If you’ve just given birth, you might be wondering how you can safely lose weight while breastfeeding. Many new mothers turn to herbal remedies to help them shed extra weight without worrying about nasty side effects.
Breastfeeding mothers can use some types of tea to help promote healthy weight loss without affecting the baby. Green tea, dandelion root tea and ginger are all safe teas which can help you lose weight while breastfeeding.
We’ve looked at the best natural remedies for breastfeeding mothers to lose weight safely.
Green tea can help remove post-baby belly fat
Green tea is an all-around health boost for new mums and babies. The green tea leaves are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, making green tea the perfect drink for keeping you healthy, losing weight and post-baby belly fat safely.
Green tea contains something called catechins. These antioxidants have fat-busting properties that can aid weight loss. Specifically, green tea can help target post-baby belly fat, making it suitable for post-partum mothers.
The special catechins in green tea, called EGCG, are super effective at burning excess fat. They are antioxidative and helps promote cell health while oxidising fat cells. Studies have found that the specific combination of catechins in green tea can help you lose stomach fat and boost your metabolism for overall weight loss.
It’s worth remembering that the caffeine in green tea is easier for the body to break down than the caffeine in coffee.
As a result, it is considered safe for breastfeeding mums and babies when consumed in moderate amounts (2-3 cups per day). However, don’t forget to check with your GP if you have any concerns about taking caffeine.
If you find green tea interesting, check out this article for more useful information.
Matcha powder to boost metabolism while breastfeeding
Matcha powder is a refined version of green tea with all the same benefits. If you don’t like the taste of green tea or want to find a way to boost metabolism while breastfeeding, you can try matcha powder.
Matcha contains more nutrients than green tea, so you don’t have to worry about your diet, so your breastmilk will be super nutritious. Because Matcha Powder can also boost your metabolism, it can help aid weight loss in the future as well.
Matcha also has detoxing properties. Fat can build up everywhere in your body (including around your organs and in your blood vessels), so ensuring you are healthy helps prevent fat build-up. Matcha will help keep you healthy and regulate cholesterol levels to prevent fat build-up.
SUMMARYGreen tea is very nutritious and contains many vitamins to ensure your baby is still getting everything it needs. In addition, green tea has fat-busting properties that can target belly fat for post-pregnancy weight loss. |
Dandelion root tea for immediate post-partum weight loss
Another natural way to immediately lose weight post-pregnancy is to drink dandelion root tea. Dandelion root can help you lose water weight from the first day you drink it.
Dandelion root is a natural diuretic meaning it can help flush out excess water weight from day one. By drinking dandelion root tea, you can eliminate water weight and help with bloating, puffiness and swollen joints.
Many women suffer from excess water weight during pregnancy, leading to swollen ankles and a puffy morning face. Your body can store water weight around your joints, and it can be hard to lose this weight. However, dandelion tea may help to flush extra fluid out of your body.
It boosts your kidney function so you can successfully lose weight while retaining essential nutrients. By flushing out excess water and boosting kidney function, you can be sure you are staying healthy while losing the extra water weight.
The stress of having a newborn combined with little sleep can mean a build-up of cortisol in your adrenal gland leading to extra water retention, swollen legs and eventually oedema.
Dandelion root can help flush out this excess weight while the vitamins and minerals in the root support normal adrenal function for less water weight gain in the future.
If you are looking for targeted support for water retention and oedema in your legs, this article contains lots of helpful tips.
SUMMARYDandelion root is a natural diuretic. Drinking dandelion root tea while breastfeeding helps your body flush out excess water weight while ensuring your kidneys effectively filter out essential nutrients to keep you and your baby healthy. |
Ginger for improved digestion during breastfeeding
Ginger is another excellent way to lose weight while breastfeeding. Ginger not only helps boost your digestion to stimulate weight loss, but it can also help you feel fuller for longer and may reduce your appetite.
