Is it Safe to Take Emergen-C While Breastfeeding?
Emergen C is a popular nutritional supplement that contains vitamin C and other nutrients that boost energy. Emergen C is designed to boost your immune system and gives extra protection, especially during cold seasons. If you are breastfeeding and you are wondering, can you take Emergen C while nursing, you have come to the right article.
Below we will cover all about Emergen C intake, its ingredients, lines of products, health benefits, safety tips, and the best Emergen C products for breastfeeding mothers. Hopefully, by the end of this article, we will answer your most important questions regarding the use of Emergen C while breastfeeding.
What is Emergen C?
Emergen C is a nutritional powder and gummies supplement that helps boost your immune system and prevent illness.
It contains a combination of minerals and vitamins that support the immune system so that you keep feeling good.
Emergen C ingredients include:
- Vitamin C, E, Zinc, and Manganese.
- Antioxidants – help protect body cells against the effect of free radicals that can damage them.
- B vitamins – such as Thiamine (B1), Niacin (B3), Folic acid (B9), Riboflavin (B2), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, and Pantothenic Acid (B5).
- Electrolytes – that have many important roles in our bodies including fluid balance, energy production, and muscle contraction.
- Probiotics – also known as the “good” bacteria that supplement our natural microbiome, support our bodies’ ability to absorb nutrients and support the immune system.
- Melatonin – promotes sleep and relaxation.
- Caffeine – helps focus the mind and revitalize the body.
- Vitamin D – supports the immune system and promotes calcium absorption.
- Ginseng – supports overall health.
- And other nutrients such as superfoods, plant-based protein, BB12, and L. Rhamnosus GG.
Emergen C product lines include:
- Everyday immune support
- Enhanced Immune Support Formula (Immune+)
- Energy booster
- Probiotics
- Sleep supplements
- Vitamin C for kids
- Hydration supplements
- Botanicals
Emergen C Flavors
There are many Emergen C flavors available, here are the most popular:
- Turmeric and Ginger
- Elderberry
- Super Orange
- Raspberry
- Citrus
- Tropical
- Tangerine
- Strawberry and kiwi
- And more!
Now let’s find out can you take Emergen C while nursing!
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Emergen C and Breastfeeding
As a breastfeeding mother, it’s important to take care of your body and support your immunity system. But can you take Emergen C while nursing?
Emergen C is a well-known brand that produces supplements to support the immune system.
Most of their products contain high doses of vitamin C, B vitamins, and other nutrients.
If you check all the ingredients one by one, some of them are ok to take while breastfeeding while others should be avoided or at least limited.
According to Emergen C FAQ page, you should consult your doctor before using their products. They don’t state unequivocally whether it’s safe or not to use their products while pregnant and breastfeeding.
The good thing about Emergen C is that they don’t use any artificial dyes to color their products. Instead, they use beta-carotene, caramel color, or fruit and vegetable juice concentrates to color their products.
Now, let’s dive into details and try to understand, which Emergen C ingredients are safe to use while breastfeeding and what does it mean regarding their products.
Please note, this article is for informational purposes only, this means that before using any Emergen C product while breastfeeding, you should consult your doctor to make sure it is safe for you.
Can You Take Emergen C While Nursing – Is It Safe?
It may consider safe to take Emergen C if used occasionally. Research is unfortunately lacking when it comes to the safety of using Emergen C while breastfeeding. Therefore, it is not clear whether it is safe to consume Emergen C on a daily basis while breastfeeding.
Let’s go through Emergen C ingredients and see if they are safe while breastfeeding;
Vitamin C While Breastfeeding
According to NSBI, it is safe to take vitamin C while breastfeeding. The recommended vitamin C intake during breastfeeding is 120 mg per day. It’s also mentioned that higher doses of vitamin C, up to 1000 mg per day, help milk production in nursing mothers, and should not cause any health concerns.
Vitamin E while Breastfeeding
According to drug.com, vitamin E use is considered safe while breastfeeding.
Zinc While Breastfeeding
According to NIH, Zinc is considered safe while breastfeeding. Recommended daily amount is 12 mg.
Manganese While Breastfeeding
According to WebMD, manganese is likely safe for breastfeeding moms, when taken in small doses – up to 11 mg per day.
Antioxidants While Breastfeeding
As reported by NCBI, their research conclusion is that antioxidant micronutrients have a crucial part in maintaining a successful pregnancy.
In addition to this, according to research, vitamin C and E supplements intake have a positive effect on the antioxidant content of breast milk.
Vitamin C, E, Zink, and Manganese are under the antioxidants category in Emergen C Products – All are considered safe while breastfeeding.
B Vitamins While Breastfeeding
Thiamine (B1) while Breastfeeding
According to Drug.com, Thiamin (Vitamin Bi) 1.4 mg a day considered safe while breastfeeding.
Niacin (B3) While Breastfeeding
According to Drug.com, 18 to 20 mg daily is considered safe for nursing moms.
