Can Blue Gatorade Increase Milk Supply? I Tried it & Here's My Results

Blue Gatorade tastes great and is full of electrolytes. However, can drinking it help with increasing milk supply? It’s common advice that appears on breastfeeding blogs from time to time and is currently resurfacing. So what exactly is the deal? We’ll I gave it a try to see if it would boost my supply in an attempt to answer some of your questions here. Here’s what I found.

Does drinking blue Gatorade increase milk supply?

There is some evidence that suggests drinking blue Gatorade can increase milk supply while breastfeeding. However, more research is needed in order to make a definitive conclusion.

Here is my experience with it

I drank blue Gatorade for a week straight and noticed that my milk supply seemed to be slightly improved. I did pump slightly more but the biggest difference was my headaches seemed to go away from being so low in electrolytes.

Breastfeeding can seriously dehydrate you and you need to drink plenty of fluids to maintain your supply. Water is always a great option but if you are needing something more, then drinking a sports drink with electrolytes like Gatorade or Body Armor can help.

I’m not sure if it was just a coincidence or not, but it’s worth trying if you’re struggling with a low milk supply.

Ingredients

Galactagogues are foods, herbs, supplements, or medications that help to increase milk supply. There are not any galactagogues in blue Gatorade but let’s dive into why it could be helping with breastfeeding mom’s supply.

Here’s whats in blue Gatorade:

Water, Sucrose, Dextrose, Citric Acid, Natural and artificial flavor, Salt, Sodium Citrate, Monopotassium Phosphate, Modified Food Starch, Glycerol Ester of Rosin, and Blue 1.

Hydration

Staying hydrated can be helpful for increasing milk supply. When you are dehydrated, your body will prioritize hydration over making milk which is known to cause decreased milk supply. This means that you will produce less milk.

In order to produce enough milk, it is essential that you drink plenty of fluids. This includes drinking water, juice, and other beverages. It is also important to eat foods that contain water, such as fruits and vegetables.

If you are struggling to produce enough milk, make sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat foods that contain water. Although it isn’t necessary, you may also want to try drinking blue Gatorade or other sports drinks, to help with getting more electrolytes.

However, there is a lot of sugar content in Gatorade so coconut water might be the best option.

Calories

You should consume adequate calories to produce breast milk, which requires a minimum of 1500-1800 calories per day. A diet with less than this amount might put you at risk for decreased milk production.

Unless you’re getting one of the low-calorie Gatorade varieties, which contain a lot fewer calories than regular versions, each bottle packs in about 220 calories.

So if you drink Gatorade in hopes of an increased milk supply, it could help but more importantly, breastfeed often in addition to eating enough food.

Just make sure you’re getting enough calories that you need to make milk. This may be why many breastfeeding mothers find that drinking Gatorade can help them increase their milk supply.

Does the color matter?

There is no research that suggests that the color of Gatorade affects milk supply. It is possible that the electrolytes in the drink are helping to increase milk production, but this has not been confirmed.

If you are struggling to produce enough milk, it might be worth trying blue Gatorade. However, it is important to note that more research is needed in order to make a definitive conclusion.

Placebo effect?

There is the possibility that the placebo effect is responsible for the increase in milk production that some women experience when drinking blue Gatorade. The placebo effect is the phenomenon in which a person experiences a positive outcome from treatment or medication simply because they believe that it will work.

It is possible that the expectation of increased milk production from drinking blue Gatorade leads to an increase in milk production. However, more research is needed to confirm this.

So, while more research is needed, it might be worth trying blue Gatorade if you are struggling with a low milk supply. Even if it is just a placebo effect, it certainly doesn’t hurt.

The drink contains electrolytes which could help to increase milk production, and it is also hydrating and provides adequate calories. Plus, the placebo effect can’t be ruled out!

Tips for increasing breast milk production

Since there haven’t been any studies done to prove if blue Gatorade can help you make more milk, here are some tips that are known to boost milk production.

-Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, including water, juice, and other beverages. It is also important to eat foods that contain water, such as fruits and vegetables.

-Consume adequate calories to produce breast milk, which requires a minimum of 1500-1800 calories per day. A diet with less than this amount might put you at risk for decreased milk production.

–Try pumping or breastfeeding more often.

-Use a breast pump to express milk after breastfeeding. This can help to remove more milk from your breasts and increase your milk supply.

-Try power pumping

-Do lots of skin-on-skin

-Get some rest

-Nurse on demand

-Have a staycation with your baby

-Meet with a lactation consultant

-find a support group with other moms

Things to avoid when dealing with a low breast milk supply

There are a few things that you should avoid if you are struggling with your supply.

-It’s important to not restrict your diet. It is important to eat enough food to support milk production.

-Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol can decrease milk production.

-Make sure to not smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoke can also decrease milk production.

-Do not drink caffeine. Caffeine can also decrease milk production.

-Don’t go long periods of time without breastfeeding. If you are going to be away from your baby for more then 2-3 hours, then pump while you are away.

-Check with your doctor if any medications such a birth control are lowering your supply.

Final thoughts

While blue Gatorade hasn’t been definitively proven to help with milk production, it’s worth trying if you’re a breastfeeding mama that is struggling. Even if it is just a placebo effect, anything that helps increase your milk supply is welcome.

There are some things that you can do to boost your milk production, such as drinking enough fluids, eating healthy food, and breastfeeding on demand.

However, there are also things to avoid in order to maintain a healthy milk supply such as drinking alcohol and excessive caffeine. If you are having trouble producing enough breastmilk, consult with a lactation consultant or join a support group with other breastfeeding mothers.

About the author

Lacy Reason is a highly experienced and compassionate lactation counselor, who has dedicated her career to educating and supporting new mothers on their breastfeeding journey.