During your journey, it’s important to know what to consume to ensure you and your baby stays fit. As a pregnant mother, sometimes you may naturally wonder if you can drink energy boosters like bodyarmor.
In this article, we’ll discuss what you need to know about the bodyarmor drink; whether you can take it or not, its potential benefits and drawbacks as well as some alternatives to ensure you stay safe with your little one.
What Is Bodyarmor Drink?
Bodyarmor is a sports drink that provides hydration and improves sports nutrition or athletic performances. They are designed to replace the nutrients you lose during physical activities.
The company offers various products including the Original BodyArmor Sports Drink, BodyArmor Sportwater, BodyArmor LYTE Sports Drink and BodyArmor EDGE.
These drinks contains very high electrolytes content, over twice the electrolyte amount even in the leading sports drink…
You may ask yourself what these electrolytes are, and what they even do in your body?
Well, electrolytes are minerals that carry electric charges within our bodies. They have great impact on how your body balances fluids, acids, nutrients and even wastes out of it.
They are also necessary for the better functioning of your nerves, muscles, heart and the brain. If you’re looking to read more on electrolytes then you can find it here.
In addition to these electrolytes (potassium and sodium), their products contain water, coconut water concentrates, Vitamins B3, B5, B6, B9 and B12, plus natural flavors.
Are bodyArmor drinks safe while pregnant?
You can safely drink bodyarmor drinks while pregnant but you should check your intake. Body armor contains electrolytes and vitamins that can benefit you and your baby.
But just as I said earlier, you need to limit how much you consume as they come with slightly higher sugar and caffeine content, both of which can negatively impact your baby’s health when you take too much.
While you can safely have this drink in moderation, you shouldn’t also drink it because you want to correct any nutritional deficiency.
It is best to consult your doctor if you suspect symptoms of nutrient deficiency and any illness during this time. He’ll guide you make personalized dietary plans and explore other options to ensure you’re very safe.
What are the benefits of body armor for pregnancy?
Below are some benefits of bodyarmor drink for pregnant women;
Replenishing lost fluids from morning sickness
Morning sickness is very common in pregnant women. It is characterized with frequent vomiting, especially during the first trimester.
While some sources relate morning sickness to hormonal changes, others suggest that it’s caused by lower blood sugar levels.
But drinking bodyarmor will help it by replenishing the lost electrolytes and fluids. The electrolytes present in this drink is also essential to ease pregnancy-related fatigue as well as preventing dehydration.
Promotes your baby’s growth and development
Calcium and mineral contents in this drink are necessary in pregnancy to ensure the healthy growth and development of the baby.
Calcium will build stronger bones and teeth and grow healthy nerves and muscles in your little one.
Boosts energy
Did you just start exercising, and need that boost to keep you energized? – bodyarmor can be a go-to option.
Prevents Dehydration
Not only will it restore fluids lost in morning sickness, it will also restore fluids lost in frequent urination and sweating from pregnancy exercises.
Dehydration causes some effects like dizziness and frequent headaches. So it’s always important to stay hydrated to alleviate such symptoms. When you need to do that, bodyarmor can be a go-to option.
What happens when you drink too much Bodyarmor ?
According to the APA, drinking excessive amounts of bodyarmor during pregnancy may have some negative effects on both the mother and the baby.
Bodyarmor has slightly higher sugar content, and so consuming too much can increase the risk of high blood sugar level and gestational diabetes.
While some of their flavors are caffeine-free, the EDGE flavor contains caffeine, and consuming high levels of caffeine during pregnancy may pose some health risks to you and the unborn child.
Such risks may include increased heart rate and blood pressure. To some extent, caffeine intake can make you run out of water and keep you dehydrated.
Therefore, pregnant women should exercise caution and consider drinking smaller quantities when taking bodyarmor.
I would recommend that you opt for the Bodyarmor LYTE flavor which has been shown to have no caffeine.
What are some bodyArmor drink alternatives for pregnant women?
If it happened that you tried bodyarmor and it didn’t work for you, Or you probably don’t want to risk drinking in excess, then you may want to consider these alternatives that’s sure to keep you hydrated while increasing your energy stores.
Water
Water is a safe and reliable drink alternative to Bodyarmor for pregnant women. It is most natural choice for quenching thirst and maintaining hydration levels throughout the day.
Per the current consensus, pregnant women must aim at drinking 8 to 12 cups of water every other day.
Drinking water can help digestion, promote amniotic fluid around the foetus, help circulate nutrients in the body, and eliminate waste out of the body.
Water can also help alleviate several common pregnancy symptoms like constipation, fatigue, and morning sickness.
It is important to note that unlike BodyArmor, which contain added sugar and preservatives, water is a natural source of hydration that is free of specific elements that could endanger pregnant women.
