July 1, 2025 • 51 mins
As a postpartum provider, functional health practitioner, and perinatal nutritionist, you're likely being asked daily: "What's the best postnatal vitamin?" But here's the uncomfortable truth: the supplement market, especially for postpartum nutrition, is a wild west, riddled with misleading practices and products that could be doing more harm than good. Forget the simple brand recommendations. This episode pulls back the curtain on white labeling in supplements, reveals why so many popular brands are problematic, and empowers you to identify high-quality, bioavailable nutrients your clients actually need. We're challenging the "pill for every ill" mentality and arming you with the science to truly nourish depleted postpartum moms at the root.
Check out this episode on the blog HERE.
Key Time Stamps:
- 00:54: The Postnatal Supplement White Labeling Scam (Why Most Brands are Problematic)
- 04:31: Spotting a Fake: How to Identify Low-Quality Postpartum Supplements
- 08:22: Beyond Folic Acid: Crucial Checks for High-Quality Postpartum Vitamins
- 10:42: Food First: Why Real Food Outperforms Postpartum Supplements (Science-Backed)
- 13:25: The Supplement Trap: How Isolated Nutrients Can Harm Postpartum Moms
- 15:20: When Supplements Are Needed: A Provider's Guide for Postpartum Depletion
- 18:50: Topical Magnesium & Beyond: Optimal Delivery Methods for Postpartum Absorption
- 27:21: Your Checklist: What to Look for in a Truly Effective Postpartum Supplement
- 28:38: Advanced Biochemistry: Navigating Nutrient Interactions in Postpartum Supplements
- 31:14: The P5P Controversy: Understanding B6 Risks for Postpartum Mental Health
- 36:50: Herbs as Medicine: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Postpartum Nourishment
- 40:17: Precision Matters: Empowering Postpartum Providers in Supplement Assessment
NEXT STEPS:
🎒Download the free Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool & Guide for Providers
🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist
👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast
📱Connect on Instagram!
📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness
🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training & Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
The postpartum care system is failing, leaving
countless mothers strugglingwith depression, anxiety and
autoimmune conditions.
I'm Miranda Bauer and I'vehelped thousands of providers
use holistic care practices toheal their clients at the root.
Subscribe now and join us inaddressing what modern medicine
(00:22):
overlooks, so that you can giveyour clients real, lasting
solutions for lifelongwell-being.
Hey, hey, friends, welcome backto the podcast.
Today we are diving in to oneof the most searched, most asked
questions.
I get what's the best prenatalor postnatal vitamin?
(00:45):
But we're not going to do whateveryone else is doing, you know
, just like rattling off a fewgood looking brands and calling
it a day.
No, no, I am going to go muchdeeper than that, because here
is the truth Not all supplementsare created equal.
Some are downright garbage,even the ones that look
(01:05):
professional.
And, most importantly, there'sa growing trend that no one is
talking about and it's somethingyou need to know about.
It's called white labeling andchances are, you've seen it all
over Instagram and TikTok andinfluencer spaces without ever
realizing it.
White labeling is whencompanies mass produce a generic
(01:27):
supplement and allow others,like influencers or even
well-meaning providers, to slapon their own label and sell it
as if it's their own customformulation and with the
postnatal supplement market,which is now predicted to hit
billions of dollars in value,this is a cash cow that many
(01:50):
people are absolutely in on, andthe worst part is that most
people, providers included,don't know how to spot it.
So in this episode, we aregoing to change that.
We're going to break down howto identify a high quality
supplement.
We are going to change that.
We're going to break down howto identify a high quality
supplement, why certain popularpostnatal vitamins are doing
more harm than good, why foodmust come first and the science
(02:13):
behind why supplements are oftenpoor replacements, and then
some real reason studies toprove supplements work.
Okay, and this is not what youthink we're going to dive into.
This is going to be a very hottopic.
We're going to talk about thedifference between formulations
(02:34):
and we're going to talk aboutexact nutrients you want and the
ones you want to avoid, andthen we're going to address the
very real concerns about takingsupplements in isolation and how
that could actually createtoxicity rather than nourishment
.
So this is a big episode Tunein.
We have all been taught tobelieve that supplements are
(02:54):
kind of this cure-all, that youjust need a good multivitamin
and you're golden, and I reallyam going to challenge that in
this episode.
I want to give you all of thetools so that you can think
critically, that you can go, dothis, you can empower to educate
your clients, because they'reasking what they should take and
they deserve to be told thetruth, not just what's trending.
(03:17):
And if you're a mama listeninginto this and you're not a
provider, please hear me when Isay this you are not broken.
Your food is not broken.
Your body was never meant torely on a bottle of pills to
survive motherhood.
So let's unpack the science,let's clear the noise and let's
talk about real nourishment andwhat that looks like.
(03:40):
Starting now.
Okay, I'm going to start offwith a truth bomb.
Starting now.
Okay, I'm going to start offwith a truth bomb.
Not all supplements are createdequal, and when it comes to
postnatal vitamins, the gapbetween quality and marketing
has never been wider.
We are not talking about thedifference between synthetic
folic acid and mentholatedfolate here.
(04:02):
We're talking about a massiveand growing industry, and one
that's now worth billions.
And guess who they're targeting?
They're targeting moms,specifically postpartum moms,
and the demand for postnatalnutrition has exploded.
It has a trend that few aretalking about and it's something
that's deeply concerning me andresearchers and advocates for
(04:26):
mothers, and it's this idea ofwhite labeling.
Okay, so we've talked about itin a little bit.
In the very beginning,manufacturer creates a generic
supplement formula, a verystandard multivitamin.
They produce it in bulk andthen they allow anyone to buy it
, slap their brand name on itand then market it as if it's
their own expertly craftedcreation.
And this is well-meaning.
(04:48):
Influencers, coaches,healthcare providers they don't
really realize that choosing thestock formula that you know 50
to 100 people are also sellingunder different names is not
okay To the consumer.
It looks boutique, right, itlooks trusted, it might even say
doctor formulated, but underthe hood it's the exact same
(05:09):
product as a dozen others andreally 50, 100 plus others, and
it has low bioavailability.
It has questionable ingredientsourcing and it has cheap
fillers.
And here's the kicker theseproducts are priced like premium
nutrition but often contain thesame low grade ingredients that
(05:30):
you find in a big box storeshop.
They're like the exact samething and I get it right.
Labeling can seem like a fasttrack to offering value to
clients and to getting moremoney in your pocket, but we
have to ask is this really valueor is it just repackaged
convenience in disguise?
(05:51):
Especially in postpartum, womenare depleted, they're vulnerable
and they're trusting us toguide them, and we can't afford
to recommend junk in a bottle.
Now, I'm not saying that all isjunk in the bottle.
We're gonna dive deep into allof this.
Maybe there is a really amazingwhite label brand that's out
there for you and you've nailedit and you've got it.
(06:12):
If this is you, awesome.
But that's not generally whatI'm seeing.
Okay, and we're going to shiftall of that here in a second.
But first we have to know thatthis is a global market and
never ever have we ever had aglobal postnatal supplement
(06:33):
market.
It is now become its own market.
So we've got the supplementmarket right Massive,
multi-billion dollar market.
Now we've had the postnatalsupplement market, or and the
prenatal supplement marketbranch out and become its own
billion dollar market.
