Whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you’ll be incredibly concerned about what you’re eating, drinking, and you’ll certainly want to be consuming the right amount of essential micronutrients to keep both yourself and your baby happy and healthy.
Since green powders are well-known for being nutrient-rich, natural, and potent supplements, it’s no wonder pregnant and nursing mothers look towards them to support their health and wellbeing.
However, are green powders actually suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers?
We understand that as a pregnant or nursing mother, you may be spending hours researching products and ingredients to ensure they’re safe and beneficial for you.
To take this stress away from you, we’re going to tell you exactly whether or not green powders are suitable, whilst also diving deep into the relationship between pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and green powders.
Certain Ingredients In Green Powders May Be Harmful
Although the ingredients list of each green powder differs, most green powders have similar ingredients, some of which can be harmful to pregnant and breastfeeding women. For example, ingredients such as wheatgrass and alfalfa grass potentially contain bacteria that are harmful to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Additionally, adaptogen ingredients such as ashwagandha are extremely potent and could potentially cause complications with the growth and development of the new baby.
Side Effects May Sometimes Occur
A lot of green powders often have side effects associated with them, and although they’re not serious side effects, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should not consume anything unnecessary with side effects.
Therefore, it’s best not to consume super greens that aren’t specifically formulated and signed off by your doctor, in case you experience any side effects or allergic reactions to the ingredients within the formula.
Green Powders Are Rarely Tested on Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women
Another reason why it’s not advised for pregnant and breastfeeding women to consume green powders is that, unless specifically formulated for them, they’re not formulated for them, or tested on them.
Obviously, brands feel nervous about testing on women in these conditions, so they don’t.
However, that means that it’s absolutely unclear if these green powders are safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and therefore, they may be harmful.
There Are Green Powders Specifically Created For Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
Although we’ve been taking a look at why green powders aren’t suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, there are certain super green powders on the market that are specifically formulated for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Two of the best green powders that are specially formulated for pregnant and breastfeeding women are Synergy Natural Spirulina Powder and Morlife Green Kidz Powder.
Although these special green powders may be suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, they’re not guaranteed to be safe for every individual.
Therefore, even with supplements specifically formulated for pregnant or breastfeeding women, you should always check with your doctor before consumption, and take their advice seriously.
Always Check With Your Doctor Before Consuming A New Supplement
Let’s go into a little more detail about why you should always consult your doctor when choosing to support yourself with supplements.
Regardless of whether you’re pregnant and breastfeeding, or not, you should always consult with a doctor before consuming a new supplement.
However, when you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you definitely need to consult your doctor before consuming anything new (this often also includes different types of food).
Your doctor is aware of your medical history and what’s best for you and your baby, as are you (of course). So, before doing anything (even purchasing supplements) have a discussion with your doctor and take their advice.
So, Are Green Powders Suitable For Pregnant or Breastfeeding Mothers?
Although there are certain green powders specifically formulated for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, generally, green powders are not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers for the reasons listed above – they’re not tested on pregnant or breastfeeding women, they contain adaptogens and other potentially dangerous ingredients, and they’re rarely suggested by doctors to consume.
How Can You Support Your Health and Wellbeing As A Pregnant or Breastfeeding Mother?
Regardless of whether you decide to not supplement with a green powder or you choose, alongside your doctor, a super green powder that is specifically formulated for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, you still need to support yourself in other ways during this time.
Apart from nutritional supplements that are recommended by your doctor, both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers aren’t normally supposed to take additional supplements.
Instead, focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet full of healthy nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fats, and acids.
Although there is a difference in the nutrients that pregnant and breastfeeding women should be consuming, levels of these vitamins are supposed to be kept high at all times:
- Vitamin D
- Folic acid
- Iron
- Calcium
- Iodine
The best and safest way to consume these vitamins and minerals is naturally through your diet and with prenatal vitamins.
Prenatal vitamins are largely safe since they’re formulated specifically for before conception, during pregnancy, and when breastfeeding.
The Bottom Line
When you’re pregnant or breastfeeding you have to be incredibly conscious about what you’re consuming, and although you may want to try out any green powder that you fancy, you should always take your doctor’s advice and recommendations.
If you really do want to consume a green powder to improve your health and wellbeing, ensure that you choose a formula that’s specifically formulated for pregnant or breastfeeding women and you have your doctor sign off on it before consuming it.