Do Women Need Protein Drinks?

There’s always a new fad: sometimes it’s low-fat, sometimes low-carb. Sometimes it’s high protein, next month it’s low sugar. There are snack bars and healthy drinks linked to all of these trends. One of the latest is a protein drink for women called Wello. Do women really need this?

Experts say that the average person needs between 0.5 and 1g of protein per pound of body weight, which averages to between 45-60g of protein per day. Other experts specify 70-140g of protein per day for the average 140-pound woman. So although it’s apparent that experts agree to disagree, a few things are clear: those who are body building and wish to repair or rebuild muscle need more protein, as do those undergoing stress, including illness, radiation or pregnancy. What about the typical healthy woman?

Experts say up to one third of women between the ages of 20-40 don’t get the recommended daily allowance of protein. They say that many women in this age bracket are busy working mothers or single ladder-climbers who don’t often take the time to eat the requisite amount of protein. Many of them are not only busy, but also counting calories – without careful planning, this can lead to eating less protein. Most protein-filled items aren’t as easy to carry in your purse as, say, a 100-calorie pack of your favorite snack cracker or even an apple. Because of reasons like this, protein often goes on the back burner so to speak.

Protein is important for building muscles and bones and building and repairing tissues. It can help keep skin and hair vibrant, and can help promote weight loss without muscle loss. Some high-protein foods include non-fat Greek yogurt (15g protein), lentils (17g), lean flank steak (31g), yellow fin tuna (33g) and roasted chicken (32g).

Although proteins are found in many foods, not all proteins are equal. It’s important to eat a “complete protein.â€