Okay, so it's no longer likethis little tucked away piece
(06:57):
under the supplement market.
It is its own market becauseit's growing so fast and it's
been tracked in its own sectornow because if it's projection
to reach billions and billionsand billions in the next few
years.
So we're recognizing this, we'reseeing it because women are
saying I need better nutrition,I need better support in this
(07:19):
regard.
I recognize that when I'mdepleted nutritionally, that
I've got to do something bigger,but, but, but, but.
Big corporations, of course,have taken notice.
So you think Nestle and Bayerand Unilever, like they're
(07:40):
eyeing this market.
They're already in on it, okay.
So here's my warning to you Ifyou don't know what you're
looking at on the label, you arealready behind my friend and I
am here to catch you up, becausethese companies are banking on
the fact that you will seeorganic, you will see OBGYN
(08:01):
approved or you'll seeclinically formulated, and then
you'll stop reading and be allgood, okay.
So here's what to watch for.
Just beyond, no folic acid,okay.
Yes, again, avoiding folic acidis important, but that's just
like scratching the surface.
(08:22):
We also need to be thinkingabout where are these
ingredients sourced?
Are their third party tested?
Are they bioavailable?
Are they food-based or are theysynthetic?
Is the formulation tailored forpostpartum meats?
Is it just a generalmultivitamin with a new label?
Are their nutrient levelstherapeutic or are they just to
meet the RDA standards?
(08:43):
And spoiler alert, rdas arebased on a very minimum survival
, not optimum health, and thoseRDAs are based on men's numbers,
meaning that a group of men sataround on a panel and took a
bunch of studies that were doneon men and then reduced those
(09:04):
numbers within those studies tofit a smaller human being, ie a
female.
So those RDAs are quite a jokefor the female population.
We also want to know what is thedelivery method.
Powders and liquids aregenerally more absorbable than
hard-pressed tablets.
And then, who's behind thebrand?
Is there transparency?
Is there clinical transparency?
(09:24):
Is there clinical experience?
Is it, is it a marketing teamonly?
Okay, and then here's the otherthing they change formulas all
the time.
So even if you find a good oneand this is one of the very
reasons why I never, ever, eversay this is the brand that you
need to look out for this is thebrand that I would recommend,
(09:47):
because that brand is probablygoing to change things up again
in six months or we're going tofind that it actually contains
really high toxic levels of leador whatever.
The case may be right.
So we have to understand thatcompanies constantly update
their formulations, and they doit quietly.
They're not telling you thatthey updated their formulations,
(10:09):
so you may recommend a productfor years only to realize that
it no longer contains what itonce did.
Ingredients change, sourcingshifts and unless you're
watching like a hawk, you'regoing to miss it.
And again, this is why I neverrecommend products just for the
brand name.
I recommend based on theformulation, the transparency,
(10:30):
the clinical results and in aspecific moment in time, because
the space it moves so, so fastand if you're not moving with it
, your clients are going tosuffer.
Okay, so I'm going to shiftgears and talk about something
that should be obvious, but itgets completely lost in the sea
of Instagram ads and supplementaffiliate links, and that is
(10:56):
food is a foundation Always.
Supplements were never meant tobe the source of your nutrition
.
They're meant to supplement anourishing, real food diet, not
replace it.
But here's what happened.
In a world where our foodsystem is failing and postpartum
(11:17):
support is nearly non-existent,we've started using supplements
as a crutch.
Moms are told take this pill,you'll get everything you need,
rather than here's how tonourish your body with food that
heals.
And this is dangerous thinkingand it's based on a fundamental
misunderstanding of how the bodyworks.
(11:39):
Real foods contain thecofactors that your body needs.
So I'll break this down for you.
Take iron, for example, whenyou eat iron from a grass-fed
steak, you're not just gettingiron, you're getting B12, zinc,
hemat iron, protein coenzymesand the exact digestive enzymes
(12:04):
and fats needed to break downand absorb that iron.
It's a biologically intelligentpackage designed by nature to
work in harmony with your body.
Now take an isolated ironsupplement, even a really good
one, and it might raise serumiron.
(12:26):
But what about absorption?
What about the liver load?
What about the missingcofactors that are necessary for
utilization?
What about how it impacts thegut lining?
And you will never get thosequestions answered on a label.
There's a growing body ofresearch that is suggesting that
(12:48):
some supplements, especiallyisolated multivitamins, may
actually be harmful in certaincontexts.
Not because you're overdosingon nutrients okay, that can
happen but not even becausethere's synthetic forms that are
really bad for you becausethere are but also because we're
(13:12):
taking nutrients out of theirnatural environment.
We're separating them from anentire matrix of compounds that
evolved within food and the bodydoesn't know how to process
that.
Studies have shown that certainisolated antioxidants can
increase cancer risk in highdoses and that over
(13:34):
supplementing with calciumwithout proper fat soluble
vitamins can lead tocalcification in the arteries.
Or taking folic acid instead offolate can worsen mental health
symptoms and block absorptionof the active form.
So, yeah, the data showssupplement users tend to be
(13:57):
healthy.
This is what we always hear,right?
Well, wait a second.
Like we know that, if you takesupplements, studies repeatedly
show that these people arehealthier.
And we have to ask is it thesupplements making them
healthier or is it that they'rehealth conscious people who are
more likely to take supplements?
(14:17):
Right?
And this is where correlationdoes not equal causation, and
this is where we've been lessmisled by marketing masquerading
as science.
So what does that mean for youas a provider, or even as a mom?
It means that real food isalways the first step Teach it,
prioritize it, return to it.
(14:38):
And when supplements are neededand sometimes they are we have
to choose them carefully, onlyafter food is dialed in, only
after you know what you aresupporting.
We've got lab data, we've gotsymptoms, we got root causes,
and only if you're understandingthe why behind every ingredient
(15:00):
, because otherwise you're justgiving your clients expensive
urine or, worse, you're addingto their toxic load.
Okay, so after all of that, youmight be wondering so are our
supplements bad?
Should we just like, ditch themall together?
No, not at all right.
(15:25):
Supplements have their placeand in postpartum that place is
real.
We are often working with bodiesthat are depleted, overwhelmed,
inflamed, undernourished and,let's be honest, most postpartum
moms aren't sitting down formany.
At least three warm,nutrient-dense, slow-cooked
meals a day.
That's usually not happening.
They're sleep-deprived, they'reskipping meals, they're
(15:46):
grabbing what's easy, they'resurviving on a bag of chips and
some jelly beans and theirchild's leftover chicken nuggets
and mac and cheese.
And this is where supplementscan be powerful tools when used
intentionally and with clarity.
So when are supplements needed?
Right?
So, when there is a knowndeficiency or depletion.
(16:08):
Right, that includes lowferritin or anemia, b12 or
folate deficiency, vitamin Ddeficiency, omega-3
insufficiency.
So if you have lab data thatconfirms a gap, or if the
symptoms are unmistakably clear,supplementing can help restore
what's missing and speed uprecovery.
(16:28):
But again, we aren't guessinghere.
We're not throwing randomproducts at the problem.
We're matching symptoms withlabs and selecting bioavailable
forms based on actual needs.
And here's a critical componenttoo.
