Can I Take Fat Burners While Breastfeeding
If you’re breastfeeding and want to get back to your pre-pregnancy body, you may be wondering if you can use fat burners while breastfeeding. These fat burners can give your metabolism the jumpstart it needs to start shedding any of the pregnancy weight you’re holding onto.
But is it safe to use a fat burner?
What Are Fat Burners?
Fat burners are products that work to increase your metabolism, reduce fat absorption and improve weight loss. These products may also:
- Increase fat oxidation
- Promote fat metabolism
- Increase energy expenditure
Some fat burners are all-natural, and others are not. There are also numerous types of fat burners that you can choose from.
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Fat Burner Products
Losing weight after giving birth is difficult, but it is possible with a lot of effort, the right diet and supplements. The multiple forms of fat burners that you can choose are:
- Belly Fat Burners – A general term, but these can also include devices, such as cellulite burners, that target belly fat. If you plan on using a fat burner, this may be one of the safest options since it will not enter your breast milk.
- Fat Burning Pills – Pills are the most common fat burners and are filled with fat-burning ingredients that work to jumpstart your metabolism.
- Fat Burning Creams – Creams are applied to areas of the body where you want to lose fat.
- Fat Burning Oils – Oils work in the same way as creams do. The goal is to use topical applications with the hope of promoting fat burning in specific areas of the body.
When you use these fat burning products, there are a lot of benefits that you can experience.
Fat Burners Benefits
Diet and exercise can help you reach your weight loss goals, but they’re not the only option. Fat burners can help and may offer numerous benefits, depending on the type of product chosen:
- Promote weight loss
- Curb appetite
- Boost energy
- Increase metabolism
And for many people struggling to lose weight, a fat burner can provide the motivation they need to continue trying to reach their goals.
Fat Burners and Breastfeeding
Losing weight after a pregnancy isn’t easy. It may seem easy and convenient to take fat burners while breastfeeding, but is it safe?
Nursing moms need to be very careful about what they eat and take. Some ingredients can pass through into your milk, and they may not be safe for your baby.
The health and safety of your baby is always your top priority.
Can You Take Fat Burners While Breastfeeding?
If you’re nursing, taking fat burners can be unsafe for your baby. Many fat burners contain stimulants, appetite suppressants and other ingredients that can be harmful to babies.
Caffeine and ephedra are two common ingredients in fat burners. Neither of these ingredients have been tested for safety in babies.
Along with the risk of passing some of these potentially harmful ingredients to your baby in your breast milk, fat burners can also be unsafe for moms.
Many of these products contain phenylpropanolamine, which can increase your risk of having a stroke. Ephedra, another common ingredient in fat burners, has also been linked to seizures and high blood pressure.
In some cases, the ingredients in fat burners can interfere with milk production. Nursing moms need to consume enough calories to support milk production and meet their own nutritional needs. In most cases, moms need to eat an extra 500 calories per day while breastfeeding. Why? Because breastfeeding alone burns 500 calories per day.
If you’re losing weight – and losing weight quickly – because of fat burners, you may not be able to produce enough milk to continue breastfeeding.
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Fat Burners Side Effects
Fat burners, like any other weight loss product, can produce side effects in some people. The type and severity of the side effects will depend on the product itself and your natural body chemistry.
One big issue with fat burners is that they sometimes contain ingredients that are undeclared. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not test and evaluate all of the fat burners on the market. Some companies will add ingredients that they don’t list on the ingredient label.
The FDA, back in 2015, found more than 20 fat burners that contained dangerous ingredients, like:
- Sibutramine, which is an obesity drug that was pulled from the market because it increased the risk of heart attack.
- An unapproved laxative that’s believed to increase the risk of cancer.
Fat burners have also been linked to:
- Liver damage
- Negative heart health effects
Not all fat burners have questionable or dangerous ingredients, but because these products are not really regulated by the FDA, you don’t know what you’re getting. Ingredients may be hidden from the label.
The bottom line? You’re taking a risk if you take fat burners. Questionable or possibly dangerous ingredients can take a toll on your health.
