Collagen While Breastfeeding
Collagen is used as a dietary supplement because of its ability to improve health throughout the body. Despite the fact collagen is a naturally occurring protein, many wonder if collagen is safe while breastfeeding.
This article explains what collagen is, how it is used, and whether or not it’s safe for breastfeeding moms.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein found naturally in your body. This protein makes up about one third of the protein produced in your body. It’s the major building block responsible for bone structure, skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It can also be found in blood vessels, corneas, and teeth.
Collagen is now an ingredient included in dietary supplements, lotions, and shampoos. It is praised for its ability to improve skin health and is used to promote health in other areas of the body.
Collagen’s name comes from the Greek word meaning “glue.” It has earned this name because it acts as the glue that holds together the human body. Our bodies produce over a dozen different types of collagen, with these different types contributing to the structure of different parts of the body.
As you age, your body creates less collagen. What collagen is created is lower quality. This leads to visible signs of aging, such as skin that isn’t as firm. It also leads to internal signs of aging, such as joint pain and weakening blood vessels.
You can stimulate your body’s natural collagen production with nutrients like vitamin C, proline, glycine, copper, and certain amino acids. Eating too much sugar or carbs can damage your body’s collagen production. Too much exposure to sunlight and smoking can also reduce collagen production.
Some illnesses, such as the autoimmune disorder lupus, can also damage collagen production and quality.
Collagen Benefits for Women
Collagen provides many health benefits for women. Two kinds of supplements have become popular on the market. One is a collagen hydrolysate and the other is gelatin. When collagen is cooked, it creates gelatin (which can be added in powder form to food).
Below are five of the primary benefits women receive when taking collagen supplements.
1. Better Skin
One study found that women taking collagen have firmer skin with fewer wrinkles. Topically applied collagen (like what is in certain lotions) can minimize the appearance of wrinkles in aging women.
2. Relief from Joint Pain
Because collagen improves the health of cartilage, taking it regularly can reduce joint pain due to osteoarthritis or inflammation.
3. Bone Loss Prevention
Collagen supports bone structure and strength. Taking collagen regularly can help mitigate the damage done to bone structure and density as you age. Over time, your body creates less collagen, leading to more fragile bones. A collagen supplement can help strengthen the strength of your bones.
4. Fewer Heart Problems
Taking collagen may reduce your risk of heart-related conditions. Because collagen provides structure for arteries, it prevents them from becoming fragile and narrowed. When arteries are fragile or narrowed, it can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Collagen has also been shown to increase HDL, the “good” cholesterol in your body. Increasing your HDL levels can help prevent heart disease.
5. Weight Loss
Collagen may promote weight loss by increasing your metabolism. However, there are no studies supporting these claims. Despite this, many proponents of collagen use remain hopeful about its future weight loss applications.
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Collagen and Breastfeeding
Because collagen supports health in many of your body’s systems, it can be a helpful support during breastfeeding. While you’re recovering from birth and spending late nights caring for your child, the extra support from collagen can be a major help.
Collagen is able to promote healing, which is helpful whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or a C-section. As your body heals from the trauma of birth, collagen offers strength to many areas of your body.
Although collagen is safe, it’s important to discuss all supplements with your doctor. While collagen is naturally occurring, some of the added ingredients in your collagen supplement may cause problems.
Is Collagen Safe While Breastfeeding?
Although collagen has a lot of health benefits, many still wonder if collagen is safe while breastfeeding.
The short answer is “yes,” collagen is safe while breastfeeding. It is a naturally occurring protein. By supplementing it, you’re able to help your body’s natural strengthening processes.
However, it is important to monitor how much collagen you’re consuming. You should be taking between 70 and 100 grams a day. Consuming more than that may cause problems. It’s important that you discuss collagen supplements and your daily collagen intake with your doctor, especially while breastfeeding.
Is Collagen Good for Postpartum?
Collagen is good for the postpartum phase for four main reasons:
1. It helps bone health.
Women in their twenties are still building bone length and density. Because pregnancy and breastfeeding release hormones that can weaken bone structure, it’s important to support bone health during this time.
Taking collagen during the postpartum period can reduce your future risk for osteoarthritis.
2. It promotes hair, nails, and skin health.
Pregnancy, birth and postpartum are hard on the health of your skin, hair, and nails. Hormone changes can create dry skin in many new mothers. Collagen supplements and lotions can support the health of your skin, hair, and nails.
3. It can reduce joint pain.
The pregnancy hormone “relaxin” helps the muscles around the uterus adjust to your baby’s growth. Unfortunately, this hormone can also cause joint pain. Since collagen supports joint health, you can reduce your joint pain before and after giving birth by taking a collagen supplement.
4. It promotes healing after giving birth.
Collagen and other protein sources are important for the healing process. Whether you’ve had a vaginal birth or a C-section, your body needs to heal in many places. Collagen can help promote the healing process.
Even though collagen’s benefits can be great during the postpartum period, it’s important to discuss all supplements with your doctor.
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Collagen Side Effects
One of the best things about collagen is that it causes very few side effects. For some people, it may cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth or heartburn.
Allergic reactions may happen if you’re allergic to the collagen source (like fish). If you have known allergies to certain collagen sources, it’s important to find a collagen source that won’t cause an allergic reaction.
Best Collagen Supplements on the Market
There are so many collagen supplements on the market. The following three are some of the best collagen supplements available:
Collagen Peptides by Live Conscious
This supplement has no hidden fillers or additives. It is third-party tested and has lots of 5-star reviews on Amazon. Their money-back guarantee gives you extra protection, should you decide collagen isn’t for you.
Collagen Peptides by Essential Elements
This is a good formula with a decent serving size. It is less potent than Life Conscious, but still good. They also have a money-back guarantee for your protection.
NeoCell Super Collagen
These bovine-sourced collagen has both type I and type III collagen powder for better skin health.
Collagen Powder vs. Pills
Collagen comes in both powder and pill form. While the powder version can be easily added to food, pill supplements can be easily taken along with your other dietary supplements and medications.
The form factor of your collagen supplement is not as important as what collagen source is used. Many suggest using marine collagen from fish skin, as it is a high-quality collagen source.
Is Vital Proteins Collagen Safe while Breastfeeding?
Vital Proteins offers a variety of collagen sources for their collagen supplements. Their recipes contain no additives or fillers. They are also gluten-free and contain no added sugar. All of their ingredients are considered safe for human consumption by the FDA.
However, it’s still important to discuss these supplements with your doctor.
Is Pure Beauty Collagen Safe for Breastfeeding?
Collagen is safe for breastfeeding, but some of the added ingredients to Pure Beauty’s collagen raise some concerns. Additives, sucralose, and maltilol may need to be discussed with your doctor. Because you can take collagen without added sweeteners, you should look for a collagen source that isn’t full of them.
If you have concerns about the additives and artificial sweeteners in Pure Beauty’s collagen, you should discuss them with your doctor. While some people may get side effects from artificial sweeteners, others may be able to consume them with minimal risk. Your doctor will be better equipped to advise on your particular situation.
Collagen Foods and Drinks
Collagen levels in your body can be boosted by consuming certain food and drinks. Your collagen production can be boosted by foods like bone broth, chicken, fish, shellfish, egg whites, citrus fruits, berries, tropical fruits, and garlic.
Bone broth can be an exceptionally good source for naturally supporting your collagen production.
Conclusion
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein, making it fairly safe to take. Because of this, collagen is safe to take while breastfeeding. However, it is still best to discuss your collagen supplement with your doctor. This is especially true if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as some supplements may have additives that could be harmful to you or your baby.
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