Just because somebody might bedeficient in one thing or
several things related to adeficiency of one, because if
you're deficient in one, you'reusually deficient in many right,
(16:52):
and you get that lab test back,but you haven't also looked at
your toxic load and you haven'tlooked at how well your liver is
functioning, all of that stuff.
You might think, oh, I have adeficiency in vitamin D, when
it's not a vitamin D deficiency,it's an issue with your liver.
(17:12):
Or it might be an issue withthe way in which your body is
absorbing and going through theprocess of using that nutrient.
Okay, so it's never just blackand white, okay.
Again, we're not guessing here.
We're not throwing randomproducts at the problem.
(17:32):
We want to match symptoms andlabs and look at the whole body
picture.
Okay.
And then when food is not enough, which is very temporary, so
let's say that digestion is off,appetite is low, nausea might
be high, like especiallypregnancy.
We're looking at you, right,inflammation is present, you
(17:54):
want to eat better, but maybeyour gut is not letting you, or
your mom or your moms aresuffering with indigestion and
and bloating and gas and all ofthe symptoms that are saying,
hey, something is off here interms of inflammation and gut
health.
So this is a great moment forliquid supplements and powders,
or even talk about topicals.
(18:15):
Right, like magnesium,magnesium is absolutely amazing.
I never recommend this as asupplement where we ingest.
I always recommend it on theskin, whether in baths or in
lotions or whatever.
There's actually a lot ofstudies that have been done on
(18:36):
this to show that the effect ofgetting magnesium transdermally,
so through the skin, is farbetter than it going through the
digestive tract.
And a lot of people say what?
No, there's that landmark study, though, that says otherwise.
Let me tell you about thatlandmark study really quickly.
(18:57):
We're going to take a take asecond to move off to a
different topic.
I'm going to, I'm going to boxthis real quick and tell you
that that landmark study thatwas said that transdermally
magnesium supplementation doesnot work.
It was done on cadavers.
Okay, so they took cadavers, sopeople who are no longer living
(19:23):
, and they took a, a toxic bugspray used in the military to
protect military men and womenfrom getting eaten alive by
things like ticks and bugs andmosquitoes and all of the things
(19:44):
.
And this toxic bug spray has avery high concentration of
magnesium.
So they thought, because it hassuch a high concentration of
magnesium, we're going to put iton these people's body and see
if they get, see if it getsabsorbed into the skin.
(20:04):
Well, they're dead people, soof course, their body didn't do
any absorbing, it didn't say, ohwait, this is magnesium, we
need this, let's bring it intothe body and on top of it if,
even if these people were alive,why would the body do that,
knowing that it is toxic on topof it?
(20:26):
And we don't have the, theunderstanding of the toxins, the
bug spray and how that affectedthe, the high dose of magnesium
, right?
So even if the body was able tosay, I don't want that, but I
want this, we don't know theeffects of that, we don't know
how that toxic bug spray wasaffecting the magnesium and vice
(20:48):
versa.
Maybe they were blocking it.
But again, on cadavers, are youserious?
So that was a very terriblestudy.
That is not going to.
It should never have beenconsidered a landmark study and
transdermal effect of magnesium.
So total, off topic, yet ontopic study that you need to be
(21:08):
aware of.
But I'm going to tell you, whenit comes to magnesium
transdermal, get it in yourbaths, use it on your skin,
magnesium lotions that is goingto be so, so helpful.
Foot baths are 20 minutes a daywhere the magnesium soaked foot
bath and warm water feelsamazing and the effects
(21:29):
scientifically are proven to besignificant.
Okay, all right, all right,okay.
So supplements can help bridgethe gap, but we need to use food
, food, food, food right.
And then we also have geneticor functional issues that
require higher doses.
So some clients, especiallythose with gut malabsorption
issues or chronic illnesses, oreven people who have, like the
(21:52):
MTHFR, gene mutation, they mightgenuinely need more food, more
nutrients, than food can provide.
But again, this is wheretargeted supplementation comes
in.
It's not a blank multis right,or a blanket of multis, and
(22:13):
we're using therapeuticnutrients at the right dose and
the right form, not justthrowing 800 milligrams of
folate into a blend and hopingfor the best.
And here's another reason.
So we're talking about I gotoff on the magnesium topic here
but we're talking about when aresupplements needed right when
there's a known deficiency, whenfood is not enough, even just
(22:34):
temporarily, if the gut is notworking well, when there is some
sort of genetic or functionalissue.
And then the other is whenwe're supporting specific
systems under stress.
So in postpartum, we oftentarget things like nervous
system regulation right.
We use adaptogens, for example,like ashwagandha or magnesium,
(22:55):
glycine and the tissue healingright, collagen, vitamin C or
lactation or hormonal balance.
Again, these are foundationalpieces that a lot of times we
already have in place.
So these are things that aresupporting our recovery, not
replacing the basic needs ofrest and nourishment and
(23:16):
connection.
Okay.
So again, supplements are notband-aids, they're tools, and
they're tools that are only aseffective as the hands that use
them.
Okay, okay, so you've got thewhy, you've got the when of
supplementation.
Now let's talk about how,because not all supplements are
created equal.
I know we keep saying that, butnot all forms are well absorbed
(23:39):
and we need to look beyond whatis in the supplement and start
paying attention to how it getsin the body.
So there's a couple of mainforms of delivery.
We have pills and capsules.
These are the most common form,but also the least absorbable,
especially in a postpartum body.
Many postpartum women havelower stomach acid production,
(24:01):
they have sluggish digestion,delayed gastric emptying and
they simply sometimes cannotswallow large pills.
Maybe they're feeling nausea,fatigue, sensory overload.
That is a real thing, and ifyou're not breaking down those
capsules effectively, you're notabsorbing what's inside, so
(24:21):
it's just going to go from oneend and come out the other, and
that's not only a waste of money, it's a missed opportunity for
healing.
Then we have liquids, one of themost absorbable forms,
especially for minerals andcertain vitamins like iron and
magnesium and B12.
Liquids bypass the gut's slowerbreakdown process and it enters
(24:43):
the bloodstream faster, andit's ideal when digestion is
impaired, when you're workingwith high depletion, when you
need quick absorption.
The downside of liquids is thatit has a taste, it has a shelf
life and it often costs a lotmore, but when chosen well, they
(25:03):
can be a game changer.
Then we also have powders, andthis is kind of like the happy
medium, and we also have powdersthat are in capsule form.
They are usually the mostabsorbable and they've got like
sometimes a customizable dose.
They're easier for the system.
We see things like proteinblends, collagen, magnesium
(25:27):
blends.
Whole food-based multivitaminsare often powders.
But just be really cautious offillers and artificial flavors
or sweeteners and always checkhow the powder is sourced and
processed.
Okay, I also want to say thattopicals or sublinguals or
injections are also an option.
(25:48):
These are often used in moretherapeutic settings.
B12, for example, can bedelivered in the body faster and
in an injection kind of sort ofway, magnesium can be absorbed
through the skin.
As we already talked about,injections might be needed in
extreme deficiency cases.
(26:08):
I am not a huge fan ofinjecting things into my body.
Some say that it works reallywell.
I'm not a huge component ofthis.
At least I haven't gotten onthe bandwagon yet.
Time will tell but for mostpostpartum clients this is not
the first line, but it is worthknowing that it exists when
(26:30):
digestion is so compromised orthere needs to be something
urgently in place.
