itโs also soy-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, estrogen-free, and contains no added sugarโrather, itโs sweetened with organic monk fruit.
However, this powder contains slightly lower amounts of protein, at 14g per serving.
FAQs About Protein Powder for Women
Is Protein Powder Good for Women?
Yes, protein powder can be beneficial for women, especially those who donโt consume enough dietary protein throughout the day and those who are vegan or vegetarian, pregnant or postpartum, or who maintain high levels of activity.
Which Protein Powder Is Best for Weight Loss for Females?
Any low-sugar protein powder can be beneficial for weight loss, as protein helps support satiety and lean body mass.
Which Protein Shake Is Best for Women to Gain Weight?
Protein shakes with higher calorie counts can help women to gain weight.
However, most protein powders are not high in calories; therefore, you would want to mix it with higher-calorie foods.
For example, you could mix protein powder with milk, peanut butter, and fruit to make a higher-calorie shake.
When Should Women Drink Protein Shakes?
Women can drink protein shakes at any time of the day.
However, active women will likely want to drink protein shakes after a workout to support muscle growth and recovery.
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