Most women think that they do not need protein in their workout nutrition. Some even avoid it, thinking that it would make them big and muscular. This assertion is only half right. While taking protein can indeed build your muscle, it is the lean muscle that makes the body look healthier instead of bulkier.
There are many ways that protein powder for women can benefit you, whether you are looking to get stronger or lose weight. Here’s how it can fit into all your fitness goals:
Protein Can Help Control Your Weight
If you must pick one nutrient that is excellent for losing weight, you can never do better than protein. Taking high amounts of protein can curb your appetite by reducing your body’s ghrelin level, which is the hormone that tells you when you are hungry. In addition, it stimulates the production of appetite-reducing hormones such as cholecystokinin, peptide YY, and GLP-1. This two-prong approach can greatly reduce your craving for food and compel you to eat fewer calories naturally. It helps you lose weight while maintaining a healthy-looking physique.
Protein Helps You Burn More Calories
Whatever food you consume, some of its calories are used to digest and metabolise it. This is the Thermic Effect of Food or TEF. Compared to carbs and fat, protein has a significantly higher TEF at 30%. This means that only 70% is available to your body. In effect, protein powder for women increases their metabolism and body’s ability to burn calories, even during sleep.
The TEF is especially pronounced during times that you overfeed and consume a lot of excess calories. Your body burns 260 more calories during these situations, giving you an important advantage compared to low-protein diets.
High Protein Intake Prevents Muscle Loss
A common mistake when going for weight loss is having a protein balance deficit, where the protein breakdown during your workouts outpaces the rate at which your body synthesises it. When this happens, the weight you are losing is actually from muscle loss instead of visceral and subcutaneous fats. Aside from the obvious effect of diminished strength, losing muscle mass tends to decrease your rate of metabolism.
Taking protein powder is an effective component of any weight loss plan. It prevents muscle loss as you try to lose weight. This has the double effect of keeping your strength up, which helps you get the most out of each workout session, and increasing your metabolism, so you burn more calories even during periods of rest. Losing weight in this manner will give the fit and lean physique and not the skinny but unhealthy look.
Protein Makes Hair, Skin, and Nails Healthier
It may come as a surprise to some women, but taking high amounts of protein can actually make your hair shinier, and your skin look younger. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, makes up 70% of your skin, giving it structure and elasticity. Your hair contains keratin which makes your hair look shinier and healthier.
What is more, protein can help keep your nails strong and your body joints mobile. Although the common misconception is that calcium is the main player when it comes to bone and nail health, protein is equally important, if not more.
A Healthy Choice
Whether you are after weight loss or a leaner body, increasing your protein intake can get you there faster. Just make sure to purchase your protein supplements only from trusted brands.