So here's what to look for.
Okay, so bioavailable formsthink a mentholated B vitamins,
chelated vitamins like magnesium, glycinate instead of oxide.
If you're not familiar withthis, you can do some some big
(26:54):
research on on what that meansin terms of bioavailable forms.
That is a whole class in and ofitself that you would need to
take.
That is extensive work there.
We also want to make sure thatthere's some third-party testing
, especially for heavy metalsand toxins, and that there is no
(27:15):
unnecessary fillers like skips,synthetic dyes and titanium
dioxide or hydrogenated oils.
If that is in there, say no.
Okay, you wanna make sure thatthere's transparent sourcing.
You should know where your rawmaterials are coming from,
because if your client can'tabsorb what's in the bottle, if
(27:37):
it's not coming from a reallygreat source, then what's the
point?
Right, there's no point indoing that.
Okay, so let's move on to theadvanced section, because this
is where the highest qualityforms of nutrients and
supplements can still cause harmif it's not formulated
intelligently, and most aren'tokay.
(27:58):
So we have what I call vitamininteractions.
So when nutrients work againsteach other, so not all nutrients
play nice in the sandbox, gofigure right.
Here are some of the mostcritical conflicts iron and
calcium these two compete forabsorption in the gut.
If they are taken together,like in most multivitamins, you
(28:21):
reduce the efficacy of both.
This is why iron supplementsshould never be in a general
multi.
If a woman needs iron, itshould be taken separately.
It should be taken separately,ideally with vitamin C, away
from things like caffeine, sodefinitely not far away from
(28:47):
your coffee in the morning.
Okay, and a little tidbit ironshould always be taken on a
liquid form, otherwise the pillform, generally speaking, always
, always, always means an upsetstomach or constipation, ugh,
okay.
Then we also have zinc andcopper.
So high dose zinc over time candeplete copper, leading to
(29:11):
imbalances that impact immunityand energy.
So quality multis shouldbalance this very, very
carefully.
Sometimes copper should even beavoided postpartum due to its
effects of estrogen and mentalhealth.
We also have a lot of women whohave copper toxicity thanks to
the copper IUD.
Okay, magnesium versus calciumAgain, these two can work
(29:34):
together, but the ratio matters.
Too much calcium can blockmagnesium absorption and vice
versa, and in postpartum mostwomen are more deficient in
magnesium, especially if stressis high, so that becomes
prioritized.
I always recommend doing ittransdermally, though.
(29:54):
Get that in a bath, get it in afoot soak, put it on some, get
it in some lotion, whatever thecase may be for in terms of
magnesium, folate versus B12.
These are both methylationnutrients that work together
until they don't.
Too much folate withoutadequate B12 can mask a B12
(30:19):
deficiency, which can lead toneurological issues.
So you must have both inbalance and providers need to
evaluate the whole picturebefore finally supplementing
with just one.
Here's a big one the B6controversy.
This is where things get really, really challenging in the
(30:41):
functional medicine world.
So we have B.
It's called P5P.
It's often cited as a superiorform of vitamin B6.
(31:02):
We have new case studies andobservational research that
suggests, and beyondobservational research, we have
clinical trials that are ineffect right now that are
showing that this form canbecome a neurotoxic form for
some people, especially whenit's taken in isolation or in
high doses over time, which isfrustrating because we need B6
(31:24):
and it's not something that ourbody creates, it's something
that has to come from food.
So when we when neurotoxin andthis is something that we see
often in postpartum andsomething that we really need to
pay attention to we see nervetingling and numbness,
irritability, insomnia,anxiety-like symptoms.
These are symptoms of aneurotoxin B6 overdose or not
(31:51):
even an overdose, of just itbeing toxic within the body,
because this is huge, becauseit's not about form, it's about
context, dose and need.
So B12 should be used cautiously, very cautiously, especially in
combination supplements, andevaluated against symptoms and
(32:13):
labs and all of that as well.
Right, again, this is kind oflike new science, it's just
coming out, it's just rollingout and again, I think this is
more in line with how somemultivitamins and some simple
vitamins that are taken awayfrom their food context, their
(32:35):
whole food context, and whenthat happens, it becomes harmful
.
And I think we're just going tosee this increase, increase,
increase.
And in terms of science, Iwould not be surprised if one
day, supplements are no more,that we're no longer
recommending them, that we're nolonger using them, because
we're going to recognize that somany of them are harmful.
(32:55):
This is the same forantioxidant overload.
It's a total thing.
So many supplements includevitamin C, e, selenium, coq10,
and individually, thesenutrients support oxidative
stress, but when combined inhigher doses they actually
suppress necessary immuneresponses and disrupt the body's
(33:17):
natural signaling pathways.
So in postpartum, wheninflammation is part of the
repair process, too manyantioxidants may interfere with
proper healing, and this isanother reason why we should be
looking at food-based, low-dose,synergistic support rather than
mega doses of vitamins.
(33:37):
Okay.
So synergy, let's talk aboutthis.
Let's talk about combos that doenhance.
So we talked about things thatdon't work well together.
Let's talk about things that dowork really well together
Vitamin D and K2, magnesium andB6, iron and vitamin C, zinc, b6
(34:03):
and magnesium.
Okay, these are really powerfulcombinations.
And the truth is, even even thebest formulas okay mean nothing
if your client is not absorbingit, especially true in
postpartum, when digestion issluggish and inflammation is
(34:24):
common and stress is high.
So we have to address keyissues like low stomach acid,
gut inflammation, dysbiosis.
So, no matter what they take,if they don't have the capacity
to digest and absorb, they'regoing to just be peeing out
expensive urine or againirritating their systems or
(34:44):
causing toxicity.
So, again, precision matters.
We can't throw everything intoone capsule and call it care.
We really need to understandthe nutrient synergy and the
competition of these nutrients.
We have to respectbioavailability and dose and
delivery, and we need to knowwhen a supplement is supportive
(35:05):
and when it's toxic.
And it has to be personalizedbased on symptoms and labs when
available.
And, most importantly, food,food, food, food, food, food,
food is the most important thingthat we can do, and this is
also why the postpartumnutrition certification program
teaches beyond label reading.
It's about real clinicaldecision-making, because this
(35:28):
level of nuance can changeoutcomes and it can save mothers
from months or even years ofsuffering.
So you've heard me say all ofthis before.
The deeper you go into thissupplemental world, the more
that you'll realize that it isso deep.
There's so much to talk about.
(35:48):
There's so many, many, manythings.
Okay, and I do want to breakdown a couple of other red flags
to you.
We talked about it a little bit.
Folic acid, not folate, that bigred flag this is still one of
the most common issues I see.
Folic acid is this syntheticversion of vitamin B9.
And while it is used widely infortified foods and supplements.
(36:11):
It is not what your body wants.
It is not what your body wants.
Folic acid requires multipleenzymatic conversions to become
bioavailable and if you have aclient that has MTHFR gene
variant so many women do thisconversion is impaired.
So folic acid can actuallyblock the receptors for real
(36:35):
folate, and it makes thingsworse.
So always, always, always.
Instead, look for methylatedfolate and folate versions,
never folic acid.
Be really cognizant of whitelevel supplements, especially
ones that have no transparency.