Coconut water
While bodyarmor drink contains coconut water concentrates, the amounts will not match anywhere close to the pure natural coconut water that comes with coconuts.
Coconut water is very hydrating and nutritious. Talking about its sweetness, its simply incomparable.
It is very delicious and a low-calorie superfood that is packed with electrolytes such as magnesium, potassium calcium and phosphorus to balance fluids in your body.
These electrolytes will ensure proper hydration and enhance your bodily functions during pregnancy.
If you’re looking for a natural sports drink alternative for bodyarmor then choose coconut water as it is very effective.
However, you should check your intake just like you’ll do for bodyarmor, as coconuts contain natural sugars. Bingeing on sugar can cause weight gain and high blood sugar levels.
Fruit-Infused water
Infused water is simply water that has been flavored with fruits, vegetables and herbs. These waters do not contain artificial sweeteners or sugars and they make one of the healthiest and effective alternatives to bodyarmor for pregnant women.
Infused water does not only help you stay hydrated, it also offers the added benefits of fruits and veggies for total healthfulness.
You can add lime or lemon to infused water to increase your vitamin stores, which is important in boosting immune system and promoting a healthier skin.
Cucumber and mint, when added to infused water also calms upset tummy and improves digestion, which are common concerns in pregnancy.
4. Herbal Teas
Herbal teas can be a soothing and hydrating alternative to BodyArmor. However, you should only choose herbal teas that are considered safe in pregnancy, as some may have potential risks or interact with certain medications.
Some herbal teas that are generally safe for pregnant women include;
- Ginger tea: Relieves nausea and morning sickness that are common during pregnancy.
- Peppermint tea: Improves digestion and relief from bloating, gas, upset tummy and heartburn.
- Chamomile tea: its calming properties help promote relaxation and a better sleep.
- Rooibos tea: Very rich in antioxidants required in pregnancy to reduce risks of many diseases.
Herbal teas pregnant women should avoid
- Herbal teas that contain licorice root: This herb has been shown to increase risks of preterm labor, thence, must be avoided in pregnancy.
- Those that contain Valerian, black cohosh or saw palmetto: These herbs have been associated with some potential risks too.
Electrolyte-Infused water
Electrolytes such as calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium can support the body’s functions, including balancing fluids and aiding nerve and muscle contractions.
When you drink electrolyte-infused water, you help your body replace these electrolytes while supporting hydration. The added electrolytes will help regulate fluid levels in your body.
This is important because pregnant women have high fluid needs as to help the formation of amniotic fluids and the development of the placenta.
Also, electrolyte-infused water can eliminate common pregnancy symptoms like muscle spasms and leg cramps which are usually caused by imbalances in electrolyte levels.
In choosing an electrolyte-infused water, go for ones with natural ingredients that come with no added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Read product labels and select options that are particularly made for pregnant women or get a prescribed electrolyte-infused water from your doctor.
What drinks should you avoid during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, it is fundamental to live a healthy life. A healthy life encompasses one that incorporates healthy food choices, balanced meals and practices that ensures that your baby stays safe.
In your quest to make healthy food choices, there are some foods and drinks you must avoid. Such drinks to avoid while on this journey include:
- Alcohol: Alcohol can easily harm your developing baby. You should stay away from it by all possible means.
- Caffeinated drinks: You should avoid bingeing on caffeine. As a pregnant woman, your recommended caffeine limit is 200 mg per day, you don’t need to go beyond this as going beyond will increase risks for miscarriage and low birth weight.
- Unpasterized drinks: You should be cautious when taking in some unpasteurized drinks like milk and some fruit juices. This is because they may increase your risk of foodborne illnesses like listeria.
- Herbal teas: As already discussed, you should avoid some herbal teas that contain harmful ingredients to pregnancy. Such ingredients include licorice roots, black cohosh and saw palmetto.
- High-sugar beverages: Intake of drinks that are high in sugar must be checked because it can increase your risk to gestational diabetes or make you put on weight. Examples of such drinks include soda, tonic, cola, sports and energy drinks, and some fruit juices such as pineapples, litchis, pomegranate and cherries.
CONCLUSION
You can go ahead and safely drink bodyarmor while pregnant to help you stay hydrated and energized, but check the quantity to consume.
Bodyarmor have slightly high sugar content with some flavors containing caffeine so over drinking will pose significant health risks to you and your baby.
Also you can choose bodyarmor alternatives such as water, coconut water, fruit-infused water, electrolyte-infused water and some herbal teas that will provide similar benefit in a more natural way.
When you suspect any negative symptoms with body armor stop taking it and talk to your doctor for personalized dietary recommendations and advises.
References:
Clean Eating Kitchen (Is Body Armor Good for You -Nutrition Pros and Cons?) & Drug Genius (Is body armor good for you?)
