Can You Detox While Breastfeeding?
You’ve seen it on TV. You’ve seen it on Instagram. “Try our detox diet and lose more than 30 pounds in 1 month!”
Sounds too good to be true? Well, you have the right to be skeptical. Detox and cleansing diet programs are everywhere! And these regimens boast promises such as quick weight loss and toxin removal.
A lot of these diets sound safe. But most of the time, detox diets are unfit and dangerous, even for healthy people.
But that doesn’t mean you have to swear off every part of the practice. The answer to whether people, especially breastfeeding moms, should try a detox diet isn’t completely black and white. And today, we will discuss how moms can try a cleansing routine without hurting themselves and their kids.
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What is a Detox Diet?
A detox or cleanse is a diet that supposedly promotes health, toxin removal, and weight loss. There are many detox routines like drinking juice cleanses or taking herbal supplements. Detox diets are only meant as a short-term intervention in a diet and shouldn’t be practiced regularly.
Asides from juices and supplements, you can also expect programs to include: fasting, restricting food, doing enemas, or using saunas.
Detox diets claim to fight off toxins that come from the environment. These toxins include pollutants, chemicals, heavy metals, and harmful compounds. They also claim to alleviate digestion problems, allergies, weakened immunity, and weight issues.
Detox diets are usually advertised commercially on TV, in magazines, and on the internet. But you can also find programs in health centers or as part of a wellness product’s service. However, these diets don’t have the rigorous science to back them up.
Why are Detox Diets Considered Unsafe?
The research behind detoxification always comes back with negative results. Research that shows positive results are low quality in nature. And those with negative results explain that detox diets are ineffective at removing toxins and maintaining long-term weight loss.
Furthermore, a lot of the cleansing products you see are not FDA-approved. Many supplements and juices contain harmful ingredients and are falsely marketed to target vulnerable buyers.
Many detox diets also fail to mention that the body already comes with a detoxification system. A lot of our organs filter out waste 24/7. Our kidneys and liver are the most important organ for this job.
It’s also impossible to live with only one food group, which many programs force people to do. Detox diets cut out many nutrients that your body needs. And that’s far from ideal for a nursing mom.
Detox diets don’t only affect your body but your mind as well. Advocators of restrictive diets use language that promotes diet culture and unhealthy practices. Labeling morals to food can cause stress and even lead to disordered eating.
So do we need to banish every single part of detox dieting? Not necessarily. While many programs are very restrictive, you can adopt safer practices, such as clean eating.
A Safer Way to Cleanse
Sara Peternell, a board-certified nutritionist, says that it’s more beneficial to help our bodies detoxify and remove substances, food, and drinks that can get in the way of detoxification.
For Peternell, extreme detox diets are ineffective and dangerous for people. However, she also acknowledges that many substances need to be removed from the body. Excess estrogen and pollutants can affect breastmilk quality.
You can help your body detox without relying on supplements or juice drinks. In fact, those supplements can even find their way into your breastmilk and affect your baby! Instead, having a healthy and clean diet can greatly help the body filter toxins.
Can You Detox while Breastfeeding?
Yes!-But not to the extent of restricting your food or taking unlicensed supplements. There are some detoxing practices that you can try while also breastfeeding.
You should always consult your pediatrician or a dietician before doing a regimen. You should also wean your baby before getting into any diet changes. With that said, here are some detox tips that you can safely do while breastfeeding:
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is the number one drink that can help you clean toxins from your body. Water helps in the filtration process in the kidney, liver, and skin. It is also an effective alternative to drinking flavored and sweetened beverages.
Avoid Processed Food (Most of the Time)
One good thing about detox diets is that they are against eating processed food. Junk foods are filled with empty calories and too much salt or sugar. While it’s okay to have one or two cookies, you shouldn’t make these food an everyday part of your diet.
Add More Clean Food to Your Plate
Clean food products are healthier compared to processed food. Examples of clean food include fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, and unsweetened dairy products. Not only are they a healthier option, but you save money by cooking at home.
Get Regular Sleep
Sleep helps every part of your body, including your detoxifying organs. You also regulate your hormones and metabolism while you rest. Plus, no midnight snacks!
Avoid Putting Restrictions on What You Eat
Don’t limit yourself to eating only one part of the food pyramid. Likewise, you are allowed to eat a small treat occasionally, whether it’s a slice of cake or a bowl of chips. It’s all about keeping a balance where you are satiated while staying fit.
Conclusion
Detox diets sound like a good way to get healthy and lose weight. However, many detox diet programs are not sustainable and use unsafe products. You’re better off nitpicking parts of the diet rather than following everything to a tee.
While detox dieting is a toxic practice, helping your body detoxify naturally is more effective in the long run. Having a diet consisting of fresh food and low processed products can help your organs. Plus, it won’t affect your infant while you’re breastfeeding.
It’s so tempting to follow diets that you see in the media. But the testimonies you read and the models you follow don’t show the whole picture. Keep the detoxing to your body and let go of diet culture’s toxic mindset.