This is big.
If a brand can't or won't tellyou where they source their
(36:58):
ingredients, who formulatestheir products, where it's
manufactured, what testing isdone, walk away.
White labeling has made it easyfor everyone, even again
well-meaning influencers andproviders.
They can slap their name on asupplement without knowing
what's inside, and in many cases, the same product is being sold
under 50 different brand nameswith the exact same ingredients.
(37:22):
Transparency is trust, like youshould be able to trace the
supplement from soil to shelf.
Okay, proprietary blends.
If you see the word proprietaryblend, know that this is a
loophole.
If you see the word proprietaryblend, know that this is a
loophole.
Okay, for many, it allows themanufacturer to hide how much of
each ingredient is in theformula.
(37:43):
Okay, you might see magnesiumor ashwagandha listed, but it's
only a sprinkle.
It's not enough to be effective, just enough to market, and
then they don't have to alsotell you all about the fillers.
So look for something thatactually tells you more than
what a proprietary blend is.
(38:04):
They need to have percentages.
Always look for specificdosages, like you deserve to
know what you're putting intoyour body.
Avoid synthetic dyes, fillers,additives.
It seems really basic, but manytop selling postnatal and
prenatal vitamins still includetitanium dioxide, which is a
potential carcinogen.
(38:25):
It still has red 40 and yellowfive and thankfully these are
finally being removed from ourshelves.
But they have five years to doit right and we know that they
have been linked to behavioralissues and allergies and all of
that stuff.
They're not good for your body,but they're still there.
Magnesium serrate it's used as aflow agent.
(38:48):
It can hinder absorption.
It's also, you know, one ofthose things that's always
included talc or hydradated oils.
These do nothing to support themother and often introduce
unnecessary toxins into a verystressed system.
Too much is not everything.
It's not.
More is better.
(39:10):
A supplement that claims to becomprehensive or everything you
need in one dose is usually notit at all.
It's often crammed with megadoses that don't respect
nutrient balance or absorption,and this can disrupt pathways,
overwhelm the liver, triggersymptoms like headache and
fatigue and anxiety and evenskin reactions.
(39:30):
So the best supplements respectbio-individuality.
They don't try to do it all,they do what's needed.
No more Iron in the wrongcontext.
Like we touched on this earlier, but it bears repeating, iron
should never be included in ageneral multivitamin because it
competes with other mineralslike zinc and calcium and it's
(39:53):
often harsh on the gut.
It oxidizes quickly, so itreleases free radicals if it's
not buffered properly.
Iron should be dosed based onlabs or clear symptoms, always
taken with vitamin C, never withcalcium, ideally standalone, et
cetera, et cetera.
Okay, Expired or unstablenutrients right.
(40:16):
I don't know if you knew this.
I didn't know this until I hadto research this but a lot of
vitamins degrade quickly,especially B vitamins and
vitamin C.
They're fragile and theyoxidize over time.
Fat soluble vitamins like A, d,e, k they require proper
storage to remain stable.
(40:36):
Probiotics should alwaysrequire refrigeration, unless
they're freeze-dried, and eventhen potency really drops in
time.
So always check expirationdates, storage instructions,
batch testing, quality, all ofthat, and then, of course, make
sure that you're not going aftera trend.
(41:00):
Make sure that you're usingsomething correctly.
Postpartum has needs.
Breastfeeding has needs.
We got to make sure that thingsare breastfeeding safe, that
there's synergy between thenutrients, that bioavailability
is done right.
And just because it's claimednatural doesn't mean it's
(41:21):
appropriate for postpartum.
So choose supplements like youwould choose food.
Be intentional, wise and withfull awareness of where it came
from.
Okay, now I'm gonna tell you myabsolute favorite way to biohack
and actually, honestly, I'mgonna take that word back.
I don't even love that word.
(41:42):
I do not like that word at all,because what we're really doing
here is returning to somethingancient and wise and profoundly
nourishing, and that is herbs.
Before there were syntheticvitamins, before there were
proprietary blends and pillpacks and lab isolated nutrients
, there were herbs, and theyweren't fringe, they weren't
(42:04):
alternative.
They were simply food, medicine, nourishment, spiritual tools.
They were, and still are, god'sgift, bundled in the most
perfect bioavailable balance ofnutrients, and it's delivered us
straight from the earth.
Herbs are the first food and thetruth is, herbs are not
(42:28):
pharmaceuticals.
They're meant to override.
They're not meant to overrideyour biology, they're meant to
support it.
So things like stinging nettlespacked with iron and calcium
and magnesium and vitamin K.
Red raspberry leaf rich inminerals and helps tone the
uterus.
Oat straw soothes the nervoussystem, supports emotional
(42:50):
resilience.
Dandelion root aids digestion,liver function and gentle
detoxification.
Chamomile helps with sleep,colic inflammation, postpartum
anxiety.
What's more is that thenutrients and herbs are
naturally balanced, meaning thatthe cofactors that your body
(43:11):
needs to actually digest and usethem are already there.
There's wisdom in that.
There's chemistry too.
It's living nutrition.
So you don't need you do notneed capsules to get the benefit
of herbs.
In fact, the most potent waysto receive the gift of herbs is
(43:33):
often the most comforting aswell.
The gift of herbs is often themost comforting as well.
Things like teas they're slow,sacred, warming, perfect for the
postpartum restoration.
Herbal infusions, where yousteep the herbs for hours.
They provide deep, deepnourishment over time.
Tinctures we've got alcohol orglycerin based extractions that
(43:54):
are concentrated and easy to use, just like a dropper full under
the tongue.
So when that tea just feelsimpossible, we've got tinctures
at our hand.
We also have herbal baths.
Your skin is the largest organand you can absorb nutrients
through it.
A postpartum sits bath withcalendula and lavender and
(44:14):
yarrow and comfrey is freakingmagic.
It soothes tissues, calms thenervous system and offers gentle
ritual.
So herbs meet you wherever youare.
They invite slowness, presence,connection and that is exactly
what postpartum healing asks forand they are loaded with
(44:35):
vitamins and nutrients in theperfect balance.
There's something deeplyspiritual about herbs, too, like
they ground us in nature'srhythms.
They remind us that healingdoesn't always need to come in a
bottle from the pharmacy or thebig box store or some
influencer's hands.
(44:56):
They give us agency to care forourselves in a way that's
gentle, intuitive and wise, anda world that is obsessed with
quick fixes and syntheticsolutions and biohacks.
Herbs are this thing thatinvites us back to this
relationship with our bodies andour babies and earth.
(45:19):
And for providers, this iswhere you get to expand your
toolkit.
You don't need to be a clinicalherbalist to start integrating
gentle herbal support into yourclient care.
Just begin with the basicsrecommend teas, normalize baths,
invite the possibility thathealing can come in a warm mug
or a handful of wildflowers.
This is not woo.
(45:40):
This is evidence-based, it'stime-tested.
It is the most deepest rootedwisdom that we have.
It has been used for thousandsand thousands of years, and I
know that modern medicine saysthat doesn't matter, but I think
every single one of uslistening in here knows that
that is just bullshit.
(46:00):
Excuse my language.
Okay, I promise this is morepowerful than any white label
pill could ever be Herbs, herbs,herbs.
