During pregnancy, a woman requires more protein than usual to support the developing fetus and increased need of the mother. Although eating a well-balanced healthy diet meets daily protein needs, protein shakes offer a convenient way to consume extra dietary protein. A woman should carefully read the ingredient list on food labels of protein shakes or supplements before consuming them during pregnancy.
Background
The source of protein found in protein shakes typically consists of whey, casein or soy protein, all of which are safe during pregnancy for most women. Protein shakes may contain ingredients that a pregnant woman will want to avoid. Some brands of protein shakes, specifically those marketed for sports nutrition or weight loss, may contain artificial sweeteners, herbs or performance-enhancing ingredients.
Recommendations
Protein recommendations for pregnant women vary. The U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPyramid Plan for Moms provides customized meal plans, based on the food guide pyramid, for pregnant and nursing women. The American College of Nurse-Midwives recommends pregnant women consume about 71 g of high-quality protein each day.
Advantages
Pregnant women need 10 to 12 g more protein per day than an average healthy diet provides, according to Zero to Three. Protein shakes can help meet those additional protein requirements. A pregnant woman may consume nutritional supplement shakes such as Ensure or Resource during pregnancy if her health care provider approves. However, many of them provide a lot of calories. Homemade shakes or smoothies using pregnancy-friendly ingredients such as yogurt, milk, ice milk or fruits offer a healthy way to consume extra protein.
Concerns
Some protein supplements, especially sports-nutrition and weight-loss supplements, contain different types of herbs as ingredients. The Food and Drug administration does not tightly regulate protein and other supplements. Researchers have not yet established the safety of using herbs during pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association, and some herbs may cause injury to the developing fetus. Consult your health care provider before consuming protein shakes that contains herbs.
Considerations
Since many types of protein shakes promote weight loss, they may contain artificial sweeteners as ingredients. Some artificial sweeteners may be unsafe during pregnancy; research on artificial sweetener use during pregnancy is limited. According to the American Pregnancy Association, sucralose and limited amounts of aspartame are safe to consume during pregnancy, but questions remain about the safety of saccharin.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: MyPyramid Plan for Moms
- American College of Nurse-Midwives: Staying Healthy on a Vegetarian Diet During Pregnancy
- Zero to Three: General Brain Development
- American Pregnancy Association: Natural Herbs and Vitamins During Pregnancy
- American Pregnancy Association: Using Artificial Sweetener During Pregnancy
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