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Breastfeeding has a magical way of injecting some sort of sugar monster into our bodies. It is a beast that doesn’t sleep unless it’s had some sort of sweet treat every couple of hours. Well, at least that’s the beast inside of me. I have heard many other new mothers mention their sweet-tooth intensity while breastfeeding. It’s a common side effect we all deal with or give in too. But do we know exactly why this is happening?
In order to combat the sweet desires that consume our minds and control our taste buds, we must understand why these type of food cravings are happening. Now, if you Google this problem, most articles are going to tell you a number of vague, over-generalized answers like its just because you’re a nursing mom and tired from lack of sleep. It is true that being tired causes you to crave all sorts of food-crack, and is an absolute reason for the sugar-fairy to show up, but there is more to the story of what’s going on. By getting enough of what your body needs for all the things it is trying to do, you can help your energy levels and brain activity keep up, even with those sleepless nights!
First, you may be not eating enough protein and nutrients.
I worked at a naturopath/integrative medicine doctor’s office before becoming a mommy. They were always talking about protein, and how we focus too much on other foods, and our bodies need protein. Well, I don’t love meat, so protein shakes are my favorite way to help me get enough protein in. I am very passionate about nutrient-dense protein shakes because of all the nutrients you can blend together and consume as part of a healthy diet, all while tasting so good!
In my years of helping new moms lose weight while breastfeeding, there was a protein powder missing that was specifically designed for breastfeeding mamas to combat these sugar cravings and fully nourish mamas. I am a firm believe in nutrition for breast milk supply, so I created Milk Dust. Milk Dust is literally your best friend for lactation and weight loss. It has a milk-boosting herb blend, plenty of protein, sugar-craving-busting herbs like Tumeric, Cinnamon Bark Root and minerals like Chromium which have all been used to balance blood sugar. In addition to all these fabulous items.
I hand-picked specific vitamins like Folate (L-Methylfolate) because folate is still important during lactation! Almost just as important as in pregnancy. I also hand-picked vitamin B12 for energy, and super foods like Chlorella, Spirulina, Spinach, Blueberries and more. The protein powder is free of soy, gluten, dairy and corn. It is NON-GMO, Vegan and plant-based!! I highly recommend you check it out if you are craving sugary foods.
It is only sweetened with Stevia, Monk Fruit and Organic Cane Juice, which means there is very little sugar, but no artificial sweeteners. It still tastes very sweet, so you will feel like you still get to drink something like a milkshake! IT SELLS OUT OFTEN SO GRAB IT IF IT IS IN STOCK!
Try Reading: Milk Dust The Breastfeeding Protein Powder For Weight Loss
Smoothies and shakes are my favorite ways to drink it, and it really helps with my sweet tooth because it is sweetened with Stevia! There are no chemicals, it is all natural, and full of milk-boosting ingredients. Such a game-changer for my sugar cravings.
Every time I want something sweet, I just mix this up with some berries and it is so good. The vanilla is my all-time favorite because it is so versatile. I like it for frapps too! Just blend with some cold-brew coffee and ice cubes, or freeze some coffee in ice cube trays. The BEST post-workout drink EVER, do not even think about those energy drinks! I believe this is how I’ve been able to start running lots of miles months postpartum and still keep my supply up while breastfeeding my 17-month old baby.
Give it a try, they offer your money back if you don’t like it! Nutrients are so, so important to recovering postpartum, keeping up your milk supply and curbing those postpartum cravings and ultimately losing the baby weight. I have an awesome postpartum recovery program with a complete meal plan and recipes that keep your milk supply up, while helping your body shed fat, as well as exercises to protect your core and pelvic floor!
Second, you may be low in magnesium:
This is fairly common when breastfeeding because you need more magnesium than if you weren’t.
Check this out:
It’s recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women get 20% more magnesium per day than the average person. Since the body can’t create magnesium, it has to come from outside, so breastfed babies have to get it all from breastmilk.
