5 Best Protein Powders for Women Over 50, Reviewed by Dietitians

Now Foods makes a great protein powder for plant-based eaters or folks who don’t tolerate whey protein well. It has 21 grams of protein from peas, pumpkin seeds, and hemp, plus 2 grams of fiber (around 7% of your daily value) for 140 calories. This protein source mix gives it a “well-balanced amino acid profile, which is essential for muscle health for women over 50,” Scheinman says. It also contains 45% of your daily value of iron, which is especially helpful for plant-based eaters struggling to meet their iron needs through diet alone. Plus, it has less sodium than many other plant protein powders on the market. “One scoop provides 280 milligrams of sodium, whereas other products can provide 400 to 500 milligrams of sodium or more,” says Sheri Gaw, RDN, CDCES, a registered dietitian who focuses on heart health and plant-forward nutrition, and founder of The Plant Strong Dietitian. The balanced nutrient profile means you can use this powder as a balanced snack when you need something quick and easy.

“Pea protein powder on its own has a strong earthy taste tha}s hard to mask in smoothies, so I like that Now Foods uses a mix of plant proteins for a more palatable flavor. This pick is tastier than many other plant protein powders I’ve tried,” Benshosan says. Plus, Now Foods products are all rigorously tested for safety and quality, and backed by experts including Scheinman.

Best Flavors: Dymatize ISO100

• Pros: Easy to absorb; works great in recipes or on its own; third-party tested
• Cons: Contains artificial sweeteners

If you wish every smoothie tasted more like a milkshake, this pick is for you. “This has been my go-to powder for when I’m craving something sweet but still need to hit my protein goals,” Benshosan says. “And Dymatize often does collabs with other brands for fun flavors; I add the Dunkin’ Glazed Donut flavor to smoothies, protein pancake batter, and overnight oats for mapley sweeteness.” Just note that this powder does contain sucralose (an artificial sweetener), so it might taste cloying to some.

This powder has a great protein-to-calorie ratio: You’ll get 25 grams of protein for just 120 calories. Plus, it contains an impressive 2.9 grams of leucine, which is important to help prevent age-related muscle loss. Dymatize is also third-party tested by Informed Choice, so it’s screened for hundreds of banned substances.

Best for Digestion: Thorne Whey Protein Isolate

• Pros: Third-party tested; no artificial sweeteners; easy to absorb
• Cons: Slight aftertaste from the stevia

Thorne Whey Protein Isolate is a great choice for women who want a clean, easy-to-digest protein powder. What sets Thorne’s protein powder apart is the addition of bromelain and papain, two natural digestive aids that can help you avoid gas and bloat often associated with protein powders, Scheinman says. Each scoop delivers 21 grams of high-quality complete protein with just 1 gram of added sugar (it’s also sweetened with stevia).

“The vanilla protein powder has a very subtle taste, and the stevia is only noticeable when you mix the protein powder into water versus with milk or blending it into a shake with other ingredients,” Benshosan says. “I like making a simple breakfast smoothie with a scoop of Thorne’s vanilla powder, half a banana, a tablespoon of almond or peanut butter, and frozen blueberries.”