Have you ever heard the saying, “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus”? Well, it’s true. Sometimes the differences stick out like a sore thumb, while some are more subtle. For women, choosing a protein powder can be one of those subtle differences. Like men, women want to look their best and build some muscle, but unlike men, we don’t want to take a bunch of supplements that taste terrible. That’s why I wrote this article, to reveal what is the best protein powder for women in terms of what most women are looking for.
Some women have a negative view of protein but the truth is protein powder is great for pre and post workouts, a fast protein fix, a meal supplement, and much more. For most women, they look for three things when choosing a good protein powder:
1. Yummy Flavor
2. Low in Calories
3. Cost Effective/Most Bang for your Buck
While it may seem impossible to find all three qualities in one powder, it’s not. For that reason, we have put together a chart of the best proteins for the ladies out there. Check it out below.
Ultimate Women’s Guide To Protein Powder
| Picture | Name | Flavor | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard | 4.8 | $$ | 4.9 | |
| Dymatize Nutrition ISO 100 Protein | 4.8 | $$$ | 4.7 | |
| Muscle Pharm Combat Protein | 4.7 | $$$ | 4.7 | |
| Cellucor Performance Protein | 4.7 | $$ | 4.5 | |
| MuscleTech Phase8 | 4.6 | $$ | 4.5 |
Fear of Protein?
The mere mention of protein to women can cause images of “she hulks” roaming the streets and making children and men run for cover. It’s the oldest myth (or one of them) that is out there in the fitness world – that protein will make women bulky. Most women we don’t want to look like men right!? We can put that myth to bed right now because protein will not make us women bulky. In fact, it can help us lose weight and keep the weight off. Pretty sweet deal.
This is truly something that is trivial to worry about. The simple truth (like it or not) is us women do not have the physical capabilities to build muscle like our male counterparts. This is evident in the fact that no matter how hard we may train for strength, we can never come close to gaining the strength that a male can. It’s simply a biological fact (in most cases). Therefore, having a fear that eating protein will make you look like a hulking menace is really just silly. Women that are very muscular (I’m talking the ones that are bigger than many men who workout) are taking drugs to push their bodies beyond their natural limits. For most women, this is not a goal so it’s not a rational fear to have.
Why Protein Is Important
The reasons protein is important plentiful. In fact, if there was a nutrient that should be praised and given a standing ovation, it’s protein! Did you know that protein is the hardest nutrient for the body to turn into body fat? It’s true. From easiest to hardest, it goes carbs, fats and then protein. It’s nearly impossible for it to turn to fat unless you are consuming an exorbitant amount of protein per day.
It’s also the nutrient that triggers protein synthesis, creating muscle growth, which is a good thing. Without protein, you simply won’t improve those shoulders, legs or butt that you desperately want to tone and shape up. And since we already know that the fear of getting bulky is a little unnecessary, you can count on the compliments from your friends and family in no time when you start taking protein.
Reviews Of The 5 Best Protein Powders For Women
MuscleTech Phase8
Starting our list off in the 5th position is Phase 8 from MuscleTech. This is one of the best tasting protein powders out there. Where it lacks on our criteria out of the 3 categories is that it’s a bit higher in calories compared to the others. Each scoop contains 150 calories, 2 grams of fat, 7 grams of carbs, and 26 grams of protein. It does also offer 2 grams of glutamine and almost 5 grams of BCAA’s, which gives it a lot of value. If you’re not as concerned with calorie intake, then this protein is a solid choice.
Cellucor Performance Protein
The newest protein on the scene comes in at #4, Cellucor’s Performance Whey Protein. It’s a quality protein product that delivers in good taste, lower calories, and provides a good bang for your buck. It has a similar profile to that of our #3 rated protein with 130 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs and 25 grams of protein per scoop. Where it lacks a bit is in the flavor category, as it doesn’t have the quality that MusclePharm’s Combat has. It boasts the highest cost per serving on the list.
Muscle Pharm Combat Protein
Muscle Pharm has another solid offering in their line of supplements with Combat. The thing that stands out the most about this product is the taste. It’s really great and makes taking in a protein shake a treat. It has a good protein profile that is close but not quite as good as the top 2 proteins on our list. Each scoop contains 140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbs and 25 grams of protein. It’s a balance of good flavor and a solid profile of protein for the ladies that have difficulty choking down a protein shake in general.
Dymatize Nutrition ISO 100 Protein
Coming in at #2 on our list is ISO 100 made by Dymatize Nutrition. The main reason it’s not the top protein on our list is simply due to it’s price compared to the top product. This came in right in the middle of the road in our top 5 on cost per servings, giving it a solid value. We really look at this review as having a 1A and a 1B with the main difference being the price factor. But as the old adage goes, “You get what you pay for.” In this case, it’s a true statement. This protein is stacked with 24 grams of pure isolate protein, 1 gram of carbs, 106 calories and ZERO grams of fat per scoop! It has a great flavor as well, making it a great protein for women who want results with not a lot of calories.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard
The highest rated protein on our list comes at no surprise for those that know about protein powders. It’s Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Whey. It has a great profile at 130 calories, 1 gram of fat, 3 grams of carbs and 24 grams of protein per scoop. It has a similar profile as the ISO 100, although not quite as low in calories. It does make up for that in that it’s also one of the most economically priced protein’s on the market today (of all time, really). It comes in over 18 great flavors and is loved by women and men all over the world. You really can’t go wrong with #1 or #2 on our list here.
Need Some Protein Specific For Dieting?
Protein powder is a always a great choice for dieters but sometimes when you are really watching each and every calorie you may be interested in finding a protein powder that is formulated specifically for those looking to lose weight. If that’s you then you’re in luck because we have put together an article revieing the best protein powders for weight loss in 2017, check it out!
