Last Updated on March 27, 2023 by Jada Glover
Breastfeeding moms often want to get the most amount of milk out of their breasts to best support their babies. The best way to increase milk production is to nurse or pump as often as your baby is wanting to feed or drink a bottle. The more milk that is removed from your breasts, the more your body will produce - that is how milk production works in general.
Sometimes though that doesn’t feel like enough. If you’re a breastfeeding mom that is looking to supplement with something to increase breast milk supply, you may find yourself reaching for BODYARMOR because you’ve heard it helps.
But, does BODYARMOR actually increase breast milk supply?
For many moms, BODYARMOR does support healthy milk production. That may be because of the ingredients like hydrating coconut water. Or it could be the idea that something you can drink may help you increase production which eases your stress and lets your milk flow more freely.
Let’s take a closer look at BODYARMOR and why it might be helpful for some breastfeeding moms and their milk supply.
What Is BODYARMOR?
BODYARMOR is a brand of drinks that includes sports drinks and alkaline water. These drinks are often packaged in individual bottles for easy drinking and access for breastfeeding moms.
The sports drinks line are what most breastfeeding moms are interested in because of the claims that they can increase breast milk supply. The company touts them as a “superdrink” providing “superior hydration” for athletes.
The BODYARMOR bottle says:
“BODYARMOR is the sports drink for today’s athletes with Natural Flavors, Natural Sweeteners & No Colors from Artificial Sources. BODYARMOR Sports Drink combines Coconut Water, Antioxidants & Vitamins to provide Superior Hydration.”
There are several varieties and flavors to choose from, including “Lyte” varieties (sweetened with Stevia and Erythritol) and caffeinated versions. I would be wary of the caffeinated BODYARMOR drinks while breastfeeding, especially if you are already drinking caffeinated beverages like tea or coffee. The BODYARMOR EDGE drinks have 140 mg of caffeine per bottle which is equivalent to about 2 cups of coffee.
Babies are all affected differently by caffeine, and some may get fussy or irritated if they can’t sleep. If you do drink this version of the sports drink, avoid other caffeinated beverages throughout the day until you can better understand how your baby reacts to it as it is passed through your breast milk.
For this article, I will focus on the BODYARMOR original sports drinks which come in 10 flavors and are the safest for breastfeeding moms because they DO NOT have caffeine, artificial sweeteners/sugar substitutes, or artificial flavors.
Can You Drink BODYARMOR While Breastfeeding?
Yes, absolutely, you can drink BODYARMOR while breastfeeding. In the world of sports drinks, these are by far one of the healthier options with no artificial colors or sweeteners.
Because of the adverse effects of artificial colors on our bodies, including our nursing babies, I would stay away from the sports drinks that have those things in them (like some Gatorade and Powerade varieties). When shopping for sports drinks as a breastfeeding mom, look for and avoid artificial food coloring in the list of ingredients.
However, drinking BODYARMOR isn’t a necessity while breastfeeding. If you nurse often (at least 8-12 times in a 24 hour period), your baby has plenty of pee and poopy diapers, you’re not experiencing breast pain, and your baby is emptying your breasts often, you likely will have plenty of milk supply for your baby.
Does BODYARMOR Increase Breast Milk Supply?
While I have not seen any scientific studies that support BODYARMOR increasing breast milk supply, it does contain ingredients that may nourish our bodies to make more milk. For many moms, as evidenced by the many anecdotal stories you may hear, it has worked for them.
I wouldn’t be doing my job as a Certified Lactation Counselor and advocate for breastfeeding if I didn’t remind you to get to the root cause of your low milk supply issues first. Find the root cause before you start supplementing with things like BODYARMOR sports drinks.
Also, be sure you’re eating a diet good for breastfeeding full of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, pasture-raised poultry and meat, and Omega-3s from wild-caught fish to ensure your body is well nourished overall.
Why Does BODYARMOR Increase Milk Supply?
BODYARMOR may increase milk supply in some moms for a variety of reasons, It contains hydrating liquids with electrolytes like coconut water, B vitamins, antioxidants like Vitamins A, C, & E, and minerals like potassium and magnesium that your body needs.
Traditionally, coconut is well known as a milk-enhancing food (galactagogue) due to its properties and may help some moms in producing more breast milk. Some moms may be lacking in calories, so BODYARMOR may boost calorie intake which we know is essential for making milk.
Some moms may benefit from just the idea that it can increase milk supply. Oftentimes, when we are in a more relaxed state of mind, our body will release more oxytocin (one of the key hormones for releasing milk), and help us produce more milk for our babies.
How Much BODYARMOR Should You Drink To Increase Milk Supply?
Due to the sugar and high vitamin content, I would recommend not drinking more than 1-2 of the original BODYARMOR sports drinks per day to start (16 ounces each). You can see if just 1-2 helps you make more milk.
Since these drinks do contain electrolytes, too many can cause an imbalance in your body. You don’t want an electrolyte imbalance by drinking too much. So, drink 1-2 per day and evaluate your milk supply and your baby’s diaper output to see if you are producing more or enough milk.
How Many BODYARMORs Can I Drink a Day While Breastfeeding?
