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Protein powders are a fantastic tool to lose weight, and the right protein powder can also help you better nourish your body. As a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist, creator of The Postpartum Cure, and certified nutrition coach, I am obsessed with finding high-quality protein powders (I even created my own!!) to help women lose weight, while also properly nourishing your body. There are many ways protein powders can help women lose weight, so I will run through those, then dive into the ones I think are the best choices.
How protein shakes while breastfeeding can help you lose weight:
- Protein powders blend really well in smoothies, that are fast, easy and filling.
- They are sweet, which can curb sugar cravings
- The offer essential amino acids to maintaining and building muscle (more lean mass the better!)
- They offer additional nutrients, enzymes and probiotics that can boost your overall health and energy!
- Usually lower in calories, you consume lots of nutrients for each calorie
What Makes A Great Protein Shake for Breastfeeding Mamas?
There are a few components that are necessary to make a great protein shake that will help nourish your body, increase milk supply and lose weight. I specialize in helping women lose weight, specifically breastfeeding mamas, but the details in the protein powder are very much the same.
First, you need a decent amount of protein.
I like about 10- 20 grams per serving. If you can get in that much protein in one shake, that is awesome. I highly recommend a Pea Protein Isolate if you can’t do dairy, or a whey protein if you can do dairy. Both offer a high amount of protein per serving.
Second, you want 150-190 calories or so.
If your protein powder contains additional nutrients, the 190 calorie mark is a great bench mark. This will enable you to create shakes around the 200-300 calorie point. Keeping your shakes snack size, or smaller meals, still enables you to eat your meals, and you can always bump them up if you want them to fully replace a meal. I find that the 200-300 calorie mark does well for most women looking to lose weight with protein shakes. This offers a feeling of fullness, rather than just having a drink.
Third, a protein powder that offers additional nutritional support is going to help your body maintain energy, thrive with lots of nutrients and absorb more nutrients throughout the day.
Grabbing a protein powder that has greens, fruits, vitamins and minerals is going to be an overall, high-quality nutritional supplement, rather than just pure protein.
If you are a breastfeeding mama, I have a specific post for you going over the protein powders that I think are best to help you lose weight. I also wrote a specific post on the cleanest protein powder you can get for new moms. Those are great resources if you are still nursing and looking to lose the baby weight.
This is also an awesome post on 4 high-quality protein powders safe while breastfeeding.
Here are the top protein shakes to drink while breastfeeding:
First we have Milk Dust:
In my years of helping mamas 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 believer in nutrition for 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 sugar. It is only sweetened with Stevia, Monk Fruit and Organic Cane Juice, which means there is very little sugar, but it is very sweet, so you still get to drink something like a milkshake!
There is no other clean, super nutrient-dense protein powders that are specifically made for postpartum healing, nourishment, lactation and weight loss. There are thousands of mamas waiting for this to launch, and I am so excited to finally have a product that helps mamas nourish themselves while also losing weight.
GET 10% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER WITH CODE: JOYFUL
Second, Ora Organics:
I have loved this protein powder for a long time, and it is full of nutrients, as well as protein. The protein powder blends well, offers some amazing boosts in nutrition, comes from an awesome company and tastes great. The vanilla is light, fresh and sweet, and the chocolate isn’t too much. You can always add cocoa powder to make it richer, or keep it a soft, mocha flavor. I highly recommend this protein powder if you need something with a softer taste, and aren’t struggling too much with sugar cravings.
Third is Ideal Raw:
This is another great protein powder with some veggies, fruits, and a pea protein base. There are other proteins in this one like coconut protein and sunflower protein. Their superfoods blend is a great way to boost your nutrition, while also boosting your energy! I’ve used this protein powder as well, and their vanilla is fantastic.
These are my three choices of protein powders for weight loss and nourishment.
I’ve yet to find a whey protein powder with all the nutritional benefits that these plant proteins offer, but I am on the hunt, and as I find more powders I try and love, I will be adding them and going over them here. These are all protein powders that I have USED consistently. Not just trying it once. I used Ideal Raw before I found Ora Organics. I switched to Ora Organics, which then I created my own protein powder for weight loss that specifically targets hormonal function and sugar cravings!!
Finding a safe protein shake while breastfeeding is super helpful for postpartum nutrition.
Protein shakes offer quick and easy nourishment while breastfeeding
Protein shakes can be made with one hand, and you can drink while nursing the baby
Protein shakes offer more than protein, with additional micronutrients new mothers need for postnatal support
Protein shakes are delicious, and can be blended in many different ways that taste like milk shakes!
Make sure to start the free, protein-smoothie challenge or 14-day clean eating challenge to get started with your protein shakes now!
