Almond protein powder as a plant-based supplement for postmenopausal women

The project, funded by the Almond Board of California, builds on early evidence which suggests that almond protein powder could be a viable vegan alternative to whey/animal protein, which is often used as a protein supplement to support fitness goals.

Research lead, Dr Lee Hamilton, will assess the effectiveness of almond protein powder as a supplement to support body composition changes in postmenopausal women who participate in fitness training, potentially offering a more sustainable and effective way to support health and fitness goals.

Hormonal changes associated with menopause increase the likelihood of losing muscle and bone mass. Exercise can help prevent these losses by building muscle, strengthening bones, and improving metabolism, and some of these effects can be enhanced with protein supplements, particularly if protein intake is suboptimal.

Dr Hamilton said while most people don’t need additional protein in their diet, there were some circumstances where protein supplementation could be useful – for example, to enhance muscle growth as a result of fitness training.

“Almond protein powder is often derived from the remains of almond oil production – it is essentially almond meal with the fat squeezed out. As a result, it is a very sustainable product,” Dr Hamilton said.

He said if the study showed an improvement in muscle mass in the postmenopausal participants, it could translate to other populations also seeking to improve their health and fitness outcomes from training.

“Almonds have a much lower carbon footprint and water demand than animal sources of protein such as meat and dairy. This makes them a potentially more ethical and sustainable product to boost protein intake and support muscle health.”