Just like any food or drink, moderation is key especially since each bottle averages 26 grams of added sugar and contains a plethora of vitamins and electrolytes based on recommended daily value percentages.
I suggest not exceeding more than 3 bottles per day (16 ounce bottles for reference). Spread them out throughout the day (one in the morning, one at lunch, one in the evening). Also be sure you are drinking regular water too (at least half your body weight in ounces per day).
You don’t want to cause more harm than good by drinking too many. You want your body to still maintain balance with the right amount of electrolytes and vitamins and minerals.
If you notice any adverse reactions in your baby, stop drinking the BODYARMOR or cut back to just one per day.
How Long Does It Take For BODYARMOR To Help Breast Milk Supply?
The length of time that it will take for BODYARMOR to help boost your breast milk supply will vary on your body chemistry and many other factors. It could take a few hours to a few days.
It may also depend on how you’re eating overall, your stress levels, your baby’s latch/positioning, and how much plain water you are drinking. Many factors can affect breast milk production.
What Are The Active Ingredients In BODYARMOR?
If you are trying to determine if BODYARMOR increases breast milk supply and which BODYARMOR drink is best for breastfeeding, let’s dive into some of the ingredients that may support breastfeeding moms.
The Strawberry Banana variety contains the following list of ingredients:
Filtered Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Coconut Water Concentrate, Citric Acid, Dipotassium Phosphate (Electrolyte), Vegetable Juice Concentrate (Color), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Magnesium Oxide (Electrolyte), Gum Arabic, Natural Strawberry Banana Flavor with other Natural Flavors, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Calcium D-Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Ester Gum, alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Zinc Oxide (Electrolyte), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Vitamin A Palmitate (Vitamin A), beta-apo-8′ Carotenal (Color), Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).
As you can see, there is water (first ingredient) and coconut water which are important for a breastfeeding mom. Cane sugar is the second ingredient which gives it the sweet taste, but also isn’t ideal for anyone to drink in abundance.
As a Certified Health Coach, I’ve learned that sometimes “natural flavors” can be questionable depending on the source, and they aren’t always required to disclose where or what they are. Also, if any of these vitamins are synthetic forms, always opt for the fresh varieties of fruits and vegetables first, which can be absorbed by your body a lot easier.
Where To Get BODYARMOR
BODYARMOR is sold online on Amazon and at local grocery stores. I’m including a few of my favorite flavors below for you to try. With Amazon Prime’s free shipping, these prices are very reasonable and comparable to local grocery store prices.
As you can see on the product links below, these have a five star rating (with over 54,000 reviews). It’s hard to go wrong with any of the flavors, so pick your favorite and give it a try.
The Best BODYARMOR Drink For Increasing Breast Milk Supply
The best BODYARMOR drink for increasing breast milk supply is the one that helps you feel more at ease, gives you coconut water, and extra vitamins and electrolytes. Any of the ten flavors of the original sports drink are a great choice.
Avoid the BODYARMOR drinks with the sugar substitutes (BODYARMOR LYTE) as those can cause stomach pain in your baby and the caffeinated version (BODYARMOR EDGE).
How To Make a Homemade BODYARMOR Drink For Breastfeeding
If you’re looking to add ingredients into your day that can mimic BODYARMOR drinks for breastfeeding, grab yourself some coconut water, take a good postnatal vitamin daily, and add some electrolytes to your water.
Don’t forget about your diet either! Make sure you’re eating a healthy diet full of healthy Omega-3 fats, fruits, vegetables, and wild caught or pasture-raised protein.
Getting electrolytes can be as simple as a squeeze of fresh lemon with a pinch of Himalayan pink salt 1-2 times per day. You can also look for an electrolyte and vitamin powder like Liquid IV which has less sugar compared to most sports drinks, including BODYARMOR.
It might be worth a try to see if BODYARMOR helps increase your breast milk supply.
If you are struggling with low milk supply, and you have ensured your baby is nursing well with a good latch, you may want to give BODYARMOR a try. It certainly won’t hurt you as long as you also drink plain water throughout the day and eat healthy to support lactation.
If you are looking for additional ways to increase milk supply, you can check out my guide for increasing milk supply fast. It includes ways to check for low milk supply and other supplementation ideas to help you produce more milk for your baby.
Or, you can also get my FREE tips for boosting milk supply by filling in the form below.
Finally before I sign off, a word of caution. Oftentimes, moms have a perceived sense of low milk supply if their baby is feeding often, feeling ill, or going through a growth spurt. It is important to evaluate whether your supply is actually low before stressing yourself out.
There are circumstances, like returning to work, where moms are looking to purposely boost their milk supply because they want to build a breast milk supply stash. If you think your supply is low, this can lead to moms looking for something to help increase milk production and output.
Before you look for supplementation options like BODYARMOR or lactation cookies, be sure you try to get to the root cause of your low milk supply by working with a lactation consultant. If you get professional support early, and help your baby with latching and removing breast milk efficiently, you may not need to spend money on lactation supplementation products.
Please keep in mind, just because one mom experiences positive results with BODYARMOR does not mean you will. The available evidence I’ve come across is all anecdotal at this point. So it is always best to get to the root cause of your milk supply issues (if it is actually low).
