Atkins and Breastfeeding

[NYMommi]

Is it okay?

Hi! That's my main question but here are others I am thinking about:

What are good portions sizes? (meat, salad/veggie, cheese, fat)

How much water should I be drinking?

I like cardio exercise (jazzercise) how much should I do?

What about pregnancy and atkins?

Is ketosis bad?

Thanks so much for any light you can shed on this for me.

Kathy

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Here are your answers!

Lifetime maintenance is appropriate for breastfeeding and pregnancy, but the weight loss phases where you may be producing ketones is not. The reason for this is because the only studies that observe ketosis in pregnancy or breast feeding are in uncontrolled diabetics who are in ketoacidosis, not the same thing as ketosis. Also, weight loss is never appropriate during pregnancy.

There are NO studies that show the safety of burning ketones and its effect on babies (either in utero or breast feeding). We do know that ketones are found in breast milk. Babies may have a different threshold of tolerating ketones than adults, maybe not, but this has not been shown in the scientific research and that is what we base all of our recommendations and guidance on, so we cannot promote that it is okay. So because we do not have long term studies validating the safety of ketones as a source of energy for babies, we cannot recommend following a ketogenic diet (Atkins) during this time of your life.

Here are some portion size guideline from Atkins For Life
http://atkins.com/Archive/2003/2/4-90318.html

On any eating regimen, a minimum of 64 ounces, or eight 8-ounce glasses, of water per day is the usual recommendation.

You should aim to participate in daily physical activity. If you like jazzercise as your exercise, that’s the way to go!

There is nothing harmful, abnormal or dangerous about ketosis. Some of the confusion comes from the word ketoacidosis, which is completely different from ketosis. Ketoacidosis is a potentially dangerous condition seen in Type I diabetics.people who cannot produce insulin, when their blood sugar levels are out of control.alcoholics and people in a severe state of starvation. Research shows that ketosis does not cause adverse effects to the heart, kidneys, liver or blood cell functions. Nor is bone health compromised. The body uses two fuels for energy: fat and glucose (blood sugar). Carbohydrates break down in the body as glucose. So when you cut back on carbs, you effectively take away most of one of the body's fuels and the body turns to fat burning, the metabolic process called lipolysis and the secondary process of ketosis. So long as you have extra body fat, ketosis is safe and natural.and it.s the secret weapon of weight loss. A person in ketosis is getting energy from burning ketones, which are carbon fragments that are created by the burning of the body's fat stores.

[NYMommi]

Thank you so much!

You really set my mind at ease and help me make decisions.

Have a great day!