So no matter if you're aprovider recommending support to
your mamas and you're trying tosift through the noise, or
you're here as a mama lookingfor some support and you're
(46:24):
non-negotiables.
I'm going to give you a reallyquick rundown of everything that
we covered here.
Look for transparency.
Avoid folic acid, iron andcalcium.
Don't mix.
Check for dyes, fillers, flowagents.
Make sure the nutrients are intheir bioavailable form.
(46:44):
Okay, know your source.
Research the company.
Do third-party testing.
Are they practitioner grade orwhite label fluff?
Okay, and then createpersonalized supplemental
checklists.
You can do this for yourclients.
Okay, and then createpersonalized supplemental
checklists.
You can do this for yourclients, right?
You can either have a clientlike a checklist of all the
different things, but I love,love, love teaching people like
(47:05):
here's the things that you needto look for, and that's what
this whole entire episode hasbeen here for you.
So remember supplements aremeant to supplement.
They're not real food.
They do not replace it.
Not, remember supplements aremeant to supplement.
They're not real food.
They do not replace it.
Not all supplements are createdequal.
White labeling is everywhere.
New studies are reallyquestioning the safety of
long-term supplementation.
(47:27):
More is not always better, andherbs are powerful, trusted,
ancient, incredibly effectivefor postpartum nourishment, and
empowering moms and providerswith the knowledge is how we for
postpartum nourishment, andempowering moms and providers
with the knowledge is how weshift postpartum care from
generic to sacred.
At the end of the day,supplements are just one piece
(47:48):
of the puzzle.
But in a world full of shinybottles and influencer pitches
and billion dollar promises, weforget something very vital, and
that healing doesn't happen inisolation.
It happens in community, withfood, with rest, with love, with
(48:08):
providers who ask betterquestions and mamas who trust
their bodies.
Again, let's teach this, let'slive this, let's lead this,
because when we stop chasingquick fixes and start honoring
the biology of postpartum women,everything changes.
You're not just recommending aproduct, you're offering a path
(48:30):
back to the body, and for that Ithank you and for that the
(49:01):
letter ucom which is in the shownotes.
And if you found today'sepisode valuable, please leave a
review to help us reach moreproviders like you.
Together, we're building afuture where mothers are fully
supported and thriving.
The postpartum care system is failing, leaving
countless mothers strugglingwith depression, anxiety and
autoimmune conditions.
I'm Miranda Bauer and I'vehelped thousands of providers
use holistic care practices toheal their clients at the root.
Subscribe now and join us inaddressing what modern medicine
(00:22):
overlooks, so that you can giveyour clients real, lasting
solutions for lifelongwell-being.
Hey, hey, friends, welcome backto the podcast.
Today we are diving in to oneof the most searched, most asked
questions.
I get what's the best prenatalor postnatal vitamin?
(00:45):
But we're not going to do whateveryone else is doing, you know
, just like rattling off a fewgood looking brands and calling
it a day.
No, no, I am going to go muchdeeper than that, because here
is the truth Not all supplementsare created equal.
Some are downright garbage,even the ones that look
(01:05):
professional.
And, most importantly, there'sa growing trend that no one is
talking about and it's somethingyou need to know about.
It's called white labeling andchances are, you've seen it all
over Instagram and TikTok andinfluencer spaces without ever
realizing it.
White labeling is whencompanies mass produce a generic
(01:27):
supplement and allow others,like influencers or even
well-meaning providers, to slapon their own label and sell it
as if it's their own customformulation and with the
postnatal supplement market,which is now predicted to hit
billions of dollars in value,this is a cash cow that many
(01:50):
people are absolutely in on, andthe worst part is that most
people, providers included,don't know how to spot it.
So in this episode, we aregoing to change that.
We're going to break down howto identify a high quality
supplement.
We are going to change that.
We're going to break down howto identify a high quality
supplement, why certain popularpostnatal vitamins are doing
more harm than good, why foodmust come first and the science
(02:13):
behind why supplements are oftenpoor replacements, and then
some real reason studies toprove supplements work.
Okay, and this is not what youthink we're going to dive into.
This is going to be a very hottopic.
We're going to talk about thedifference between formulations
(02:34):
and we're going to talk aboutexact nutrients you want and the
ones you want to avoid, andthen we're going to address the
very real concerns about takingsupplements in isolation and how
that could actually createtoxicity rather than nourishment
.
So this is a big episode Tunein.
We have all been taught tobelieve that supplements are
(02:54):
kind of this cure-all, that youjust need a good multivitamin
and you're golden, and I reallyam going to challenge that in
this episode.
I want to give you all of thetools so that you can think
critically, that you can go, dothis, you can empower to educate
your clients, because they'reasking what they should take and
they deserve to be told thetruth, not just what's trending.
(03:17):
And if you're a mama listeninginto this and you're not a
provider, please hear me when Isay this you are not broken.
Your food is not broken.
Your body was never meant torely on a bottle of pills to
survive motherhood.
So let's unpack the science,let's clear the noise and let's
talk about real nourishment andwhat that looks like.
(03:40):
Starting now.
Okay, I'm going to start offwith a truth bomb.
Starting now.
Okay, I'm going to start offwith a truth bomb.
Not all supplements are createdequal, and when it comes to
postnatal vitamins, the gapbetween quality and marketing
has never been wider.
We are not talking about thedifference between synthetic
folic acid and mentholatedfolate here.
(04:02):
We're talking about a massiveand growing industry, and one
that's now worth billions.
And guess who they're targeting?
They're targeting moms,specifically postpartum moms,
and the demand for postnatalnutrition has exploded.
It has a trend that few aretalking about and it's something
that's deeply concerning me andresearchers and advocates for
(04:26):
mothers, and it's this idea ofwhite labeling.
Okay, so we've talked about itin a little bit.
In the very beginning,manufacturer creates a generic
supplement formula, a verystandard multivitamin.
They produce it in bulk andthen they allow anyone to buy it
, slap their brand name on itand then market it as if it's
their own expertly craftedcreation.
And this is well-meaning.
(04:48):
Influencers, coaches,healthcare providers they don't
really realize that choosing thestock formula that you know 50
to 100 people are also sellingunder different names is not
okay To the consumer.
It looks boutique, right, itlooks trusted, it might even say
doctor formulated, but underthe hood it's the exact same
(05:09):
product as a dozen others andreally 50, 100 plus others, and
it has low bioavailability.
It has questionable ingredientsourcing and it has cheap
fillers.
And here's the kicker theseproducts are priced like premium
nutrition but often contain thesame low grade ingredients that
(05:30):
you find in a big box storeshop.
They're like the exact samething and I get it right.
Labeling can seem like a fasttrack to offering value to
clients and to getting moremoney in your pocket, but we
have to ask is this really valueor is it just repackaged
convenience in disguise?
(05:51):
Especially in postpartum, womenare depleted, they're vulnerable
and they're trusting us toguide them, and we can't afford
to recommend junk in a bottle.
Now, I'm not saying that all isjunk in the bottle.
We're gonna dive deep into allof this.
Maybe there is a really amazingwhite label brand that's out
there for you and you've nailedit and you've got it.
(06:12):
If this is you, awesome.
But that's not generally whatI'm seeing.
Okay, and we're going to shiftall of that here in a second.
