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Why Women Need To Eat More Protein

Protein is so important for women when it comes to health, weight loss, mood, beauty, and…everything! This post will explore 8 reasons why women need to eat more protein and share the best sources of protein, too!

Protein is very important for women when it comes to health, weight loss, mood, beauty, and...everything! This post will explore 8 reasons why women need to eat more protein and share the best sources of protein, too!

I can’t overstate how important protein is for women. 

But I also I know protein can be a tricky topic for some: how much is too much, am I getting enough, and how do I get the best protein sources?

A good place to begin is remembering that whole foods should always be the primary source of adding any nutrient to your diet. So if you’re goal is more protein, be aware that store-bought protein bars as a quick way to get a boost are not ideal for bumping up your protein intake.

Instead, try finding your protein in poultry, fish, lean meats, and vegan foods. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you all about these foods below!

I’ve done some research and looked at reputable and scientific sources to find you the best information on why women, specifically,  need to eat more protein. Let’s take a look! 

What Is Protein?

If you’ve read my post on how to calculate your macros, you’ll know that protein is one of three macronutrients:

  • Carbs: Carbs fuel the body
  • Fat: Fat helps you to feel full
  • Protein: Protein builds and repairs muscle

In the post and in my video on macros, I explain that macros make up the calories you eat. It’s essential to make sure that you have the proper balance of carbs, fat, and protein in your day.

Protein does a lot for us! It gives us enzymes to digest food, helps maintain our immune system, gives us energy, and aids in bone and muscle development.

And if you really like to learn the science behind things, read about the essential amino acids you get from protein (the all-important building blocks) in my post about vegan protein substitutes. Yes, vegans can get their protein requirements easily if they know what to eat! This post on pea protein explains amino acids, too.

An overhead image of a single serving of Creamy Garlic Tuscan Shrimp made with shrimp, garlic, yellow onion, low sodium chicken broth, sun dried tomato strips, unsweetened almond milk, baby spinach, parmesan, arrowroot starch and parsley served with sweet potato noodles.

Should I Eat Protein Every Day?

Definitely yes, you should eat protein every day. You must, in fact! I personally target 150 grams of protein every day. This is based on my body weight, active lifestyle, and fitness goals. 

But if you are not exercising that much (I exercise a lot and you can, too if you want to—see how here), your protein needs will be lower. 

How Much Protein Do Women Need?

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein as discussed at a Washington protein summit is 0.8g / kg of bodyweight. This was based on adults 19 years of age. In my video, I state 0.7g, and the number does range based on your lifestyle and activity level. Basically, to calculate how many grams of protein you need per day, simply multiply your weight by 0.36. If you weigh 145lbs, you should eat at least 52 grams of protein per day.

  • 3 ounces of chicken is 28 grams of protein
  • 3 ounces of steak is 26 grams
  • 6 ounces of Greek yogurt is 18 grams
  • 1 ounce of soy nuts is 12 grams

As you can see, it’s not that difficult to reach your RDA. Each gram of protein you eat provides about 4 calories of energy. That’s a good example of why women need more protein, to give you the energy you need to get things done! 

Tips: To add more protein to your plate, increase the size of the chicken breast on your plate and decrease the other portions somewhat to compensate.

Snacking on a protein shake with a good quality protein powder is a delicious way to add a serving of protein to your day. I believe in the awesome benefits of protein powder to boost your protein intake over and above food. That’s why Dustin and I created cleanish Brand Protein Powder, free of additives and made with only 9 ingredients!

Should you worry about eating too much protein? The average person really would have to eat a lot to overdo it. But, if you do go overboard and forget to balance your diet out with other nutrients you may see these signs:

  • Bad breath
  • Weight gain
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dehydration

People who consume dangerous levels of protein may experience kidney and liver stress and damage.

Overhead image of a white bowl containing Quinoa Lentil Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, including kale, garbanzo beans, quinoa, and sunflower seeds.

Why Is Protein Important For Women?

Protein is an important source of the amino acids needed to keep our bodies healthy. What do these amino acids do?

  • Prevent fat accumulation in the liver
  • Reduce cholesterol
  • Reduce muscle damage and breakdown
  • Strengthen bones, hair, skin, and nails
  • Aid in the formation of hemoglobin
  • Heal the bones
  • Enhance learning

Signs You Are Lacking Protein

One of the reasons women need protein is to prevent bone loss as we age. Protein aids in bone strength too, just like calcium and Vitamin D. I’ll discuss other reasons for boosting your protein intake below in the 8 benefits of protein section. But to ensure you are eating enough protein, watch for these signs that you are not getting enough:

  • Wounds are slow to repair and heal
  • Your hands and feet are swollen
  • You are moody
  • You are weak or extra-fatigued
  • You are often hungry
  • Your hair and nails are brittle and your skin is flaky
  • You get sick often and stay sick longer than you used to

What Are The Best Sources Of Protein?