Always talk to your doctor about any fat burning product you’re considering taking.
Best Fat Burner for Breastfeeding Moms
In general, women should avoid fat burners while breastfeeding unless approved by their doctors. The information provided here is for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.
There are many popular fat burners out there, and many moms may be wondering about taking them while breastfeeding.
Green Tea Fat Burning Pills
Green tea fat burners are typically high in EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. EGCG is a special catechin (a plant-based compound) that’s been linked to weight loss, but it may also help reduce inflammation, promote heart health and help protect the brain.
EGCG is naturally found in green tea, and these fat burners typically extract this compound from tea leaves.
Green tea fat burners may also contain caffeine and other herbs in hopes of accelerating weight loss. Common ingredients paired with EGCG include:
- Yerba mate
- Ginseng
- Antioxidant-rich berries
The ingredients in these fat burners are designed to curb cravings and help you snack less often. These effects can also contribute to your weight loss by helping you cut back on calories without feeling hungry.
We still don’t know whether EGCG is safe for breastfeeding moms, so it’s best to avoid this product or talk to your doctor about it before taking it.
Thermogenic While Breastfeeding
Thermogenic refers to a type of fat burner that helps your body produce more heat. These supplements often contain caffeine, capsaicin and plant extracts that are supposed to help you burn fat and lose weight.
Popular thermogenics include:
- Green tea
- Capsaicin
- Caffeine
- Yohimbine
- Garcinia cambogia
- Bitter orange
Some thermogenic supplements can cause unpleasant side effects, like stomach pain, constipation and headaches.
In some cases, these products can increase blood pressure, cause inflammation and even damage your liver.
Thermogenic supplements, like other fat burners, are not well regulated.
If you’re breastfeeding, it’s best to avoid thermogenic supplements. There’s no data on whether these products are safe for nursing moms.
Herbalife Prolessa Duo While Breastfeeding
Herbalife is a popular weight loss supplement company, and their Prolessa Duo product is designed to help accelerate fat loss. The supplement, which is actually a weight loss drink mix, doesn’t have any stimulants (which is rare) and the ingredients have been clinically tested.
The main active ingredient in this supplement is conjugated linolic acid (CLA).
The ingredients in this supplement appear to be harmless and natural, so you may be wondering whether it’s okay to take while breastfeeding.
Ultimately, there is no data to support the safety of this product, so doctors advise against taking CLA or products containing CLA if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Alani Nu Fat Burner While Breastfeeding
The Alani Nu Fat Burner is a popular weight loss supplement, and many breastfeeding moms are interested in taking it to help boost their postpartum weight loss.
But Alani Nu recommends talking to your doctor before taking any of their products, including their fat burner.
Their Fat Burner product contains 84mg of caffeine per serving in addition to 50mg of coffee beans. Most doctors recommend limiting your caffeine intake while nursing, so this is another concern with this product.
Happy Way Fat Burner While Breastfeeding
According to Happy Way, their greens powders, protein powders and BCAAs are safe for use during breastfeeding and pregnancy.
However, they do not recommend taking their fat burners while breastfeeding. Their fat burners do contain stimulants. They recommend talking to your doctor before taking any supplement or changing your diet while breastfeeding.
Fat Burner Foods For Breastfeeding Moms
If fat burner supplements are unsafe for use while breastfeeding, what can you do to kickstart your weight loss after pregnancy? It’s true that breastfeeding helps some moms naturally lose weight, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
The foods you eat may help you lose weight and burn fat, but it’s important to:
- Make sure that you’re consuming enough calories to meet your nutritional needs while breastfeeding.
- Talk to your doctor about any changes to your diet.
Foods that are natural fat burners include:
- Fatty fish, like salmon, sardines and herring
- Eggs
- Coconut oil
- Whey protein
- Greek yogurt
- Olive oil
- Berries
- Quinoa
- Watermelon
- Grapefruit
- Oatmeal
In general, a diet rich in whole grains, healthy fats, lean protein, vegetables and fruits can help you burn fat and work towards your weight loss goals after pregnancy.
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