Ginger contains compounds called gingerols which can have a significant impact on your bodily functions. Gingerols help your body produce more digestive enzymes to digest food more effectively and reduce fat storage.
One study found that ginger has strong anti-obesity effects because it is so effective at dissolving fats it can be drunk daily for regular weight loss. The gingerols change the lipid profile of fats in your body to help remove fat cells. It can also encourage the production of amylase in the body to break down fats.
Additionally, ginger is thermogenic, which means it increases your body temperature slightly. A slightly increased body temperature burns more calories and boosts your metabolism, so you burn more calories every day.
A raised body temperature is caused by increased oxytocin which in turn can help with breastfeeding. Oxytocin is what makes your body breastfeed.
Furthermore, ginger is an appetite suppressant, meaning just one cup of ginger tea after a meal can help you stop snacking until it’s the next time to have a proper meal.
Ginger can help regulate the serotonin hormone, which causes cravings. By drinking Ginger Tea, you can help prevent yourself from overeating and help you lose weight quickly and safely.
SUMMARYGinger can help boost your metabolism, and it raises your body temperature to produce oxytocin and encourage lactation. Ginger can help you dissolve body fat and promote better digestion. This makes it a safe way to lose weight while breastfeeding. It also helps suppress your appetite, so you don’t overeat. |
Does Breastfeeding Help You Lose Weight?
If you are trying to lose weight after giving birth, remember that breastfeeding itself can also help you lose weight. The more you breastfeed, the more weight you lose naturally.
Studies show that nursing mothers burn more calories. Nursing your baby can burn an additional 500 calories per day! This is because your body needs extra calories to feed your little one. Therefore, it uses any stores of fat to convert into milk.
The number of calories burnt while breastfeeding is the equivalent of one hour of medium-intensity exercise. This directly affects your health; the same study shows that breastfeeding mums are more likely to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight easily within the first year.
So, breastfeeding your baby is good for your both. When studying new mums, scientists found that breastfeeding for between 3-6 months is enough to notice a big difference in your weight. Scientists also found that the benefits of breastfeeding weight loss lasted for a few years.
Since breastfeeding can help you lose weight, continuing to breastfeed for several months can help you get back in shape. However, some women struggle to produce enough milk. What should you do if you can’t make enough milk?
Herbal remedies are a great way to boost milk production naturally to continue your breastfeeding journey.
If you want to increase your milk supply, make sure you choose organic herbal teas and carefully selected by a trusted brand like Black Leaves. This means there are no pesticides or nasty chemicals to hurt your baby.
If you’re looking for more ways to boost lactation naturally, these herbal teas can help.
Fenugreek powder for increased lactation and weight loss
Fenugreek has been used by new mothers for centuries. This herbal remedy is packed full of nutrients that can help stimulate lactation. It’s thought that fenugreek powder can stimulate prolactin in the pituitary gland, making your body produce more breastmilk.
Fenugreek is so good at increasing lactation that it has been used to help mothers with adopted baby’s start lactating while doubling the amount of milk produced by breastfeeding mums.
One study looking at fenugreek found that new mums supplemented with organic fenugreek powder produced more milk, lost more weight, and had healthier babies than those who didn’t.
Raspberry leaf to produce more milk and burn more calories
Another popular all-natural way to boost lactation is to drink raspberry tea. Red raspberry tea can be drunk while pregnant to help ease pregnancy symptoms and for an easier birth. But mums that continue to drink raspberry tea after giving birth can produce more milk. Read:
Like fenugreek, red raspberry tea helps stimulate prolactin which causes the body to produce breastmilk. Because the tea is so full of nutrients, it can also improve the quality of the breastmilk.
As well as encouraging lactation, red raspberry contains nutrients that help break down fat cells and promote weight loss. It can also boost your metabolism to help burn additional calories, making it a triple threat for breastfeeding weight loss.
Check out this article to find out more about lactation-boosting teas.
