Protein shakes keeping active women at the top of their game — in the gym and beyond

calculated per kilo of body weight,” agrees Jo Travers, registered dietitian and author of The Low-Fad Diet. “There isn’t a different calculation for men and women.”

Obviously, it is very important to consume dietary protein — Travers recommends “meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, soy, beans and lentils” — but if you are chasing something fast, that does not require preparation, explore the new generation of protein sources pitched at women.

Elle Macpherson’s wellness company, WelleCo (welleco.co.uk), offers “nourishing protein” in simple flavours — chocolate and vanilla — that promise “zero synthetics, no whey, easy-to-digest organic pea and rice protein”, implicitly addressing many of the anxieties about traditional protein powders: namely that they’re extraordinarily artificial and tough on the stomach. The powder is presented in tubs or single-dose sachets, and the mixture is sweetened with acai, pomegranate and rose hip.

Neat Nutrition (neat-nutrition. com), which is stocked at boutique gyms including Core Collective, Kobox and Frame, is genderneutral. Its “lean” protein is available in four flavours: chocolate, vanilla, berry and “naked”. It uses natural sweeteners found in fruit to sidestep the nasty artificial taste of your usual proteins.

My Protein (myprotein. com) has a selection of women’s powders fortified with vitamins intended for female bodies, and PhD Woman’s (phd-woman.co. uk) version promises to promote natural toning: it’s available in chocolate and strawberry flavours.

The Beauty Chef ’s Inner Beauty Powder — available at Selfridges — is a supplement that provides plant proteins, and is especially gentle on the stomach. Spices give it a bit of a kick and also have antioxidant properties. Perfect Fit (myperfectfit. com) even has a pumpkin-spiced version; it’s not basic if it’s organic, probably. You’ll go from strength to strength.

@phoebeluckhurst