Folic acid (B9) While Breastfeeding
Folic acid is safe to take while breastfeeding (NHS).
Riboflavin (B2) While Breastfeeding
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is not only safe while breastfeeding, your doctor may even recommend increasing riboflavin intake while breastfeeding (OxfordMedicine.com).
Vitamin B6 While Breastfeeding
Vitamin B6 is considered safe while breastfeeding up to 2 mg per day. It is important to note that high doses of vitamin B6 can reduce milk supply.
Vitamin B12 While Breastfeeding
Vitamin B12 is safe while breastfeeding. According to NCBI, a recommended daily dose is 2.8 mcg.
Pantothenic Acid (B5) While Breastfeeding
Vitamin B5 is safe while breastfeeding. According to WebMD, a recommended daily dose is 7 mg.
Electrolytes While Breastfeeding
Emergen C uses Calcium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, and Potassium as the electrolytes in their products.
Calcium While Breastfeeding
According to NIH, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consume 1,000 mg of calcium per day.
Sodium While Breastfeeding
Sodium is an essential component of breastmilk. There is no accepted standard for the amount of sodium a pregnant and breastfeeding mother needs, but it is clear that preventing deficiency is a priority.
Phosphorus While Breastfeeding
There is limited information about the safety of phosphorus while breastfeeding. It is part of the FDA’s pregnancy category C, which means that there hasn’t been sufficient testing on humans. However, despite the unknown risk, doctors tend to recommend products that contain this ingredient while breastfeeding. Make sure to ask your doctor if it is safe for you to take this supplement while breastfeeding.
Magnesium While Breastfeeding
According to NCBI, magnesium is safe while breastfeeding.
Potassium While Breastfeeding
According to Mayoclinic, potassium has not been reported to cause problems in breastfed babies.
Probiotics While Breastfeeding
According to researches, probiotics are considered safe while breastfeeding.
Melatonin While Breastfeeding
According to NCBI, melatonin’s term use is unlikely to harm a breastfed baby. Yet, there is not enough research regarding the specific use of melatonin while breastfeeding, its safety, and effectiveness, therefore there are doctors who recommend against it.
It is important to note that melatonin is found in the Emergen C Sleep supplements.
So, if you’re unsure about the safety of using melatonin while breastfeeding, don’t use Emergen C Sleep Products.
Caffeine While Breastfeeding
Caffeine is considered safe while breastfeeding when is limited to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day.
Vitamin D While Breastfeeding
Vitamin D is safe while breastfeeding and parent can even make sure their infants are getting enough vitamin D by giving them a supplement that is approved especially for newborns.
Ginseng While Breastfeeding
According to NCBI, Ginseng is considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Superfoods While Breastfeeding
Emergen C contains different kinds of superfoods, it is important to check what is included in each product.
Fruits that are used by Emergen C are elderberries, raspberries, pomegranates, kiwis, ginger, oranges, lemons, and berries in some of their products.
- Can You Take Elderberry While Breastfeeding
- Herbalife While Breastfeeding – iS It Safe?
- Can You Take Goli While Breastfeeding?
Protein While Breastfeeding
Protein is an essential nutrient for pregnant and breastfeeding moms. Protein supplements may be safe for breastfeeding moms but it is important to check the rest of the ingredients.
BB-12® While Breastfeeding
BB-12® is the world’s most documented probiotic Bifidobacterium that supports the immune system and the gut microbiome. It’s naturally found in breastmilk, and it’s impacting the intestinal flora of breastfed infants.
Rhamnosus GG While Breastfeeding
Rhamnosus GG is a probiotic that supports the digestive and immune systems.
Other ingredients that can be included in Emergen C products are Fructose, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Acacia, Beta-Carotene (color), Glycine, L-Aspartic Acid, Natural Flavors, Orange Juice Concentrate (color and flavor), Orange Oil, Silicon Dioxide, Tartaric Acid, Tocopherols (to preserve freshness). Ask your doctor if these ingredients are safe for you while breastfeeding.
Best Emergen C Products for Breastfeeding Moms
Now that we know which Emergen C ingredients are safe while breastfeeding, it is easier to determine which Emergen C products may be safe while breastfeeding and answer the question of Can you take Emergen C while nursing.
Please consult your doctor before taking any Emergen C products to make sure all ingredients included are safe specifically for you.
Emergen C Everyday Immune Support
Everyday Immune Support line of products has vitamin C, vitamin B, and other nutrients, designed to support immune system and to increase energy. Available in many flavors and also in gummies form.
Please note, most Emergen C Formulas contain Chromium which is considered not safe while breastfeeding because it may harm breastfed babies.
So, if you want to use Emergen C Everyday Immune Support, you should use only the Emergen C Everyday Immune Support Gummies that do not contain Chromium.
The Every Day Immune Support line of products contains 750 to 1000 mg of vitamin C per serving while the energy and probiotic supplements include between only 250 and 500 mg.