But first we have to know thatthis is a global market and
never ever have we ever had aglobal postnatal supplement
(06:33):
market.
It is now become its own market.
So we've got the supplementmarket right Massive,
multi-billion dollar market.
Now we've had the postnatalsupplement market, or and the
prenatal supplement marketbranch out and become its own
billion dollar market.
Okay, so it's no longer likethis little tucked away piece
(06:57):
under the supplement market.
It is its own market becauseit's growing so fast and it's
been tracked in its own sectornow because if it's projection
to reach billions and billionsand billions in the next few
years.
So we're recognizing this, we'reseeing it because women are
saying I need better nutrition,I need better support in this
(07:19):
regard.
I recognize that when I'mdepleted nutritionally, that
I've got to do something bigger,but, but, but, but.
Big corporations, of course,have taken notice.
So you think Nestle and Bayerand Unilever, like they're
(07:40):
eyeing this market.
They're already in on it, okay.
So here's my warning to you Ifyou don't know what you're
looking at on the label, you arealready behind my friend and I
am here to catch you up, becausethese companies are banking on
the fact that you will seeorganic, you will see OBGYN
(08:01):
approved or you'll seeclinically formulated, and then
you'll stop reading and be allgood, okay.
So here's what to watch for.
Just beyond, no folic acid,okay.
Yes, again, avoiding folic acidis important, but that's just
like scratching the surface.
(08:22):
We also need to be thinkingabout where are these
ingredients sourced?
Are their third party tested?
Are they bioavailable?
Are they food-based or are theysynthetic?
Is the formulation tailored forpostpartum meats?
Is it just a generalmultivitamin with a new label?
Are their nutrient levelstherapeutic or are they just to
meet the RDA standards?
(08:43):
And spoiler alert, rdas arebased on a very minimum survival
, not optimum health, and thoseRDAs are based on men's numbers,
meaning that a group of men sataround on a panel and took a
bunch of studies that were doneon men and then reduced those
(09:04):
numbers within those studies tofit a smaller human being, ie a
female.
So those RDAs are quite a jokefor the female population.
We also want to know what is thedelivery method.
Powders and liquids aregenerally more absorbable than
hard-pressed tablets.
And then, who's behind thebrand?
Is there transparency?
Is there clinical transparency?
(09:24):
Is there clinical experience?
Is it, is it a marketing teamonly?
Okay, and then here's the otherthing they change formulas all
the time.
So even if you find a good oneand this is one of the very
reasons why I never, ever, eversay this is the brand that you
need to look out for this is thebrand that I would recommend,
(09:47):
because that brand is probablygoing to change things up again
in six months or we're going tofind that it actually contains
really high toxic levels of leador whatever.
The case may be right.
So we have to understand thatcompanies constantly update
their formulations, and they doit quietly.
They're not telling you thatthey updated their formulations,
(10:09):
so you may recommend a productfor years only to realize that
it no longer contains what itonce did.
Ingredients change, sourcingshifts and unless you're
watching like a hawk, you'regoing to miss it.
And again, this is why I neverrecommend products just for the
brand name.
I recommend based on theformulation, the transparency,
(10:30):
the clinical results and in aspecific moment in time, because
the space it moves so, so fastand if you're not moving with it
, your clients are going tosuffer.
Okay, so I'm going to shiftgears and talk about something
that should be obvious, but itgets completely lost in the sea
of Instagram ads and supplementaffiliate links, and that is
(10:56):
food is a foundation Always.
Supplements were never meant tobe the source of your nutrition
.
They're meant to supplement anourishing, real food diet, not
replace it.
But here's what happened.
In a world where our foodsystem is failing and postpartum
(11:17):
support is nearly non-existent,we've started using supplements
as a crutch.
Moms are told take this pill,you'll get everything you need,
rather than here's how tonourish your body with food that
heals.
And this is dangerous thinkingand it's based on a fundamental
misunderstanding of how the bodyworks.
(11:39):
Real foods contain thecofactors that your body needs.
So I'll break this down for you.
Take iron, for example, whenyou eat iron from a grass-fed
steak, you're not just gettingiron, you're getting B12, zinc,
hemat iron, protein coenzymesand the exact digestive enzymes
(12:04):
and fats needed to break downand absorb that iron.
It's a biologically intelligentpackage designed by nature to
work in harmony with your body.
Now take an isolated ironsupplement, even a really good
one, and it might raise serumiron.
(12:26):
But what about absorption?
What about the liver load?
What about the missingcofactors that are necessary for
utilization?
What about how it impacts thegut lining?
And you will never get thosequestions answered on a label.
There's a growing body ofresearch that is suggesting that
(12:48):
some supplements, especiallyisolated multivitamins, may
actually be harmful in certaincontexts.
Not because you're overdosingon nutrients okay, that can
happen but not even becausethere's synthetic forms that are
really bad for you becausethere are but also because we're
(13:12):
taking nutrients out of theirnatural environment.
We're separating them from anentire matrix of compounds that
evolved within food and the bodydoesn't know how to process
that.
Studies have shown that certainisolated antioxidants can
increase cancer risk in highdoses and that over
(13:34):
supplementing with calciumwithout proper fat soluble
vitamins can lead tocalcification in the arteries.
Or taking folic acid instead offolate can worsen mental health
symptoms and block absorptionof the active form.
So, yeah, the data showssupplement users tend to be
(13:57):
healthy.
This is what we always hear,right?
Well, wait a second.
Like we know that, if you takesupplements, studies repeatedly
show that these people arehealthier.
And we have to ask is it thesupplements making them
healthier or is it that they'rehealth conscious people who are
more likely to take supplements?
(14:17):
Right?
And this is where correlationdoes not equal causation, and
this is where we've been lessmisled by marketing masquerading
as science.
So what does that mean for youas a provider, or even as a mom?
It means that real food isalways the first step Teach it,
prioritize it, return to it.
(14:38):
And when supplements are neededand sometimes they are we have
to choose them carefully, onlyafter food is dialed in, only
after you know what you aresupporting.
We've got lab data, we've gotsymptoms, we got root causes,
and only if you're understandingthe why behind every ingredient
(15:00):
, because otherwise you're justgiving your clients expensive
urine or, worse, you're addingto their toxic load.
Okay, so after all of that, youmight be wondering so are our
supplements bad?
Should we just like, ditch themall together?
No, not at all right.
(15:25):
Supplements have their placeand in postpartum that place is
real.
We are often working with bodiesthat are depleted, overwhelmed,
inflamed, undernourished and,let's be honest, most postpartum
moms aren't sitting down formany.
At least three warm,nutrient-dense, slow-cooked
meals a day.
That's usually not happening.
They're sleep-deprived, they'reskipping meals, they're
(15:46):
grabbing what's easy, they'resurviving on a bag of chips and
some jelly beans and theirchild's leftover chicken nuggets
and mac and cheese.
And this is where supplementscan be powerful tools when used
intentionally and with clarity.
So when are supplements needed?
Right?
So, when there is a knowndeficiency or depletion.
(16:08):
Right, that includes lowferritin or anemia, b12 or
folate deficiency, vitamin Ddeficiency, omega-3
insufficiency.
So if you have lab data thatconfirms a gap, or if the
symptoms are unmistakably clear,supplementing can help restore
what's missing and speed uprecovery.
