As a new mom, you're probably looking for ways to get all the nutrients your body needs while still being able to produce enough milk to care for your baby. Greens powders can be a great way to get an extra boost of vitamins and minerals, but you might be wondering if are they safe to drink while breastfeeding. It really depends!

Here's What You Need to Know If You're Considering Drinking Greens While Breastfeeding

Drinking the right kind of greens powder can be a great way to get more nutrients into your diet, and even help with breastfeeding. In this article, we'll discuss what types of greens powders you can drink and what ingredients to avoid while nursing.

Plus, how drinking greens while breastfeeding can be a great way to boost your milk supply and add extra nutrition to your diet. But it's important to find a breastfeeding-friendly greens powder that's specifically formulated with nursing-safe ingredients.

Most Greens Powders Are Not Designed For Nursing Mothers

Most greens powder supplements are designed for athletes or people who are looking to improve their overall health. Some of the ingredients commonly found in these products are totally inappropriate for a breastfeeding mother. They often contain high levels of caffeine, adaptogens, and other stimulants that can pass through breast milk. 

While greens powders can provide a convenient way to get more essential nutrients and vegetables into your diet, it is important to carefully read the label of any supplement before taking it, particularly if you are a nursing mother.

Nursing Mothers Should AVOID These Ingredients

If you’re a mother who breastfeeds, you should be aware of the potential dangers of some specific green powder ingredients that you may come across. These supplements may look amazing on the surface, but have ingredients that are not appropriate for breastfeeding mothers to consume.

These Affect Baby's Sleep Patterns & Brain Development

Stimulants

Some of these ingredients can end up in your breast milk and potentially harm your baby. For example, stimulants like caffeine, cocoa, tea, or guarana can affect your baby's sleep patterns and cause them to be irritable. Making it difficult for your baby to get the sleep that they need as they're growing. Not only does this have an impact on the baby's sleep, but also affects the sleep of mom and other caregivers. Plus, as new research reports, it is advised not to consume caffeine while breastfeeding, as this could affect healthy brain development in the nursing infant.

Adaptogens Pass Through The Breast Milk

Greens powders often contain adaptogens that can seem like a good thing at first since they can help your body respond to stress, but adaptogens can have a powerful effect on the body, so it's best to avoid greens that contain them while you're breastfeeding as not to stimulate and agitate your little one. Side effects of adaptogens include:

• Allergic reactions
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

These reactions can not only affect you but your little one, making them more irritable and fussy.

Hidden Fillers & Artificial Ingredients

You'll also want to avoid greens powders that contain fillers, artificial ingredients, or added sugars. Fillers are additives that help bulk up the weight of food with less expensive ingredients, which then helps keep the price down, but adds no nutrition. 

Artificial ingredients are synthetic ingredients added to food to enhance its appearance, texture, taste, shelf life, freshness, and nutrition. This is especially true with maltodextrin, which is often used in the manufacturing process of greens powders.

Maltodextrin is essentially pure glucose which our bodies treat just like sugar. The shocking thing about maltodextrin is this it is often not disclosed on the label!

This hidden sugar is tricky and one of the worst things you can consume while breastfeeding, especially if you have concerns about diabetes.

A recent study from the University of Southern California reports that exposing infants and children to higher amounts of secondhand sugar during growth and development can produce problems with cognitive development and learning, as well as create lifelong risks for obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and heart disease.

Why Every Breastfeeding Mother Should Be Drinking Greens

If you're like most new moms, you're probably working hard to eat healthily and drink plenty of water while breastfeeding. One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your baby is to make sure you are taking care of your health. A common experience that many new moms have is low energy, and that can come from not eating enough and/or not getting the nutrients that your body needs most. It can be difficult to get all the nutrients you need from food alone, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Let's face it, as a new mom, there's not a lot of free time! This is where supplements can come in handy. Having a mother-focused greens powder is a convenient way to get all the health benefits of dark leafy greens, without having to find the time to prepare or cook them. Including them in your diet provides you with vitamin A, vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, B6, folate(B-9), vitamin K, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium.

If you are looking for an easy way to improve your diet, a nursing-friendly greens powder is a great option. Plus, getting more greens like barley grass, spinach and kale can also help increase your milk supply!

Can Greens Powders Help Increase Breast Milk Supply?

"It was the middle of the night and I was wide awake. My newborn son was snuggled up against me, nursing away, but I could tell that he wasn't getting enough milk. He was always hungry and I was always tired. I felt like a failure; like I couldn't provide for my child. I knew that other moms had no problem breastfeeding, so what was wrong with me?

I went to see my doctor and she told me that I had a low milk supply. It was such a relief to know that there was a reason why my baby was always hungry. But it also made me feel even more guilty; like it was my fault that he wasn't getting enough milk.

I tried every remedy out there: drinking tons of water, eating lactation cookies, and taking Fenugreek supplements. But nothing worked. My son continued to be hungry all the time and I felt like a terrible mom."

This story may sound similar to yours. You're here reading this article because you're curious about greens and if they can help with your milk supply. We've got great news for you!

Greens are known to be part of the galactagogue family. Galactagogues are substances that have been shown to increase milk production, by stimulating the release of prolactin. Greens, such as barley grass, spinach and kale, are often mentioned in this regard. While there is no guarantee that eating greens will increase your milk supply, it certainly can't hurt, and many find that they make a big difference.

What To Look For In A Baby-Friendly Greens Powder

If you're thinking about taking greens powders while breastfeeding, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, be sure to choose a brand that uses only the highest quality ingredients. Be sure to read the label carefully and avoid greens powders that DO NOT contain fillers, artificial ingredients, added sugars, stimulants, or adaptogens.

If you're unsure about whether or not it's right for you, be sure to consult with your doctor, nurse, or lactation consultant. Greens powders can be a great way to get an extra dose of natural vitamins and minerals that support you while breastfeeding.

Barley Grass Juice: The Galactagogue Superfood No One Talks About

In ancient Greece, barley grass was essential for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. It's one of the oldest and most sacred grains and found to be beneficial for increasing milk supply. In modern times, studies have shown many benefits to consuming barley grass juice. It contains an abundant supply of micronutrients that new and expectant mothers need. Things like: folate, chlorophyll, B12, and all the essential electrolytes.

A recent study in Breastfeeding Medicine found that consuming barley grass daily may help to support a healthy milk supply in lactating women. The study found that women who consumed barley grass daily had significantly higher levels of prolactin, a hormone responsible for stimulating milk production. In addition, the study found that women who consumed barley grass had higher levels of other nutrients in their breast milk, including calcium and magnesium. While further research is needed to confirm these findings, the results suggest that barley grass may be a beneficial superfood supplement for nursing mothers.

It's naturally gluten-free and can be a healthy addition for a new mother.

Finally! A Breastfeeding-Friendly Green Superfood Powder

If you're looking for a greens powder that is safe to drink while breastfeeding and contains cold-pressed barley grass juice powder, be sure to check out our breastfeeding-friendly greens powders. Our Superfoods for Motherhood™ is specifically designed for breastfeeding moms and is free of fillers, artificial ingredients, and added sugars. Plus, it's 100% Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Non-GMO.