Nowadays, there is a lot of talk about pregnancy and exercise. Women today are more and more interested in continuing their pre-pregnancy lifestyle and with the growth of fitness influencers on Instagram, we have several examples that we can emulate. With fitness and workout being the watchword for this decade, the number of women who are heading for hardcore workouts and not merely just treadmills are on the rise.
One thing all fitness enthusiasts are aware of is the BCAA supplement. Even if it is possible to continue with life as normal when we are expecting, there is still a certain major change that is taking place and some things have to be avoided to make sure your baby is healthy. A lot of women wonder if they can take BCAA while pregnant. This is because some pregnant people still manage to stay fit even during pregnancy.
That begs the question: taking workout supplements, especially BCAA while pregnant is safe for them or not? The answer is more crucial than before now that pre-workouts and BCAA supplements are getting more and more popular. Unfortunately, there is very little information regarding the safety of supplements such as 5-HTP, tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine during pregnancy or in a breastfeeding mother. With little information and pregnant people being a risk group, the best possible answer is to not risk it. However, that doesn’t answer the question. So, how do we approach it?
BCAA Supplementation and Pregnancy
Although the BCAA complex is considered an exogenous amino acid, the best way to approach it is to go natural. As mentioned earlier, pregnant women are a risk group. Going natural instead of taking BCAA artificially is the best option.
It has the same vitamins and minerals as a balanced diet. BCAA while pregnant can be harmful since the formula would most likely include artificial sweeteners, flavors, and dyes. Although these chemicals are proven to be safe, they shouldn’t be in a pregnant person’s diet. But how about when a woman finishes her pregnancy and is on time so that she can breastfeed her baby? This is primarily a good question since many pregnant people want to get back to being physically fit after getting bedridden for weeks.
BCAA while pregnant
However, resuming their regular training regimen right after pregnancy can be a struggle because of demotivation. This is where a lot of them turn to supplements. But is it wise? It depends, really, but in general, BCAA while pregnant can be helpful since it can be beneficial in transforming your body into your desired one.
If you maintain a sufficiently high intake, it can positively affect the total nitrogen balance in the body. What’s more, one component of BCAA, L-leucine, is one of the essential components that the body uses for protein building. This can help a person who is trying to build muscle mass after pregnancy.
Safety Concerns
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein that your body needs to build muscle. These amino acids come from plant and animal sources and are part of a balanced diet.
As you get to the later stages of pregnancy, your protein requirement also increases. Fortunately, the protein requirements are already well met by the typical American diet. Still, you need to get a lot of protein from different sources, meat and plants alike.
However, you need to remember that although amino acids contain protein, they far exceed the amount found in most sources or a regular diet. And as we all know, consuming abnormal amounts of one substance in your body can have both intended and unintended effects, which is far riskier when you’re pregnant.
Also, you need to understand that many supplements aren’t tested yet, which means a lot of them are unregulated. This also means that there’s little to no research regarding their effects, so make sure to not be dependent or consume them more than you should, especially when you have health risks or are pregnant.
While many brands nowadays boast about having natural and organic ingredients, most of these ingredients are from the same manufacturer. This means that you’re not getting what you are paying for more often than not. That said, there are certain substances that you need to be wary of. Here are some of them.
This amino acid is considered unhealthy for pregnant women, and there is little to no research yet on its effects on breastfeeding moms. Not only that, but they can cause a white blood cell disorder and are known to make liver and kidney disease much worse. Its side effects are vomiting and nausea.
Although there is not much research on their effect on pregnant women and breastfeeding moms, experts still advise not to take them. Other than these two substances, there are still substances in amino acids that can put pregnant women at risk. So, with that in mind, if you see these two substances on the label, it’s best not to buy them at all for you and your baby’s safety.
Conclusion
BCAA is helpful when you want to build some muscle mass. Many fitness professionals are even advertising brands and even giving a personal opinions on the brands themselves. There are different kinds of BCAA supplements, and maybe one of them would suit your fitness needs. However, make sure to consult with your doctors before taking BCAA while pregnant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can BCAA affect fertility?
There is no evidence that supports a relationship between BCAA and women's fertility.
Q2. Are BCAA safe while breastfeeding?
Non- stimulating BCAAs are safe while breastfeeding.
Q3. How much BCAA should a woman take daily?
Women can take 9 grams of BCAA per day.
Q.4 Are BCAAs good for pregnancy?
It can affect your glucose levels therefore, pregnant women should avoid consuming BCAAs.
Q5. What are the dangers of BCAAs?
It can lead to fatigue, nausea, headache, etc.
