Taking Weight Loss Supplements during Nursing? Is it safe?

Now that you’ve given birth you’re probably anxious and wondering as to when your body will return to its pre-pregnancy weight. While weight loss supplements can help you lose a large amount of weight, it may be very unnecessary while breastfeeding as they can also cause a dangerous risk to your baby’s health. It is important to remember that whatever you eat while nursing, your baby consumes too. It is safer and healthier for you and your baby to lose weight naturally and gradually.

Evidence on Weight Loss Supplements
Any positive evidence that backs the usage of any top weight loss supplements is mainly unreliable and not supported by the scientific community. You don’t want to risk compromising you and your baby’s heath by testing their efficacy while you’re breastfeeding. According to the American Family Physician that was stated in 2004, there are no weight loss pills that have met the safety criteria that is recommended while nursing. There are no supplements that are “magic pills” in terms of losing weight, and the potential risks of dangerous side effects that outweighs any given potential benefit of taking them.

Side Effects of Weight Loss Supplements
There are plenty of common herbal ingredients that are used in most of the top weight loss supplements which includes: Guar Gum Chromium Pico linate, and Ephedra. Although these ingredients can help cause significant weight loss, ingredients such as ephedra has also been found to be related with such increased amounts of psychiatric distress, stroke, cardiac and digestive issues, hypertension, and worst cases, even death. The Chromium picolinate ingredient has not been found to help with losing weight and has been found to be associated with rhabdomyolysis. The active ingredient Guar gum has also been found to be ineffective in weight loss, though it can cause upset stomachs, interference with medications, and a reduce in the efficacy of oral contraceptives.

Another common ingredient found in weight loss supplements is Caffeine. This is also dangerous for the baby if caffeine is found in breast milk as it can affect infants for at least a few days.

Ephedra
Breastfeeding mothers should avoid any products that contain Ephedra. Also known as Ma Huang, Chinese Ephedra, and epitonin, it is an herbal amphetamine that stimulates to help you suppress your appetite. It will also increase your heart rate and cause your baby to feel very cranky. There is also a high risk that it can cause heart damage to the baby as well.

Natural weight loss products should always be used with caution as they can be harmful as they don’t issue warnings about any possible serious side effects. Many natural weight loss products can list ephedra as a “natural” herb, which is technically, but also causes serious health issues for many users. Health brands such as Herbalife, Metabolife, OmniTrim, Diet Pep, trim Easy, MetaboSafe, geniCil, and AM-300 all carry products that contain Ephedra, which is vital if you are still breastfeeding.

Chromium Picolinate
This is a nutritional supplement that is often advertised as being affective when it comes to controlling appetite and increasing your metabolic rate. There have not been many studies to determine the safety of using these supplements while breastfeeding.

Guar Gum
Guar gum is likely safe when taken in small amounts that are normally found in food and safe for non-allergic pregnant or nursing women. It is used to relieve constipation and diarrhea, especially by shortening episodes with children experiencing diarrhea. However, early research shows that taking guar gum during your pregnancy is likely safe though there is not enough research to determine the safety of guar gum while breastfeeding. It’s better to stay on the safe side and avoid use.

How to Lose Weight While Nursing?
Start a Healthy Diet
Breastfeeding alone burns enough calories to help you lose weight gradually while nursing. Follow a healthy and natural diet to help meet your nutritional needs and bounce back to a healthy body weight, while providing top quality breast milk for your infant. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables along with servings of whole grains like pasta, bread, and rice. Make sure to include dairy, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese into your diet as well. Protein is very nutritious for you and your baby – eat lean meats, eggs, poultry, and fish.

Always make sure to drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and increase your milk supply. Make sure to pay attention to how your baby reacts to certain foods.

Get Back Into Exercise
When you start to feel ready to get back in the shade and your doctor gives you the go signal, slowly add exercise back into your daily routine. Exercise will help you gain more energy and burn calories while breastfeeding without having to resort to any dangerous weight loss supplements. Ease your way back into exercise and take it slow. Find ways to exercise with your babies like going for a walk, water activities, light aerobics, and even baby yoga. Make sure to pay attention to how your body responds to certain exercises and extra activity.

I strongly urge you to avoid any weight loss supplements, especially products that contain these active ingredients, whether you are nursing on not. Another caution in regards to herbal weight loss supplements is that most of these products actually contain a combination of different active ingredients and herbs. If by chance you take weight loss supplements and your baby is sensitive to these herbs, it may be very difficult to determine which the cause of the problem is.

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/weight-loss/

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