The great thing about adding protein to your diet is that it’s not hard to do! So many awesome foods are protein sources. Take a look:

For vegans:

For meat-eaters:

Dairy sources:

What about protein powder?

I’d like to mention protein powders again, too. If you use a high-quality protein powder like our cleanish Brand (we’ve got yummy flavors like Chocolate + Sea Salt and Vanilla Bean) with little processing and additives, you’ll benefit from an easy way to add protein. To learn more:

An overhead image of a kitchen counter with 4 different kinds of Protein Pancakes, including Banana Protein Pancakes, Chocolate Protein Pancakes, Sweet Potato Protein Pancakes and Oatmeal Protein Pancakes.

8 BENEFITS OF PROTEIN FOR WOMEN

In my video Why WOMEN Need to EAT MORE PROTEIN, I cover 5 of the amazing benefits of protein. I’ll explain those and a few more below:

1. Protein Maintains Lean Muscle Mass

Women benefit from a toned body when they exercise but also when they make sure they are getting enough protein. Studies show that muscle mass is increased with adequate protein in the diet. Not only that, but protein also helps to preserve muscle mass, and aids in preventing age-related muscle loss. Eating lots of protein also brings a better response from the muscles when used. If you are trying to lose weight, it’s important to keep up your protein intake, too. It’s been proven that increased protein helps prevent the loss of lean muscle when dropping pounds.

2. Protein Is Great For The Hair, Nails, And Skin

Keratin is a structural protein that forms our hair, nails, and skin. The best way to get keratin is naturally. Keratin is made of protein, actually and that is why it’s beneficial to eat protein for healthy hair, nails, and skin. Rather than buying products to improve your hair (and all after the fact), work from the inside out. Consume the protein instead!

3. Protein Tastes Good

No matter what meal you choose to make, adding protein makes it taste better and gives you a satisfying feeling. Think about a delicious smoothie, for instance. Adding protein powder gives that shake more flavor and substance. I’ve written a post all about protein powders, explaining how your muscles, hormone function, and more benefit from adding protein powder. Take a look for more info on protein! Tons of foods make the satisfying protein list, such as eggs, cottage cheese, and nut butter.

Don’t just think of animal-based proteins either, especially if you prefer a plant-based diet. It’s easy to get your protein requirements from sources like pea proteinchickpeas, and nuts, among other tasty foods. 

A close up of a hand holding an Avocado Turkey Hummus Wrap sliced in half made with smoked deli turkey breast, hummus, avocado, muenster cheese, cucumber slices and roma tomatoes wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.

4. Protein Stops Hunger

Want to feel energetic and ready to go? Add more protein to your meals. Protein stops hunger so that you are not reaching for snacks all the time (which usually translates to unhealthy foods). Too many carbs and fats without adequate protein just don’t do the trick to sate your hunger. Studies show that protein filled dairy products, take Greek yogurt as an example, help stop hunger, improve body composition, and keep you full.

5. Protein Gives You Strong Bones

Eating protein throughout your life aids in strong bones. And not only that, it sets the stage for better bone health as we age. To prevent conditions like osteoporosis, calcium, Vitamin D, and dietary protein are essential. After menopause, bone mass density decreases in women. So it is especially apparent that women need to eat more protein—to keep their bones in tip-top shape.

6. Protein Reduces Cravings

Everyone wants help with cravings, right? First off, when I have a craving for a snack, I head to my fave high protein snack items (which include energy bites, cheese, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, and protein fruit smoothies). You see, not only does the body get hungry, but the brain starts to seek out some satisfaction. Keep these thoughts from sneaking in by fueling the body with protein.

7. Protein Aids In Fat Burning

Why should women eat more protein? To burn fat and build muscle! Eating protein boosts your metabolism. Have you ever heard about NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)? Take a look at my post for easy to understand information on increasing your metabolism. It ties in with what I am saying here, and how your body burns fat. Protein has a higher thermic effect than the other macronutrients carbs and fat. 

8. Protein Is Good For Your Blood Pressure

Proteins are a boon for healthy blood pressure levels. Interestingly, one review of observational studies stated that plant protein had the best effect on blood pressure levels. Good sources of protein other than meat, chicken, and fish, are buckwheat, black beans, and quinoa.

Close up side view of a stack of 8 Peanut Butter Protein Cookies, with a bowl of peanut butter behind the stack.

Easy High Protein Recipes

At this point, I hope you are ready to eat MORE protein! In the selection below, I’ve pulled some delicious and easy ways to add protein to your day. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

Lacey Baier

Hey there! I’m Lacey Baier and I’d like to welcome you! I’m a healthy lifestyle influencer and the creator of this clean-eating blog and YouTube channel, as well as cleanish, my clean-eating supplement brand. My recipes have been published on Food Network, Good Morning America, FoxNews, Tastemade, Fitness Magazine, and much more. I live in Austin, Texas with my husband and four kiddos. Let’s get started!

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