Is Protein Powder Safe During Pregnancy?

If you are here, you must be aware of the significance of protein for pregnant women. After all, it helps in the proper growth of the baby. Meanwhile, it leads to the development of other areas, including the repair of damaged and the growth of new tissues.

Therefore, Pregnant women must have a protein-rich diet, including nuts, dairy, meats, and vegetables. If that’s not sufficient, look for the best protein powder for pregnant women. A protein powder contains the right amount of protein needed for the developing fetus.

Is it Safe for Pregnant Women to Consume Protein Powder?

Yes, but every protein powder is not suitable for breastfeeding or pregnant women. 

Here are the things that you need to consider when choosing protein powder during pregnancy: 

1. Excess Vitamins or Stimulants

Various protein powders contain added stimulants and vitamins like caffeine. So, avoid them because excessive caffeine and vitamin consumption are not suggested at the time of pregnancy. If you have a well-balanced diet, there is no need to have any protein powder.

For pregnant women, the recommended caffeine dose is 200mg per day. So, don’t exceed that number if you want to consume protein powder. 

2. Artificial Sweeteners

Diet-conscious people, who try to keep calories in check, must not have protein powders that contain artificial sweeteners. These are not suitable during pregnancy too because they can get into the placenta and reach the baby. Avoid the protein powders containing saccharin. 

Even other sweeteners like sucralose, xylitol, and stevia are uncertain whether or not they possess any risk. It is best to avoid powders with such ingredients.

3. Artificial Flavouring and Fillers

Flavouring agents don’t have any nutrition content and are not as natural as claimed to be. These are also treated chemically and further processed before adding to a protein powder. Likewise, fillers are present in some protein powders for adding bulk while mixing them into a shake. 

These are added to boost the consistency and texture of the powders and are likely to make shakes tastier. But both these ingredients are not good for health. So, avoid protein powders containing any such ingredients.

4. Manufacturing of Protein Powder

Whatever you eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding often passes onto an infant in one way or the other. So, it’s crucial to check the manufacturing process of protein powders. You need to check the manufacturer of a particular powder. Also, ensure that a product is free of chemicals, pesticides, and hormones. 

You must know this when using dairy-based protein powders like whey protein. Such products contain traces of animal hormones like bovine growth hormone (a drug for increasing cow’s milk production). But this ingredient is not good for your baby. Furthermore, any woman with dairy intolerance must not have whey-based protein powder.

Some manufacturers don’t shy away from showing the protein sources or telling about their manufacturing practices. If someone does not display that, their manufacturing process may be questionable.

Bottom Line

Do remember these pointers when choosing the best protein powder for pregnancy. Generally, protein powders are safe for both pregnant and non-pregnant women. But it is best to consult a doctor before consuming any protein powder. Also, check their nutritional label to find out the ingredients present in a protein powder.

Also, Visit here: Should You Consider Protein Powder for Teenagers?