Lactating mothers are associated with low immune systems and other deficiencies. This creates a concern which makes them consider using one of the nutrient supplement, Emergen C while breastfeeding to help boost their immune system and to prevent illnesses such as cold and flu.
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Emergen C is a nutritional supplement containing varieties of vitamins and minerals. It is very rich in vitamin C (100mg) an immune booster. It has five different available formulas which include: joint health, heart health, immune defense, bone health, and energy formula depending on individual needs.
Knowing the rich content of food nutrients in Emergen C, is it safe for breastfeeding mothers? Occasional intake of Emergen C while breastfeeding may be safe. However, safety in the frequent use of it is not guaranteed because you may exceed the recommended daily dosage of vitamins and minerals in your diet, posing a heavy risk to your health.
As a breastfeeding mother, you are advised to consult a doctor before taking this supplement. It is also good to note that you can get an extra boost of vitamins from food, which is a safer and just as effective way to increase your vitamin levels. Moreover, the use of supplements to prevent flu, boost the immune system, and to protect from cold is not reliable.
Before considering taking this supplement, take into account the vitamins and minerals included in your diet. This is to avoid the negative effects of regularly exceeding the recommended dietary allowance.
The Effects Of The Individual Contents Of Emergen C
Vitamin C: Malnourished nursing mothers will require a vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C is listed as ascorbic acid on the packets on Emergen C. The maximum total ascorbic acid content on Emergen C is 1000mg, which is above the recommended dietary allowance of 115mg_120mg daily for lactating mothers. The maximum allowable dosage for vitamin C in nursing mothers is 2000mg and should not be exceeded.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant known to build a healthy immune system. Excessive intake of vitamin C in nursing mothers can increase the risk of kidney stones, gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. However high intake of vitamin C will raise milk levels in breastfeeding mothers, take note of this if you are already struggling with overproduction.
Natural foods with the high content of vitamin C include citrus foods, red and green pepper, broccoli, cherries, spinach, and strawberries.
Vitamin B1: This is also known as thiamine on the Emergen C pack. A serving of the Emergen C supplement contains 0.38mg of thiamine. The recommended daily value is 1.4mg, but there is no maximum daily allowance for consumption. Mothers who are breastfeeding can get enough of this nutrient from their food diet.
Excess amount of vitamin B1 in the diet has an increasing effect on the level of thiamine in breast milk. However, there are no known health implications of this.
There is a high concentration of this vitamin in natural foods like beef, pork, nuts, and whole grain.
Vitamin B2: On the pack of the Emergen C supplement, vitamin B2 is recorded as riboflavin. A serving contains 0.43mg compared to the recommended daily allowance of 1.6mg, while the maximum daily allowance is 50mg and should not be exceeded in each serving of this supplement.
An adequate supply of riboflavin can be gotten from meat and dairy products. High doses of riboflavin in the diet causes the excretion of orange color urine. Consuming Emergen C while breastfeeding in large quantity elevates the amount of vitamin B2 in breast milk.
Foods rich in riboflavin include egg, green vegetables, organ meat like kidney and liver.
Vitamin B9: This is listed as folic acid on the Emergen C pack. The folic acid content in one cup of Emergen C is 0.100mg as compared to the recommended daily allowance of 0.5mg. The highest limit for nursing mothers should be 1mg daily. Breastfeeding mothers should take folic acid supplements only when they are malnourished.
A high intake of folic acid in the diet does not increase the folic acid level in breast milk.
Natural foods with the high content of folic acid are lettuce, whole grain, beans, and citrus food.
Vitamin B6: One pack of Emergen C delivers over seven-time the recommended quantity of 1.3mg daily for adults. Frequent excessive intake of this nutrient from a supplement can lead to nerve damage, elevated light sensitivity, heartburn, nausea, and irritated skin.
Vitamin B6 is high in food like poultry, fish bread, whole grain, eggs, and vegetables.
Zinc: The zinc content on each serving of Emergen C is 2mg as compared to the recommended amount of 12mg. Vegetarian breastfeeding mothers will have to take zinc supplements because there is low zinc absorption in the vegetarian diet. The maximum recommended daily allowance of zinc for lactating mothers is 40mg.
Taking zinc more than 40mg can cause loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and headache. Emergen C does not affect the level of zinc in breast milk.
Foods rich in zinc include cashew nuts, almonds, and red meat.
Selenium: The recommended amount of selenium in an adult diet is 50mg. When taken in this amount, selenium is a good immune booster. More than enough consumption of this nutrient can lead to health problems like brittle nails and teeth, a metallic taste, nausea, irritability, and many other illnesses. Shellfish, chicken beef, pork are natural sources of selenium.
Other ingredients in this supplement are electrolytes (calcium and sodium), probiotics, and sleep aids.
Generally, dietary supplements are not meant to replace the nutrients you should get from food. They are not meant to treat, cure, or prevent sickness like cold and flu. They are not meant for long-term periods as this can lead to vitamin toxicity. It may be harmful when combined with other drugs.
The Verdict
Emergen C as a supplement is highly rich in minerals and vitamins required to boost the immune system of a nursing mother and also to provide energy to them. As rich as the supplement is, safety in the excessive use of Emergen C while breastfeeding is not assured. If a malnourished nursing mother has any need for this supplement, we suggest she consults a doctor.
You might also want to get these nutrients the natural way from food because there is not enough evidence that the benefits of this supplement outweighs the risk. Furthermore, its efficiency in waving off cold, preventing flu, immune boost is not confirmed. Stay healthy by practicing good personal hygiene and having a balanced meal. Consult a physician if you feel there is a need for nutrient supplements.
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