As mentioned above, the recommended dose of vitamin C while breastfeeding is 120 mg, higher doses (under the safe limit of 1000 mg) may increase milk production.
Emergen C Energy
This supplement comes in blueberry Acai flavor. Blueberry is considered an excellent food for new moms. They have amazing antioxidant properties and are high in nutrients.
Packed with most of the B vitamins, it boosts energy which is exactly what a breastfeeding mom needs, which makes this supplement very beneficial for new moms after delivery.
It contains vitamin C, carbohydrates, B12, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B5, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and caffeine from the green tea leaf.
The energy vitamins include between 250 and 500 milligrams of vitamin C.
All considered generally safe while breastfeeding.
Make sure to ask your doctor if it is safe for you to take this supplement while breastfeeding.
Is Emergen C Botanicals Safe While breastfeeding?
Botanicals line of products includes plant-based ingredients like real elderberry, organic turmeric, and ginger. Most Emergen C Botanicals products contain chromium that can pass into breast milk and may harm a breastfed baby. Therefore, not all Emergen C Botanicals are recommended while breastfeeding.
What Emergen C Botanicals products are good for breastfeeding moms?
Unlike the rest, Emergen-C Turmeric & Ginger Gummies do not contain chromium. It contains carbohydrates, vitamin C, B6, B12, Biotin, Zinc, manganese, sodium, organic turmeric Rhizome, and organic ginger root. Which are all considered safe while breastfeeding.
A limited amount of turmeric while breastfeeding is found as safe while breastfeeding. It has anti-inflammatory properties, boosts the immune system of moms and babies, improves heart health, and protects against cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Ginger is known as another food that helps boost milk production in breastfeeding moms. It’s loaded with antioxidants, which help reduce and prevent stress.
Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, boosts the health of the hair and nails, which is great for postpartum period.
So, this is another great choice that can help you enjoy immune support and a bunch of essential vitamins while breastfeeding. Just make sure to check the list of ingredients and consult your doctor before using them.
Emergen-C Gummies
It looks like the Emergen C gummies are safer for breastfeeding moms. This is because they don’t contain Chromium that is considered not safe while breastfeeding.
There are gummies in “Immune Support”, “Botanicals”, and “Immune+” categories.
So, you can take vitamins and other nutrients through chewable gummies, as long as they do not contain Chromium.
Before taking the gummies, check out the list of ingredients and consult your doctor.
Emergen C Immune Plus While Breastfeeding
Emergen C immune plus has an enhanced immune formula with the key nutrients that your body needs such as vitamin C, vitamin B, zinc, iron, and other nutrients. They say that it has more vitamin C than 10 oranges. This line contains 1000 mg of vitamin C.
The problem is that they also contain Chromium, except the gummies. So, if you want to use Emergen C immune+ line you better take the gummies.
Does Emergen C Work If It Is Already Sick?
According to a 2013 review, regular intake of Emergen-C didn’t stop most people from getting cold. Researchers also found that taking Emergen C regularly slightly reduces the duration of the disease.
One 2017 review found that using zinc lozenges may shorten the cold duration by 33%.
It’s important to note that these studies were done on specific ingredients that are found in some of the Emergen-C products. More research is needed to know whether Emergen-C provides this benefit or not.
Best Emergen C Alternatives
There are many alternatives available in the market that contain better nutrients and give effective results as well. Some of the best Emergen C alternatives are:
Lypo Spheric Vitamin C with Zinc
It’s my personal favorite vitamin C supplement. Its taste is not that good but if you mix it with a little bit of juice then you can consume it quickly. Vitamin C increases the supply when you’re sick or not hungry.
Vitamin C Only
If you only want a product that increases the vitamin C level in your body, then this is a good option.
Elderberry
This organic herb will help you if you fighting through the viral cold. Read more about the safety of using elderberry while breastfeeding.
Emergen C for Kids
Emergen C has a very wide product line that contains high doses of vitamins such as vitamin C, and B vitamins. Because of the high doses of the products, most Emergen C products are safe for people over the age of 15 years.
The only Emergen C product that is safe for kids is Emergen C Kidz. This product provides 15 essential nutrients and 250 mg of vitamin C.
It is available in cherry and pineapple flavors.
How Many Emergen C Packets Can I Take a Day?
First, you have to look at the nutrients contained in Emergen C and how those levels are related to a daily recommendation or tolerable upper limit.
If you’re breastfeeding, it is better to consult your doctor before using.
Conclusion – Can you take Emergen C while nursing?
Hopefully, we have managed to answer your most important question Can you take Emergen C while nursing? Emergen C is recommended while breastfeeding only if your doctor approves it is safe for you. Occasional use of Emergen C supplements is probably fine, especially the gummies.
Make sure to read the list of ingredients before using.
It is important to note that the healthiest way to get all the nutrients is by maintaining a healthy diet while breastfeeding.
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