SUMMARYBreastfeeding can help you lose weight because your body burns extra calories to help feed your baby. Women who struggle to produce enough milk can use herbal remedies such as fenugreek tea and raspberry tea to help boost lactation and lose weight while breastfeeding. |
Other effective ways to lose weight while breastfeeding
While breastfeeding, new mothers have to prioritise lactation and breastfeeding to ensure they keep their baby healthy. Besides herbal teas, there are some other natural ways that may help you lose weight quickly and safely.
Here are some of our top tips which can be combined with drinking herbal teas to get rid of excess fat as a new mum.
Gentle post-partum exercises to get back in shape
You can start doing gentle exercise as soon as you feel ready. Going to walks or attending specific post-natal classes can get your body back in shape and kickstarts your metabolism.
The University of Washington Medical department research shows that a ten-minute walk every day can help you recover fast and promotes weight loss.
However, you will have to be careful to avoid too many core exercises as your stomach is still recovering.
Plenty of sleep to lose weight while breastfeeding
Getting plenty of sleep may also help you lose weight while breastfeeding.
When you are tired, your brain is foggy, and you’re more likely to crave sugary, high-fat foods. You’re also more likely to feel hungry more frequently. Getting plenty of sleep helps you choose the healthiest options.
If you are struggling to sleep fall asleep at night, you can try drinking Chamomile Tea to help you relax before bed.
Stop snacking to come back to your pre-pregnancy weight
Snacking can also be a reason which stops you from coming back to your pre-pregnancy weight.
When you snack, your body doesn’t have the time it needs to digest food properly. Instead of correctly converting your food into fuel and energy, your body rushes and starts storing it as fat.
If you can cut snacks and eat three solid meals a day, you’ll find the weight dropping off!
Stay hydrated to lose water weight after giving birth
Making sure you are adequately hydrated is crucial for post-partum weight loss.
Lots of water can help flush out excess water weight, meaning instant weight loss after giving birth. Less water weight means no more puffy pregnancy ankles and swollen feet.
Adding Stevia Leaf Powder to your water can give you an extra hydration boost, help you lose weight, and is safe for breastfeeding.
SUMMARYYou can increase your post-partum weight loss by gently exercising to help you get back in shape. Trying to avoid snacking, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated can help keep your body healthy and help you lose weight while breastfeeding. |
When to seek help
The weight loss journey after pregnancy always takes time. You should consider seeking help from your healthcare professional to ensure you and your babies remain safe.
If you are not pleased with your body image, concerned about your weight or overall health, a medical professional can recommend safer ways to lose weight post-partum. Visit your doctor if you notice you are losing lots of weight fast, your baby seems to be losing weight, or if you are struggling to produce enough milk.
While breastfeeding, you need to ensure that you are still getting enough nutrients to give your baby everything it needs. You shouldn’t expect to lose all your pregnancy weight within weeks.
Healthy weight loss takes time. You should aim to lose around 0.5kg per week; any more than this, and it could affect your baby’s health. A 1999 study found that 0.5kg per week is ideal for weight loss while breastfeeding, but up to 1kg isn’t a reason to worry.
Let your doctor know if you are concerned, as you may need to make changes to your lifestyle or diet to ensure you can still produce enough milk for your baby.
SUMMARYVisit your doctor or healthcare professional if you are losing more than a kilogram per week. You should also seek health advice if you notice a change in your lactation or your baby’s health or mood. Speak to your doctor if you are worried about your weight, body image, or overall health. |
Conclusion
Weight loss while breastfeeding can be natural and easy while ensuring your baby is healthy. Herbal teas like ginger, dandelion root and green tea can help you lose weight and bust belly fat.
Since breastfeeding itself helps you lose weight, other herbal remedies like raspberry and fenugreek tea can help increase lactation and milk supply for natural weight loss. Paring natural remedies with gentle exercise, drinking plenty of water and avoiding snacks can help reduce weight loss from week one.
But remember to seek medical attention if you are concerned to ensure you and your baby are safe.