06/05/2026
Most women aren't eating enough protein, and that can lead to a problem.
During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen drops, and with it goes a big part of your muscle-protecting shield. Studies show postmenopausal women can experience up to a 5.7% reduction in muscle mass compared to premenopausal women (Menzies et al., 2026). This affects your strength, metabolism, energy, and long-term movement.
Eating protein-rich breakfast (e.g., 30g of protein) shortly after waking triggers satiety hormones and reduces food cravings in the day vs. consuming a carb-heavy breakfast meal (Watson et al., 2025). Higher protein also improves functional strength in women.
The goal: aim for ~ 0.4 g of protein per kg of body weight (typically 20--30g for most women) at breakfast to stimulate muscle protein synthesis after the overnight fast.
Think eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or a whey iso protein shake. Pair it with these other 3 habits and you're building a genuinely strong foundation.