Herbalife products While Breastfeeding for weight loss
Herbalife is known for their protein and nutrition-focused shakes and meal replacements that make it easy to balance your nutrients. If you’re a new mom, you may be wondering whether it’s safe to take Herbalife while breastfeeding. The convenience of their products makes them attractive, but can they harm your baby?
What Is Herbalife?
Herbalife is a nutrition company that’s been around since 1980. They offer a variety of science-based nutritional products, including:
- Meal replacement protein shakes
- Energy products
- Teas
- Aloe-based products
Herbalife products are consumed by millions of people every day. Their protein powders, shakes and snacks are a convenient way to stay fueled for the day, and for new moms, this convenience factor is a major selling point.
If you’re trying to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight, Herbalife’s weight loss products may be at the top of your must-try list.
But if you’re breastfeeding, you may be wondering whether it’s safe to consume Herbalife products. Before we get to that, let’s take a closer look at the weight loss products they offer and their ingredients.
Related: Customizable Labels for Meal Prepping Success
Herbalife Products For Weight Loss
Herbalife has more than 40 products geared toward weight loss. From shakes to bars, teas and supplements, there’s something for everyone. They also have programs aimed at helping kickstart your weight loss.
Herbalife’s weight loss products can be broken down into three main categories:
Formula 1
Herbalife’s core weight loss product, Formula 1 nutritional shakes are loaded with protein and have balanced macronutrients to support weight loss. Essentially, this is a meal replacement shake that’s easy to whip up anytime.
Each serving (2 scoops) provides:
- 21 essential vitamins and minerals
- 9 grams of protein
- No cholesterol or trans fat
Formula 1 shakes come in a variety of flavors, like Banana Caramel, Cookies n’ Crem and Café Latte. Its main ingredient is soy protein isolate, which is what provides the protein.
Herbalife also has other Formula 1 products, like:
- Express meal bars with 21 vitamins and minerals, 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.
- PDM (Protein Drink Mix) ON the Go in 24 g and 17 g of protein options.
- Instant Healthy Meal shake, with 20 g of protein and 24 vitamins and minerals.
- Formula 1 Select, which has 10g of protein, 5g of fiber, 6g sugar and 21 vitamins and minerals.
With all of these products, the main ingredient is some form of soy protein. The biggest concern as a breastfeeding mom is that most of the soy grown in the U.S. is GMO. The Formula 1 Select product does state that it’s non-GM (an Herbalife term).
The main benefit of Formula 1 shakes and products is that they offer a pretty balanced meal that’s really easy to prepare or just grab and eat. For busy new moms, they can help you stay on track while you’re trying to reach your weight loss goals.
Related: Printable Meal Planners to Help You Stay on Track
Protein
If you want to lose weight, adding more protein may help. Protein gives you energy and helps you feel fuller for longer. Herbalife has protein-based products that can help give you that extra protein boost.
Their product line-up includes:
- Drink mixes
- Powders
- Protein bites
- High-protein coffee
- Protein Drink Mix Select
Like with the Formula 1 products, you get 24 vitamins and minerals as well as 15g of protein with the shakes. Protein bite snacks have 4g of protein and just 60 calories.
The Protein Drink Mix Select has a combination of pea, quinoa and rice protein, which makes it a great option for moms trying to avoid soy. The protein coffee is whey-based.
Overall, the ingredients in Herbalife’s protein products are pretty solid, and they include many essential vitamins and minerals for wellness and healthy weight management.
Enhancers
Herbalife’s enhancer products are really just supplements designed to complement their other weight loss products. They have different effects, like:
- Appetite suppression
- Energy boost
- Metabolism boost
- Digestion support
- Antioxidant boost
There’s also a multivitamin that provides 21 micronutrients and antioxidants.
Snacks
Herbalife offers protein-focused snacks for weight loss, including:
- Protein bites and bars
- Beverage mixes
- Baked goods mixes
- Soy nuts
Like other products in this category, each one contains high amounts of protein, 21 vitamins and minerals and a few grams of fiber. They offer a convenient way to eat a balanced snack when you’re hungry.
Can I Drink Herbalife For Weight Loss While Breastfeeding?
After looking at all of Herbalife’s weight loss products, you may be ready to hop on board and give them a try. You’re a busy mom. Protein shakes and snacks seem like a simple, healthy way to kickstart your weight loss.
But if you’re breastfeeding, you may want to take a step back.
There are a few things you need to consider here. For starters, if you’re breastfeeding, weight loss may not be something you should be worried about. According to the CDC, breastfeeding women should consume an additional 450-500 calories per day. So, let’s say that you were consuming 1,800 calories per day before you were pregnant. While breastfeeding, you should, ideally, aim for 2,300 calories.
