Can I take L-theanine when breastfeeding?

Understanding L-Theanine and Breastfeeding
L-theanine, an amino acid primarily found in green tea, is often praised for its calming effects and potential benefits in reducing anxiety and improving focus. However, when it comes to its use during breastfeeding, the conversation becomes more complex and cautious.
Safety Concerns
Current research on the safety of L-theanine for breastfeeding mothers is limited. Many health experts and forums suggest that due to the lack of sufficient studies, it is advisable for breastfeeding individuals to avoid L-theanine supplements. The primary concern stems from the fact that while L-theanine is generally recognized as safe for the general population, its effects on infants through breast milk remain largely unstudied.
The FDA has classified L-theanine as “generally recognized as safe,” but this classification does not extend to pregnant or breastfeeding women, who are often advised to exercise caution with supplements. The consensus among health professionals is that without reliable data on its safety during lactation, it is better to err on the side of caution.
Anecdotal Evidence and Personal Experiences
Some breastfeeding mothers have expressed their hesitance to discuss the use of L-theanine with their healthcare providers, citing a general lack of concern from doctors regarding supplements. Others have shared their experiences on forums, indicating a desire to incorporate L-theanine into their morning routines, particularly alongside coffee. However, these personal anecdotes do not substitute for scientific evidence and should be approached with caution.
Conclusion
In summary, while L-theanine may offer benefits for anxiety and relaxation, its use during breastfeeding is not well-supported by research. The prevailing advice is to avoid L-theanine supplements while nursing due to the potential risks and the absence of conclusive safety data. If you are considering taking L-theanine or any supplement while breastfeeding, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to discuss your specific situation and any potential risks involved.

Why do I feel weird after taking L-theanine?

Understand the side effects
Not many side effects have been recorded for L-theanine, but consuming a large amount of green tea may cause you to suffer from nausea or irritability. The caffeine content may also upset your stomach. If your body doesn’t react well to caffeine, you should consult your doctor first.

What effects does L-theanine have on hormones?

After being absorbed into the body, L-theanine can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and regulate the secretion of neurotransmitters of central nervous system cells [13] and levels of hormones such as corticosterone (CORT) and adrenaline (EPI) in the serum.

What supplements should I avoid while breastfeeding?

Dietary Supplements and Herbs to Avoid When Breastfeeding

• Answer: Certain herbals, high dose vitamins, and other dietary supplements can be dangerous to breastfed babies through breast milk.
• Aloe latex.
• Ashwagandha.
• Berberine/goldenseal.
• Bilberry.
• Black cohosh.
• Butterbur.
• Dong quai.

Is it safe to drink tea with L-theanine while pregnant?

You should avoid L-theanine when pregnant due to insufficient research regarding the safety of the compound on fetal development. Always consult your physician before ingesting any type of herbal supplement or tea during pregnancy.

Is L-theanine safe for babies?

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn’t enough reliable information to know if theanine is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Children: L-theanine is possibly safe when taken by mouth, short-term.

What supplements can I take for anxiety while breastfeeding?

B-vitamins and Vitamin D. Vitamin D and B-vitamins can help with energy levels, enhance immunity, reduce fatigue, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and support adequate sleep. If you’re breastfeeding, I especially recommend mamas to supplement with these vitamins to help support their and baby’s needs.

Can I use L-theanine while breastfeeding?

After taking advice from experts, the FDA classified L-theanine as “generally recognized as safe.” This classification means that they believe this additive to be safe when people use it as the packaging suggests. However, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use L-theanine.

Does L-theanine reduce anxiety?

Research shows that L-theanine supplements can elevate your levels of GABA, dopamine and serotonin, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety levels. A randomized trial from 2019 found that healthy adults who took L-theanine over the course of four weeks had a decrease in stress-related symptoms.

Who should not take L-theanine?

The side effects of L-theanine are usually mild and uncommon. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should be cautious when taking L-theanine, due to the limited research available for these groups.

What is not recommended for breastfeeding?

Medical Contraindications for Breastfeeding
There are a few medical contraindications to breastfeeding, and these include: An infant who has the metabolic disorder of classic galactosemia (galactose 1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency). A mother living with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I or type II.