There’s never a better time to improve your eating habits than when you are planning a pregnancy, already pregnant or breastfeeding. Good nutrition is important for you and your baby and it’s best for both mum and dad to have a healthy, nutritious diet before deciding to start a family. The choices that you make around what you eat every day that you are pregnant have a profound influence on positive foetal and maternal outcomes.

This is not the time to diet or cleanse your body. Most pregnant and lactating women need, on average, an additional 500 calories each day to support the growth of the baby and ensure healthy milk production (1). But not all calories are created equal. In order to consume and absorb the amount of nutrients required for pregnancy, it’s important to eat as many nutrient-dense foods as possible such as leafy greens, dark-coloured fruit and vegetables, food rich in fibre, healthy fats, whole grains and lean sources of protein. All the nourishment your developing baby needs comes from your body, either through the food you eat or the supplements you take. You and your growing family need foods that are packed with nutrients, not just ‘empty calories’ like those found in fast food, soft drinks and sugary treats.

It’s also important for a woman to discuss and monitor her weight and nutritional needs with her GP or obstetrician throughout the pregnancy.  The Australian Dietary Guidelines provide up-to-date advice about the amount and kinds of foods that we need to eat for health and wellbeing (2). The Guidelines are based on the latest scientific evidence and research, which encourages pregnant women to gain a healthy weight, regular physically activity and choose amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet their energy need. Developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council, it is recommended to avoid foods high in saturated fats, added salt and added sugars, alcohol and cigarettes for good health and to prevent health problems.

For busy mums and families, Isagenix® has convenient, easy-to-use solutions that may help to simplify your life. The safe, high-quality and nutritional products deliver essential vitamins, botanicals and other natural ingredients that may benefit time-poor mums. Isagenix conforms to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) and the specific rules and regulations set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (3). With your doctor’s consideration and approval, you may use some Isagenix products while pregnant or breastfeeding. With so much pressure on selecting healthy options, we know that many women reach for Isagenix IsaLean™ Shakes and IsaLean™ Bars as a nutritious supplement to their healthy eating plan.

After pregnancy, and once you have weaned your baby, new mums may benefit from and return to using all of the Isagenix products to release any excess weight and regain energy. But it’s important that you don’t pressure yourself into snapping back to your pre-pregnancy body too quickly. Your body has just grown and nourished a new little human! So now is the right time to look after yourself well and focus on nourishing your own body. It’s possible to regain your muscle tone and develop new muscles that you never had before, but it takes time. A complete Isagenix System, along with a healthy diet that includes protein, fruit and vegetables will help you when you are ready to release any excess weight and increase your energy.

The following list of Isagenix products may be incorporated into a pregnant or breastfeeding mother’s diet. Please check with your doctor before using any products or modifying your diet and ensure that your healthcare provider is monitoring your progress.

IsaLean Shakes, IsaPro™, IsaLean Shake Dairy Free, IsaLean Bars, IsaLean Bar Dairy Free
Pregnant women require more calories, vitamins, minerals, protein, amino acids, trace elements and fibre. Pairing the nutrients in an IsaLean Shake or IsaLean Bar with your regular meals is one way to help ensure you are getting calories and nutrients for you and your developing baby. While these products are designed for controlling calories and for replacing meals, these products should never be used as meal replacements or for weight loss during pregnancy. For breastfeeding mothers, these products may be a great way to support increased calorie requirements during this time, in addition to meals. These foods may also support the demand for convenient, nutrient-dense options when time is often very limited with a new baby at home.

Fibre Snacks™, Whey Thins™, Harvest Thins™, Slim Cakes™, Isagenix Snacks™
Snacks that provide a source of protein and/or fibre are the ones to reach for and can help to satisfy cravings while also nourishing your body. These snack options can include products like Fibre Snacks™, Whey Thins™ and Harvest Thins™, Slim Cakes™ and Isagenix Snacks™. Fibre Snacks may be a better alternative to sugary muesli bars or chocolate bars, Whey/Harvest Thins better than a bag of salty, fatty chips, Slim Cakes a better alternative to sugary biscuits and Snacks are a great alternative to chocolate or lollies. They’re nutritious, convenient, grab-and-go alternatives to typical unhealthy snacks that can also be used to complement a nutritious diet.

IsaOmega™
Omega 3s are particularly important in the last trimester of pregnancy when the baby takes all that it needs from your body to properly develop, and our IsaOmega fish oil is second to none. It is sourced from small fish in deep, unpolluted waters and then distilled to produce concentrated sources of DHA and EPA omega-3 essential fatty acids. Each batch is thoroughly tested to ensure it’s free of heavy metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium and iron), PCBs and dioxins.

What’s on the ‘Not Recommended’ list while pregnant or breastfeeding?

Cleanse for Life™
Intermittent fasting and deep cleansing are not recommended because pregnant and breastfeeding mothers need regular intake of sufficient calories to ensure a healthy baby and sufficient milk production. In addition, many herbal ingredients are not well studied in pregnant or breastfeeding women, or not considered safe during pregnancy, so be very mindful of what you are consuming during this time. Additional Isagenix products that contain herbal ingredients not recommended during this time include:

So what happens to women who fall pregnant whilst using the complete system of Isagenix products? Your consumption of some Isagenix products will need to be discontinued at this time, but you may like to take this article to your Doctor so that they can consider if it is suitable for you to continue with some products to complement your healthy diet, including IsaLean Shakes, IsaLean Bars and some of the snacks listed above.

Growing a brand new little human is a very special and sacred time, but if you are time-poor and hungry, it may be tempting to raid the pantry or grab something less healthy. Use a little creativity to make sure you have nutritious alternatives on hand at all times, like fresh fruit and vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, an IsaLean Shake, or other Isagenix products. If you do reach for an occasional treat instead of a piece of fruit, no need to feel guilty, just focus on eating a good variety of nutritious foods to keep both you and your baby healthy and your energy levels up so you can be the best mother that you can be.

References

  1. Labbok, M. (2006), Breastfeeding: A woman’s reproductive right. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 94: 277-286. doi:1016/j.ijgo.2006.04.008
  2. Australian Government (2018), Australian Dietary Guidelines, National Health and Medical Research Council. eatforhealth.gov.au
  3. http://anz.isafyi.com/what-it-means-to-have-no-compromise-quality/