Herbalife weight loss products may be able to help you reach these calorie goals or just make sure that you’re getting the right amount of nutrients each day when taken with your regular meals.
Herbalife does offer a specialized nutrition product that may be the better option for new moms. Technically, this is not a weight loss product, but it was formulated with new moms in mind.
New Mom for Wellness
The New Mom for Wellness product is a powdered supplement that you can add to any Formula 1 shake. It contains:
- Essential vitamins and minerals that support energy and focus.
- Vitamin B6 for hormone regulation.
- Folate to help you keep up your energy.
The product is designed to be added to one shake per day.
Keep in mind that this product does not specifically say that it’s safe for breastfeeding moms, nor does it say that it isn’t safe.
When you’re breastfeeding, you don’t want to restrict your calories. Yes, you may want to kickstart your post-partum weight loss journey, but you have to make sure that you’re getting enough calories and nutrients to feed your baby.
Related: VITAMINS AND MINERALS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM AND PROMOTE WEIGHT LOSS
Is Herbalife Safe While Breastfeeding?
When you’re breastfeeding, you have to be very careful about what you put into your body. Herbalife’s products appear to be plant-based, protein-rich and loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. That should make it safe for breastfeeding, right? Not necessarily.
Herbalife recommends talking to your healthcare provider about using their products while breastfeeding. On Herbalife’s website, you can view their product labels in PDF form. Print out the labels of products that you’re interested in, and show them to your doctor.
Your healthcare provider will give you an answer as to whether it’s safe to use their products while you’re breastfeeding.
Remember that every woman is unique. Just because it was okay for one breastfeeding woman to take these products, that doesn’t mean that it’s a safe option for you.
Pros/Cons of Herbalife While Breastfeeding
If your doctor gives you the go-ahead to take Herbalife while breastfeeding, there are still some pros and cons that you should consider.
Pros
- Convenient and easy way to get protein, nutrients and calories
- Plant-based formulas
- Products are backed by science
Cons
- Some weight loss products are very low in calories, which isn’t ideal for breastfeeding
- Many products contain soy protein that is not labeled as non-GMO
Even if you’re not concerned about GMOs in your day-to-day life, you may want to consider the potential implications of consuming GMO products while you’re breastfeeding.
Herbalife While Breastfeeding Risks
Like with any other supplement, there are always risk or concerns that you should consider. Some of the biggest risks to consider include:
- Not consuming enough calories. You’re technically still eating for two. Your body needs more calories to produce enough milk to feed your baby.
- Supplements may contain ingredients that aren’t safe for breastfed babies.
Again, make sure that you’re consulting with your doctor about any supplements, shakes or other Herbalife products that you want to take. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the health of your little one.
Related: HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT WHILE BREASTFEEDING WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MILK
Herbalife Tea While Breastfeeding
Can you drink Herbalife tea while you’re breastfeeding? Possibly. The only way to determine whether it’s safe is to talk to your doctor.
Bring labels of tea products you want to try to your doctor’s appointment, so your healthcare provider can give you an accurate answer.
One big concern about tea is caffeine.
About 1% of the caffeine that you consume passes through your breast milk. That may seem like a small amount – and it is – but infants can’t process caffeine as quickly as we can. In fact, caffeine can stay in an infant’s body for up to 130 hours because their kidneys and liver are not fully developed.
So, even if you’re consuming small amounts of caffeine, it can build-up in your baby’s system over time.
The CDC does state that it’s safe to consume up to 300mg of caffeine per day while breastfeeding.
Most Herbalife tea products contain minimal amounts of caffeine (less than a cup of coffee), but taking more than one serving per day over several days may have an impact on your baby. Be cautious, and don’t consume any tea products without consulting with your doctor.
Is Herbalife Liftoff Safe During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
Herbalife’s Liftoff is an energy-boosting supplement that contains caffeine and helps you feel more alert. Pregnancy can really knock the wind out of your sails, especially as you get closer to labor.
Is it safe to take a product like Liftoff just to get enough energy to get through the day?
It’s best to consult with your healthcare provider if you want to take this product during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Your caffeine intake should be more limited during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and this product also contains a mix of herbs that may not be safe for pregnant women.
Ginseng especially should be consumed with caution, especially if you’re in the early stages of your pregnancy.
The Bottom Line
Talk to your doctor before consuming any Herbalife products during pregnancy or while you’re breastfeeding. Your healthcare provider will provide you with the best advice and recommendations.
