A healthy diet during breastfeeding is a must as your baby is completely dependent on you for nutrition. Though breast milk provides the baby with basic nutrition, many moms pay loads of attention to what they eat- and boost their nutrient intake with other supplementary foods. In this era of superfoods, it is important to understand what is safe and unsafe to consume during breastfeeding. Wondering, “is spirulina safe to consume during breastfeeding?” Well, you are on the right page.
Though highly nutritious and a health booster, we urge you to exercise caution when it comes to consuming spirulina during lactation. Because you can never be 100% confident of the source from which your Spirulina is harvested, we urge you to be sure of what you are buying and whether you should really consume it.
In This Article
- What is Spirulina?
- What are the Benefits of Spirulina?
- Is it Safe to Consume Spirulina During Breastfeeding?
- How Can Spirulina Help During Breast Feeding?
- Are There Any Harmful Effects of Spirulina During Breastfeeding?
- FAQ’s
What is Spirulina?
Spirulina is a natural algae, which is harvested and powdered for consumption. It is extremely rich in various nutrients, primarily essential amino acids. Due to the high protein content, it is often recommended for vegetarians who do not eat meat proteins. Spirulina is also high in antioxidants, vitamin B group, and iron.
It can help boost immunity and mental health, and raise the nutrient content in your body, though research on the same is fairly limited. You get spirulina in powder form, which can be added to smoothies or plain water. But since it is algae, it tastes a bit like pond water! Some may not like the taste. For them, spirulina is available in capsule form too.
What are the Benefits of Spirulina?
There are scores of benefits to taking Spirulina that is properly manufactured and processed. Apart from being a great source of proteins (the algae is 65% proteins!) It is also a rich source of Omega 3/6/9 fatty acids, chlorophyll (that is great for detox), naturally occurring iron, calcium, and so on. So in short, it is super-food!
Is it Safe to Consume Spirulina During Breastfeeding?
Your child gets all the required nutrition through your milk. So it is important to ensure you have a healthy and nutrient-rich diet that will trickle down to your child through breast milk. In this context, a super-food like Spirulina will definitely help a nursing mother. But, is it safe? There are a few things to consider here:
- Spirulina is safe, provided you buy high-quality Spirulina, which is organic and non-toxic.
- The safety of the product depends a lot on the source and the way it was harvested. So, ask yourself, do you trust your brand to provide a safe, non-toxic product? Are you 100% convinced about the source?
- Spirulina is not safe for some people with underlying medical conditions such as phenylketonuria (PKU) metabolic conditions, sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis etc. So it is best to check with your doctor before consuming it.
[Read : Is It Safe To Use Garcinia Cambogia While You Are Breastfeeding?]
How Can Spirulina Help During Breast Feeding?
For starters, most new moms are known to have anemia. Even otherwise, breast milk has only traces of iron. And Spirulina is an excellent source of bioavailable iron. Additionally, it also contains all the other amazing nutrients we mentioned in the sections above, all of which help you and your baby. What is more, if taken with a healthy diet and disciplined workout, Spirulina is thought to accelerate the body’s fat loss – something all new moms will appreciate. The algae can also detox the body and boost immunity.
Are There Any Harmful Effects of Spirulina During Breastfeeding?
While Spirulina, as such, does not have any harmful effects, it can be toxic if the source is not clean. For instance, certain samples of Spirulina may contain a higher than the safe quantity of mercury – something you do not want in your body, let alone pass it on to your child.
The “non-organic” forms of the algae are also known to be contaminated with various nitric compounds, which companies add as additives. Spirulina that is grown in contaminated water may sometimes contain toxic metal traces. So the most important factor here is the purity and authenticity of the source.
Many products on the market call themselves “organic” and “chemical-free”, but none of us really do any chemical or lab tests to know if their claims are true. And unlike vegetables, we cannot quite “wash” Spirulina before we consume it.
While under usual circumstances, it would be alright to consume spirulina (even then we request you to check with your doctor once), why take a risk when you are breastfeeding? There definitely is an increased potential risk of passing on any toxins to your baby.
And unlike you, your baby hardly has any strong defensive mechanisms to fight these toxins as their immunity is still developing. And more importantly, you can still get all the nutrients in Spirulina and more by following a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet.
[Read : Can I Consume Licorice While Breastfeeding?]
FAQ’s
1. Should I Avoid Spirulina When Breastfeeding?
Spirulina is safe. Ensure it is clean. Check with your doctor first.
2. Can my Baby Benefit From me Consuming Spirulina During Breastfeeding?
Yes, they can. It is highly nutritious. It can get into the breast milk and the baby can also get the benefits.
3. Can Spirulina Help With Anemia During Breast Feeding?
Yes, it can. Breastfeeding can cause hormonal imbalance. Since its rich in iron, it can alleviate your anemia.
4. Can Spirulina Help me Lose Weight After Pregnancy?
Yes, it can. It is famous for aiding weight loss. However, you need to consult your doctor first.
Read Also: Using Fennel While Breastfeeding – Does it Increase Milk Supply?
