Can I Drink Root Beer While Breastfeeding?
The answer to this question depends on what type of root beer you are drinking. Most of the root beers available in North America, do not contain caffeine. However, some have a caffeine version like Barq’s. Root beer also contains High-fructose corn syrup which can lead to weight gain and insulin dependency. It also contains Caramel and artificial flavor which can cause allergies in some babies. Now, this is not to say that you should never drink a root beer while breastfeeding — just that if you do have any doubt about whether or not it should be avoided during breastfeeding, then don’t.
When you are nursing make sure that your diet consists of healthy food and not junk, for both you & the baby. When you are breastfeeding try to avoid things like caffeine, medications, nicotine, alcohol, and foods with artificial sweeteners in them because they can all pass through your milk to the baby.
Does Root Beer help to increase breast milk?
No, there is no evidence that root beer has any effect on the milk of breastfeeding mothers.
However, some home-brewed lactation beer that tastes like root beer is known to have increased breastmilk. This home-brewed root beer or lactation beer contains mostly galactagogues herbs like fenugreek, fennel, licorice along with fermented ginger.
Does Root Beer interfere with my baby’s sleep?
No, there is no evidence that it does. However, we do know that caffeine can keep a baby awake during sleep because it stimulates her nervous system.
Why do pregnant or nursing mothers have craving for root beer?
According to Dr. Jolene Brighten, author of Healing Your Body Naturally After Childbirth is because of different hormones at this time period in a woman’s body. Lower dopamine levels cause a craving for sweets in pregnant and nursing mothers. So it’s important to eat a balanced diet instead of relying on cravings for sweets.
Is root beer safe for breastfeeding mothers?
Yes, root beer can be okay for breastfeeding mothers. Root beer is made from sassafras, a natural plant that is caffeine-free. It’s sweet flavor comes from high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavor which however, is not good if consumed daily.
Is the caffeine in Root Beer safe for my baby?
Most versions of root beer do NOT contain caffeine, so it would not be harmful if you consumed one occasionally while breastfeeding.
Does Root Beer contain alcohol?
Root Beer contains about 2% alcohol. However, some brands of root beer are artificially colored with “caramel coloring” which is a derivative of alcoholic distillates.
I have heard from some breastfeeding moms that if you have an allergy to caramel coloring, then it could cause problems when you are nursing. This is because the colorings end up in your milk and get passed on to your baby.
Does Root Beer contain High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)?
Yes, most root beer contains High-fructose corn syrup which is a cheap sweetener made from corn and is known to cause insulin dependency in the body. However, there are some root beer brands that do not use HFCS, for example, Fitz’s Root Beer which uses cane sugar instead of syrup.
What is the best type of root beer?
The best type of root beer is one that you and your baby agree upon. Since root beer contains sugar, it’s always a good idea to check with your baby’s doctor to make sure that you’re giving her something she can tolerate.
So. in conclusion…
Can you Drink Root Beer While Breastfeeding?
The answer to this question depends on what type of root beer you are drinking. Most of the root beers available in the North American market, do not contain caffeine. However, some have a caffeine version like Barq’s (Caffeine Added). Many breastfeeding mothers avoid root beer because of the caramel coloring and high fructose corn syrup it contains.
You may also like to read:
Can I Drink Iaso Tea While Breastfeeding?
To enjoy breastfeeding to the fullest, read about other breastfeeding tips here.
