The launch marks an important shift in the market by addressing a critical gap and offering a clinically informed, phase-based solution tailored to the female body.
Since its inception in 2021, Levelle Nutrition’s co-founders Linda Alvarez, MD and Stephanie Schrauth have spoken to hundreds of women about nutritional support. In those initial interviews, more than 90% of women said they would be interested in a product tailored to their physiology. However, many also stated they didn’t think sports nutrition was “for them.”
Ever since, Dr. Alvarez and Schrauth have been working to change that.
How it works
Dr. Alvarez, a physician-turned-formulator, said she designed the product to meet the female body’s changing nutritional demands across the menstrual cycle with precision.
The formulation is structured around two distinct menstrual cycle phases:
- Phase 1, intended for days 1–14: The first phase delivers 15 grams of protein, 25 grams of complex carbohydrates and a targeted micronutrient blend rich in fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc to support recovery and ovulation.
- Phase 2, covering days 15–28: The second phase provides 22 grams of protein, 18 grams of carbohydrates and a nutrient profile with energy, muscle tone and inflammation resolution in mind that features calcium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
“It took a while to finalize the product, because we wanted to not only address women’s macronutrient needs, but also accommodate a commonly stated preference for clean, real food ingredients,” Dr. Alvarez told NutraIngredients.
“We also have high expectations when it comes to taste, and the final formulation needed to be something that we would be happy to consume daily. I am so proud of where we landed with the final product and the feedback we have gotten so far from customers reaffirms our decisions.”
Ingredient technology
The protein features hero ingredient effera, Helaina’s ingredient that is structurally identical lactoferrin found in human milk in human colostrum and maternal milk. The ingredient is also said to enhance iron absorption and utilization—a common challenge among active women.
effera is backed by dozens of preclinical and clinical studies, including a 2024 human safety study that showed no antibody production against effera, confirming the body recognizes effera as its own and not as a foreign protein. The protein also breaks down into the same beneficial peptides as naturally occurring human lactoferrin, offering targeted support for immunity, gut health and recovery.
Dr. Alvarez told NI that the partnership with Helaina began at a trade show in New Jersey.
“I had the pleasure of meeting the Helaina team at SupplySide East in 2024. I was immediately impressed, not just by their groundbreaking work with effera, but by the fact that the company is woman-founded and woman-led, and that their clinical studies included female participants,” she said.
“They, meanwhile, were fans of our work focusing on female athletes. Collaborating to create a first-of-its kind protein powder powered by an innovative ingredient made perfect sense. With the role lactoferrin plays in the body, we agreed that a product focusing on menstruating women was the place to start.”
Cyclical nutrition
So far, the response to the protein powder has been “overwhelmingly positive,” particularly around taste, as well as the clean label.
“It doesn’t contain any artificial sweeteners, so it’s not overly sweet and doesn’t leave a strange aftertaste. The grain and seed blend increases the nutrient density and provides a good amount of fiber, without causing bloating,” she said.
“But perhaps most importantly, many women have shared that it doesn’t taste like a ‘traditional’ protein powder, but like real food. One of our customers described it as tasting ‘like cold hot chocolate.’ All the good intentions around nutrients and ingredients and supporting women’s health means nothing if it tastes bad, so we really wanted to focus on making a product that customers enjoyed consuming.”
Early consumer response affirms the value of cyclical nutrition, with 7 in 10 pre-sale customers reportedly opting for both Phase 1 and Phase 2, signaling a readiness among women for products designed to align with their physiology. The data suggests a clear demand for solutions that reflect a more nuanced and scientifically grounded understanding of women’s bodies, Dr. Alvarez said.
“Focusing on women as a unique group, with needs separate from and different to men, is just the first step. Women aren’t a uniform group. Our bodies function differently based on age and life cycle stage. For menstruating women, changes happen even more often. Week to week, our hormonal fluctuations signal metabolic changes. We are trying to address this with our Cycle Syncing Protein, but I feel like we are only scratching the surface of a larger untapped market of precision nutrition. But increased research will be key in really expanding that market,” she said.
The next phase
Based on customer requests, Levelle Nutrition is in the beginning stages of formulating a protein powder that addresses the menopause and post menopausal phases.
“Women are continuing to stay active (and in some cases becoming more active) as we age. There are dramatic hormonal changes that occur in menopause, which have direct implications for muscle, bone density and nutrient needs. Yet this demographic is still underserved in sports nutrition and wellness markets,” Dr. Alvarez said. “We’re hoping to make some progress in bridging that gap.”
