You probably don’t need me to tell you that protein is important. From TikTok’s viral high-protein recipes (which have racked up over 300 million views) to cottage cheese and bone broth becoming the latest “it-girl” ingredients, it seems that we’re collectively on a mission to up our intake, whether through lean meats, eggs, beans or tofu.
And in a lot of ways, rightly so. Long seen as the go-to nutrient for gym-goers and athletes, protein actually plays a highly important role in women’s health, with research demonstrating that the amino acids in protein-rich foods play a key part in hormone production and regulation, while also supporting our bones as we age. That last bit is particularly worth paying attention to, with studies showing one in five women in the UK is1 affected by osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones, often due to hormonal shifts during menopause).
