Protein is all over the place these days. Whether or not it’s a health professional telling you to beef up your protein consumption, a girls’s well being professional warning you concerning the risks of muscle loss in perimenopause, or a perimenopausal influencer making a comedy reel about all of the overwhelming suggestions for higher well being in center age (extra protein included), it feels as if protein is having a second.
As a result of menopause is becoming big business—and perimenopause together with it—these voices encouraging us to devour extra protein as we undergo the menopause transition are louder than ever.
Earlier than we get into whether or not girls in perimenopause or post-menopause want extra protein, let’s get a greater understanding of what protein does for the human physique generally.
What Protein Really Does within the Physique
Protein is a naturally occurring substance within the human physique, composed of chemical constructing blocks referred to as amino acids.
Our our bodies make a few of these amino acids, however there are 9 that we are able to’t make on our personal. These are those we should get from the protein we eat.
Protein in meals is present in each animal merchandise and crops. Some plant meals—like soy merchandise, quinoa, and sure leafy greens—comprise all 9 important amino acids, similar to meat does. Others comprise most, however not all.
Opposite to common perception, this doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t get sufficient protein from crops. It merely means your food regimen ought to be different to make sure you’re getting all of the important amino acids your physique doesn’t produce.
Consuming protein-rich meals is necessary as a result of protein helps your total physique operate. Sure, it’s good for constructing muscle—but it surely’s additionally important for constructing and repairing practically your entire cells and tissues. In keeping with the FDA, proteins are answerable for your bones, muscle groups, organs, and bodily fluids, in addition to your pores and skin, hair, and nails. In addition they play a job in immune response, imaginative and prescient, blood clotting, and the manufacturing of enzymes and hormones.
With out protein, we wouldn’t be capable of develop or survive.
Not like carbs and fats, our our bodies can’t actually retailer protein. As an alternative, we break down the protein we devour to get these necessary amino acids, that are then used all through each system within the physique.
That’s why it’s so necessary to eat sufficient protein commonly. When you digest it, it’s used or recycled inside your physique—and also you want extra to maintain every part operating easily.
I’m not suggesting you consistently should be consuming protein, however guaranteeing that you’ve sufficient regularly is crucial.
How A lot Protein Is Sufficient?
Girls’s mind well being registered dietitian Barbie Boules recommends that girls goal for 1.2–1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of physique weight per day.
For somebody who weighs 150 kilos (68 kg), that’s no less than 82 grams of protein every day.
Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, a analysis scientist specializing in girls’s well being and health, agrees that you must goal for at least 1.2 g per kg or 0.55 g per pound.
Each consultants agree that the present RDA (really useful every day allowance) of 0.8 g/kg is simply too low. In addition they be aware that intakes at or above 1.6 g/kg (0.73 g/lb) aren’t harmful and could also be proper in instances of very lively people, however they’re not mandatory for everybody both.
For context:
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6 oz hen breast = 37.8 g
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6 oz tofu = ~14 g
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1 cup cottage cheese = 28 g
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1 massive egg = ~6 g
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2 tbsp peanut butter = 8 g
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¼ cup steel-cut oats = 5 g
Primarily, if you happen to’re consuming a a food regimen of principally minimally-processed meals from all kinds of sources, you have to be simply positive.
Protein and the Menopause Transition
So, what about girls within the menopause transition? Do they really want extra protein than everybody else?
Probably not.
There are some wild claims suggesting that girls lose as much as 10% of their muscle mass throughout menopause—however the knowledge doesn’t again that up.
Each men and women lose a small quantity of muscle mass yearly beginning of their thirties. Girls lose round 0.37% per yr, whereas males lose round 0.47% per yr. That is very true if you happen to’re not doing something to intentionally construct muscle mass (we’ll get to that in a second).
As soon as we hit 75, muscle-mass loss will increase to round 0.64–0.7% per yr for ladies and 0.8–0.98% per yr for males.
In keeping with Dr. Colenso-Semple—quoted in an article for The Vajenda—this is smart as a result of as we become older, we’re usually much less bodily lively, which impacts muscle loss:
“Relying on the measurement method, the speed of muscle loss is ~0.05% to ~1% per yr. Growing older and decreased bodily exercise usually go hand in hand, so muscle loss in people over 75 tends to be larger than muscle loss in people of their early 60s.”
She additionally notes that, up to now, the proof doesn’t point out that the lower in estrogen—which performs a giant function within the menopause transition—has any direct impression on muscle loss.
The 2 issues that put some perimenopausal and post-menopausal girls at barely increased danger for muscle loss are decreased bodily exercise and having much less lean muscle to start with.
In case you’re beginning with much less muscle, you don’t have as a lot to lose.
Protein Alone Gained’t Construct Muscle
We all know protein is crucial for constructing muscle—however protein alone received’t make your muscle groups develop.
You’ll be able to’t eat your solution to extra muscle.
If that have been true, individuals on the carnivore food regimen can be ripped with out ever setting foot in a fitness center.
So as to really construct muscle, you must add energy coaching. With out growing the load you’re asking your muscle groups to hold, they received’t develop or get stronger.
So the advice for ladies in perimenopause to devour considerably extra protein than Dr. Colenso-Semple’s steered 0.55 g per pound of physique weight is pointless.
What turns into extra necessary as you become older is staying bodily lively—and ideally including resistance coaching—to forestall and gradual the method of muscle loss that’s extra related to getting older than menopause itself.
So eat all of the protein you need, however ensure you’re additionally giving your muscle groups a lift by lifting weights, too.
The Backside Line
Protein is crucial at all ages—but it surely’s not a magic bullet.
For midlife girls, the mix of sufficient protein and common energy coaching is what retains your physique sturdy, purposeful, and succesful for many years to come back.
Eat sufficient, transfer your physique, elevate some weights, and construct a physique that lasts. —Naomi
References:
Article in The Vajenda by Dr. Jen Gunter: https://vajenda.substack.com/p/muscle-mass-and-perimenopause
Entrance Web page Health podcast with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple and Dr. Eric Trexler protecting protein particularly: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/ep-5-is-protein-over-rated/id1809853430?i=1000709352461
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