Protein powder is a safe tool for breastfeeding and weight loss, and in many cases, new mothers love their morning protein shakes because it also increases their milk supply. Protein shakes offer a boost in nutrition, which supports lactation and replenishes postnatal depletion. Before purchasing a protein powder, breastfeeding mamas often wonder if it is safe to drink protein shakes while breastfeeding.
Reasons a protein powder may or may not be safe while breastfeeding.
One of the biggest questions breastfeeding mamas have concerning protein powder is whether or not it is a safe nutritional supplement to take while breastfeeding. This is a valid concern considering much of what mama consumes passes through to baby. And the truth of the answer is both yes and no. There are very specific reasons a protein powder supplement may not be considered safe. There are also some important factors that can make a protein powder perfectly safe and beneficial for breastfeeding mamas.
At Milk Dust, our goal is not only to provide a product, but to educate mothers on how to make the best choices concerning nutrition for themselves and their babies. If each mother is educated on the importance of nutrition during lactation, what specific nutrients both mama and baby need, and how to maintain a healthy milk supply and weight, then they can make an educated decision.
We will first go over how protein powder during lactation can be very effective in helping mother's nourish their bodies properly for milk supply and weight loss.
Then, we will walk you through how some protein powders can be harmful and considered not safe for lactation. The most important point to make is that this is based on some scientific research and medical knowledge, but there are still a lack of studies looking at nutritional supplements during breastfeeding. By taking the research and studies that are out there, we can conclude various ingredients and nutrients are safe or not safe. This is in no way an article to replace advice from your doctor. Always seek medical advice during breastfeeding when choosing a product for yourself.
And here at Milk Dust, we've worked and discussed our formula specifically with doctor's and medical professionals. We feel very confident in our formula and ingredients, though every person is different and different reactions and experiences vary depending on the individual.
What makes a protein powder safe for lactation?
Let's go over the ingredients that make a protein powder safe for lactation first. Not all protein powders are created equal, and many of them are made with various sources of protein ranging from animals to plants. Some can have fillers, synthetic vitamins and artificial sweeteners, while others don't. Here is the run down of what to look for:
A Clean Protein Source:
The protein source is key to whether or not your protein powder is safe. The first step is to determine if there are any allergies to the protein source. If there is a dairy allergy, or sensitivity, a whey-based protein powder with any creamers will not be "safe" for mama or baby. Allergic reactions mean inflammation, which isn't a good thing.
Allergies are the main point to consider when looking at whether the protein source is the right one. Some protein sources come from casein (a form of dairy), egg whites, oats or soy. All of these have allergen properties, which can be passed through to baby. Milk Dust is made from pea protein and rice protein. These two protein sources tend to be the most allergy-friendly. Soy protein can have hormonal effects on estrogen levels, some mamas and babies have sensitivities to eggs, and oats have gluten. Pea protein is easily digested, a complete amino acid profile and blends well in powder form.
Natural Sweeteners and Flavoring:
This is another important aspect when choosing a safe protein powder. Many protein powders use sweeter, tastier flavorings that are artificial (chemical) and genetically modified. They taste amazing because they are chemically altered to bombard the taste buds. Natural sweeteners, like the ones we use in Milk Dust consist of Stevia, Monk Fruit, Organic Cane Juice, Honey and some sugar alcohols like organic erythritol. Natural sweeteners are really important to establishing a sweet, but not too sweet flavor. Artificial sweeteners are sucralose, aspartame and sugar alcohols. These are chemicals that give a sweet taste. Ensuring a product is naturally sweetened and Non-GMO like Milk Dust is really important. This eliminates some of the chemical load that can be passed on to baby.
Heavy Metal Testing:
This is a lesser-known issue in the supplement and protein world, but many companies use low-grade or quality ingredients that carry heavy metals. Most consumers aren't aware of this at all, and it is important you choose a product that is manufactured in a facility that tests for heavy metals. Many companies are testing their products, but many aren't. Usually products that are organic, Non-GMO and striving for high-quality test for heavy metals. Our manufacturers at Milk Dust are diligent about quality and testing. Usually cheaper, lower-end products with various chemicals contain heavy metals. Next time you are shopping protein powders, supplements or bottled drinks, just look at the ingredients list carefully. If there are chemicals you have no idea what they are, that is a good indicator there could be heavy metals as well. Just to recap:
A clean and safe protein powder for breastfeeding has all of these qualities:
- A clean protein source that is allergy-friendly
- No artificial sweeteners, GMOs or chemicals
- Heavy metal testing and high-quality ingredients
Once you've distinguished your top protein powders that follow these guidelines, you can choose your product based on function and taste. There are very few lactation-boosting protein powders on the market in general, and we strive to offer the highest quality nutrients for our customers. Keep in mind that lactation-boosting herbs don't have an appealing taste. Brewer's yeast and fenugreek are the strongest flavors that many don't like. This does make producing a tasty lactation-boosting protein powder challenging, but we worked hard to develop something sweet and smooth. Plant-based protein powders are grainier, but the nutritional value outweighs the tiny bit of grainy texture you may experience.
How does protein powder help with lactation and weight loss?
Our protein powder specifically offers 15 grams of protein per serving, along with healthy fats and fiber from chia seeds, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. Seeds have been known to help with milk production, and the healthy fats are passed through the breast milk to baby. In addition, we have a lactation blend consisting of fenugreek, milk thistle, fennel, brewer's yeast and red raspberry. This is a unique combination based on studies showing the combination of herbs to increase milk supply. These herbs and galactagogues have been used for centuries to promote lactation in new mothers. Our protein powder also helps with weight loss while breastfeeding because we've added specific nutritional needs like Chromium, vitamin B12, Folate and Magnesium, which are nutrients that are needed postpartum. Nutritional needs can cause sugar cravings, so by offering specific nutrients we are helping combat sugar cravings. Chromium in particular helps with blood sugar control, along with cinnamon bark and turmeric.
Our protein powder is also sweetened with natural sweeteners, which satisfies the sweet-tooth. Eating something sweet is one of the best ways to stop sugar cravings. A sweet, strawberry shake or blueberry smoothie can taste like an amazing dessert. Your sugar cravings are satisfied with something that tastes great, while also nourishing your body to thrive and produce lots of breast milk.
If you need help determining if Milk Dust is the right protein powder for you, feel free to reach out to us at milkdustprotein@gmail.com with questions.
