Right now, it feels like everywhere I turn, someone is targeting me with:

📣“You need more protein.”

And for many women, that’s true.

I consistently get questions about this in my 1-on-1 practice because when most women make an attempt at hitting a “protein goal” 🎯 they feel too full.

Instead of the promised muscle tone and energy stability, they get:

• Meals sitting like a rock in their stomach
• Acid reflux
• Bloating
• Protein feeling like a chore and unpalatable

And often the only way they can possibly “hit the goal” becomes protein powders or bars—which somehow also feel bad or don’t lead to any results.

My take?

Protein isn’t just a number to achieve.

Protein only counts when you can digest, absorb, and actually use it.

Your body doesn’t experience protein as grams.

It experiences it as food and a digestive event.

That means it has to be:

1. Broken down by stomach acid
2. The included fats emulsified with bile
3. Absorbed with fats and minerals
4. Processed in a relaxed nervous system

If any part of that chain is off, more protein won’t help.

It will just sit there.

When women tell me:

• “I don’t crave meat at all.”
• “Red meat just sits in my stomach.”
• “Protein powder is the only way I can get enough, but I still don't feel great.”

These are clues.

Clues that digestion needs support.

Because when:

• Stomach acid is low
• Bile flow is sluggish
• Motility is off
• The nervous system is in go-mode

…protein becomes harder to process.

Protein powders don’t solve it

This is where I very-much disagree with the wellness {marketing} world.

Protein powders are:

• Highly processed
• Stripped of their natural cofactors
• Missing the fats, minerals, and enzymes that help your body use protein properly

Real food comes as a complete package.

Protein doesn’t work in isolation.

And when your body is already struggling to digest, isolates are not the solution.

A band-aid at best.

What I recommend

When digestion is sensitive, the most supportive proteins aren’t the leanest or most convenient ones.

They’re the ones your body recognizes.

Think:

• Slow-cooked meats that fall apart easily
• Cuts with connective tissue (like short ribs or chicken thighs)
• Whole eggs (not just whites)
• Simple, nutrient-dense seafood

And my absolute favorite easy-to-digest complete protein source: meat stock.

It’s one of the gentlest ways to introduce protein when digestion feels unstable.

And one of the most consistently helpful starting points I use with clients.

When protein is easier to digest, paired with fat, and eaten consistently (not crammed into one meal), you’ll actually get:

• More stable energy
• Fewer cravings
• Better mood
• Less of that heavy, stuck feeling after meals

If any of this is a struggle you’ve been experiencing, Reader, I put together a full guide that walks through:

• What makes a protein “gut-friendly”
• The best protein sources (and why)
• Why certain foods backfire
• How to build protein into your day without forcing it

No more chasing numbers.

Just your results + your body wisdom guiding you to what you actually need.

Warm wishes,

Jenn

​Body Wisdom Nutrition​

P.S. This is why I focus so much on digestion first in my work. You can eat the “right” foods, but if your body can’t process them, you won’t get the benefit.