Let's dive into specifics on why this is happening, and some ways you can get a handle on the breastfeeding hunger, so you can lose weight, rather than gain weight.
The reasons you're constantly hungry and gaining weight while breastfeeding:
Reason 1: Your blood sugar levels are on a rollercoaster while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding hunger comes with a lot of extra cravings for mainly sugar, but other foods as well. Postpartum cravings and hunger push moms to eat more carbohydrates and sweets, which has a dramatic affect on blood sugar. Breastfeeding hunger starts because breastfeeding moms do need more nutrients. Unfortunately, many nursing moms fill their hunger with high carb and high fat foods like fries, potato chips, cheeseburgers, nachos, bread and more. Even lactation snacks like brownies and cookies are high carb and high fat foods. These foods cause blood sugar to spike, then drop soon after. Without much fiber and protein for satiation (read below on the importance of fiber!), when blood sugar drops the hunger feeling comes back. The problem with a dropping blood sugar is that your body doesn't need more food, but it feels like it does. This leads to overeating, yet never feeling satisfied. Milk Dust has a specific blend to balance blood sugar, which can really help combat the hunger breastfeeding mamas struggle with. In addition to the protein and nutrients, Milk Dust can be a huge help for hungry nursing mamas!Reason 2: Your body is adjusting to new hormone levels with prolactin for lactation
Hormone levels change dramatically during lactation. Estrogen decreases and prolactin comes into play. While the lower estrogen usually helps with weight loss, sometimes your body may not react well to the prolactin. Hormones play a huge role in hunger and metabolism, so some nursing mamas experience an increased appetite with the hormonal changes. Unfortunately, with the increased appetite, many of the not-so-healthy foods can increase estrogen levels. When estrogen increases, it can cause milk supply to drop, as well as increase fat storage. Estrogen is in charge of increasing fat stores for reproduction. While this is great for healthy ovulation and reproduction, it isn't helpful when needing to lose weight. It can cause weight gain, even when breastfeeding. Luckily, Milk Dust offers some amazing lactation herbs that help with hormonal balance. The herbs that help with lactation help keep hormonal levels balanced. Red Raspberry Leaf in particular is wonderful for keeping estrogen levels lower. Following one of our Milk Dust smoothie recipes will also add more fiber to your diet, which estrogen latches onto to leave the body.
Reason 3: Your Metabolism Is Slow
Fluctuating hormones and insulin levels wreak havok on your metabolism. Gaining weight in general, combined with reduced activity levels, and your metabolism starts screeching to a hault. There are some powerful herbs and nutrients you can give your metabolism to help it get going again.
Milk Dust Metabolism:
Milk Dust Metoblism is a new supplement to the Milk Dust family. It focuses on safely supporting your metbolism with simple, clean ingredients. Milk Dust metabolism uses nutrients specifically important to postpartum and lactation, while also adding some to support metabolism
- Zinc
- Chromium
- Alpha Lipoic Acid (treats and reduces insulin resistance)
- Green Tea Leaf (appetite suppressant/energy - good bye breastfeeding hunger!)
- Berbine HCL which Dr. Child describes as "one of the best supplements you've never heard of." It has positive effects on blood sugar and insulin, as well as extremely beneficial for hormonal pathways, and why it is one of the most important ingredients in Milk Dust Metabolism. The root behind not losing weight postpartum is hormonal imbalance, and Berbine is a key helper in this.
- Resveratrol: High concentrations are found in grapes, and it is extremely powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of cancer, supports brain function and shown to reduce blood sugar and weight in various studies.
These are the main ingredients in Milk Dust Metabolism which focus on supporting nourishment during the postnatal period, as well as acting as a helping hand for your metabolism and hormones.
Both Milk Dust Lactation Protein Powder and Milk Dust Metabolism offer the nutritional support by targeting the increased nutritional needs during lactation and postpartum. When these are combined together, you have a powerful weight loss plan that is far more effective than many of the weight loss programs or trying a crash diet.