Eileen Behan, R.D., in her book on nutrition and breastfeeding, says that breastfeeding mothers consuming fewer than 2200 calories a day are probably not getting enough magnesium, no matter what they’re eating. (source).
In a nutshell, it’s difficult to get enough magnesium in our diets today, and the lack of magnesium can cause us to crave sugar more than usual. You can increase your magnesium consumption by adding more magnesium-rich foods like Milk Dust, spinach, seaweed, nuts and even some mineral waters. But, there is only so much spinach and nuts you can eat every day realistically, so adding a supplement is often easier to do.
The Underground Health Reporter states,
Chocolate cravings, in particular, are curbed by magnesium supplementation. Magnesium is also contained in commercially available ionic/water soluble mineral formulations.
The supplements that might be the easiest are the prenatal vitamins you were taking. Take a look and see if your prenatal vitamins have magnesium. Better yet, check to see if they have both magnesium and chromium, which is very important as well. This postnatal vitamin is full of minerals and enzymes to help you digest the food you are eating. Definitely worth a look! I also go over some amazing supplements in my program that help breastfeeding mamas.
Next, you may be craving sugar and unhealthy foods because the stress of having a baby, caring for other children, working, running a business, breastfeeding, pumping, sleep deprivation…all of this depletes your vitamin C and B levels.
Lack of vitamins can also cause sugar cravings. What is interesting is the foods with Vitamin C are often sweet. Oranges, berries, apples, red peppers and guava are just some. There are also vegetables with Vitamin C as well. Your B vitamins are going to be in fish, liver, red meat and dairy if you can digest it. Milk Dust of course has vitamin B12, and vitamin C and other vitamins from the ingredients like blueberries and Brewer’s Yeast.
Sometimes, you are doing the best you can to eat a variety of foods, but you just can’t get enough vitamins. That’s where a supplement comes in to help! I talk about some great protein powders for breast feeding moms in this post, Delicious Protein Powders Perfect For Breastfeeding Moms, and a few of them are a great source for Vitamin C, B and minerals.
I recommend protein powders because they are the best way to get a load of extra vitamins and minerals, in addition to the protein you need when you are trying to adjust to a new baby, breastfeed, eat healthy and lose weight. Its a lot! You might also want to check out these posts, talking about some great foods you can eat to help you lose the baby weight while breastfeeding.
The 4 Ultimate Foods For Your Breastfeeding Diet
The 5 Best Foods To Lose The Baby Weight and Pump Up Your Milk Supply
Lastly, you are probably craving sugar because you need more fiber.
Sometimes we don’t eat enough fiber, so we don’t feel full, even though we ate a large plate of food. Your body needs water and fiber to digest your food. If you skip out on much liquid and fiber, it confuses your body, and thus you are left feeling unsatisfied after a meal, and looking for sweet foods. Try to ensure you are eating high-fiber foods at meals. Eat some fruit before your meal, add beans or vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower that have a lot of fiber to complete your meal. Don’t forget to drink lots of water too, hydration is important for breastfeeding and for your gut health along with all the fiber and protein.
When you feel full, you are less likely to crave sugar, because you are stuffed. I personally love blending my protein powder with high-fiber foods like frozen cauliflower. The good news is, you can’t taste it at all!! It will make your smoothie creamy, as well as full of fiber to make you REALLY full. So before you reach for that ice cream, try blending up a protein shake with fresh fruit to satisfy the sweet tooth by filling you up and also helping your breastmilk production. The goal is to combine protein and fiber together. They are both very filling, and can help alleviate sugar cravings because you are just too full to eat more!
Want more tips on breastfeeding and losing the baby weight? Check out:
Why Your Workout To Lose The Baby Weight Isn’t Working
3 Tricks I Use To Lose The Baby Weight That Worked Three Times Now
5 Workouts To Get Your Booty Back After Baby