(16:28):
But again, we aren't guessinghere.
We're not throwing randomproducts at the problem.
We're matching symptoms withlabs and selecting bioavailable
forms based on actual needs.
And here's a critical componenttoo.
Just because somebody might bedeficient in one thing or
several things related to adeficiency of one, because if
you're deficient in one, you'reusually deficient in many right,
(16:52):
and you get that lab test back,but you haven't also looked at
your toxic load and you haven'tlooked at how well your liver is
functioning, all of that stuff.
You might think, oh, I have adeficiency in vitamin D, when
it's not a vitamin D deficiency,it's an issue with your liver.
(17:12):
Or it might be an issue withthe way in which your body is
absorbing and going through theprocess of using that nutrient.
Okay, so it's never just blackand white, okay.
Again, we're not guessing here.
We're not throwing randomproducts at the problem.
(17:32):
We want to match symptoms andlabs and look at the whole body
picture.
Okay.
And then when food is not enough, which is very temporary, so
let's say that digestion is off,appetite is low, nausea might
be high, like especiallypregnancy.
We're looking at you, right,inflammation is present, you
(17:54):
want to eat better, but maybeyour gut is not letting you, or
your mom or your moms aresuffering with indigestion and
and bloating and gas and all ofthe symptoms that are saying,
hey, something is off here interms of inflammation and gut
health.
So this is a great moment forliquid supplements and powders,
or even talk about topicals.
(18:15):
Right, like magnesium,magnesium is absolutely amazing.
I never recommend this as asupplement where we ingest.
I always recommend it on theskin, whether in baths or in
lotions or whatever.
There's actually a lot ofstudies that have been done on
(18:36):
this to show that the effect ofgetting magnesium transdermally,
so through the skin, is farbetter than it going through the
digestive tract.
And a lot of people say what?
No, there's that landmark study, though, that says otherwise.
Let me tell you about thatlandmark study really quickly.
(18:57):
We're going to take a take asecond to move off to a
different topic.
I'm going to, I'm going to boxthis real quick and tell you
that that landmark study thatwas said that transdermally
magnesium supplementation doesnot work.
It was done on cadavers.
Okay, so they took cadavers, sopeople who are no longer living
(19:23):
, and they took a, a toxic bugspray used in the military to
protect military men and womenfrom getting eaten alive by
things like ticks and bugs andmosquitoes and all of the things
(19:44):
.
And this toxic bug spray has avery high concentration of
magnesium.
So they thought, because it hassuch a high concentration of
magnesium, we're going to put iton these people's body and see
if they get, see if it getsabsorbed into the skin.
(20:04):
Well, they're dead people, soof course, their body didn't do
any absorbing, it didn't say, ohwait, this is magnesium, we
need this, let's bring it intothe body and on top of it if,
even if these people were alive,why would the body do that,
knowing that it is toxic on topof it?
(20:26):
And we don't have the, theunderstanding of the toxins, the
bug spray and how that affectedthe, the high dose of magnesium
, right?
So even if the body was able tosay, I don't want that, but I
want this, we don't know theeffects of that, we don't know
how that toxic bug spray wasaffecting the magnesium and vice
(20:48):
versa.
Maybe they were blocking it.
But again, on cadavers, are youserious?
So that was a very terriblestudy.
That is not going to.
It should never have beenconsidered a landmark study and
transdermal effect of magnesium.
So total, off topic, yet ontopic study that you need to be
(21:08):
aware of.
But I'm going to tell you, whenit comes to magnesium
transdermal, get it in yourbaths, use it on your skin,
magnesium lotions that is goingto be so, so helpful.
Foot baths are 20 minutes a daywhere the magnesium soaked foot
bath and warm water feelsamazing and the effects
(21:29):
scientifically are proven to besignificant.
Okay, all right, all right,okay.
So supplements can help bridgethe gap, but we need to use food
, food, food, food right.
And then we also have geneticor functional issues that
require higher doses.
So some clients, especiallythose with gut malabsorption
issues or chronic illnesses, oreven people who have, like the
(21:52):
MTHFR, gene mutation, they mightgenuinely need more food, more
nutrients, than food can provide.
But again, this is wheretargeted supplementation comes
in.
It's not a blank multis right,or a blanket of multis, and
(22:13):
we're using therapeuticnutrients at the right dose and
the right form, not justthrowing 800 milligrams of
folate into a blend and hopingfor the best.
And here's another reason.
So we're talking about I gotoff on the magnesium topic here
but we're talking about when aresupplements needed right when
there's a known deficiency, whenfood is not enough, even just
(22:34):
temporarily, if the gut is notworking well, when there is some
sort of genetic or functionalissue.
And then the other is whenwe're supporting specific
systems under stress.
So in postpartum, we oftentarget things like nervous
system regulation right.
We use adaptogens, for example,like ashwagandha or magnesium,
(22:55):
glycine and the tissue healingright, collagen, vitamin C or
lactation or hormonal balance.
Again, these are foundationalpieces that a lot of times we
already have in place.
So these are things that aresupporting our recovery, not
replacing the basic needs ofrest and nourishment and
(23:16):
connection.
Okay.
So again, supplements are notband-aids, they're tools, and
they're tools that are only aseffective as the hands that use
them.
Okay, okay, so you've got thewhy, you've got the when of
supplementation.
Now let's talk about how,because not all supplements are
created equal.
I know we keep saying that, butnot all forms are well absorbed
(23:39):
and we need to look beyond whatis in the supplement and start
paying attention to how it getsin the body.
So there's a couple of mainforms of delivery.
We have pills and capsules.
These are the most common form,but also the least absorbable,
especially in a postpartum body.
Many postpartum women havelower stomach acid production,
(24:01):
they have sluggish digestion,delayed gastric emptying and
they simply sometimes cannotswallow large pills.
Maybe they're feeling nausea,fatigue, sensory overload.
That is a real thing, and ifyou're not breaking down those
capsules effectively, you're notabsorbing what's inside, so
(24:21):
it's just going to go from oneend and come out the other, and
that's not only a waste of money, it's a missed opportunity for
healing.
Then we have liquids, one of themost absorbable forms,
especially for minerals andcertain vitamins like iron and
magnesium and B12.
Liquids bypass the gut's slowerbreakdown process and it enters
(24:43):
the bloodstream faster, andit's ideal when digestion is
impaired, when you're workingwith high depletion, when you
need quick absorption.
The downside of liquids is thatit has a taste, it has a shelf
life and it often costs a lotmore, but when chosen well, they
(25:03):
can be a game changer.
Then we also have powders, andthis is kind of like the happy
medium, and we also have powdersthat are in capsule form.
They are usually the mostabsorbable and they've got like
sometimes a customizable dose.
They're easier for the system.
We see things like proteinblends, collagen, magnesium
(25:27):
blends.
Whole food-based multivitaminsare often powders.
But just be really cautious offillers and artificial flavors
or sweeteners and always checkhow the powder is sourced and
processed.
Okay, I also want to say thattopicals or sublinguals or
injections are also an option.
(25:48):
These are often used in moretherapeutic settings.
B12, for example, can bedelivered in the body faster and
in an injection kind of sort ofway, magnesium can be absorbed
through the skin.
As we already talked about,injections might be needed in
extreme deficiency cases.
(26:08):
I am not a huge fan ofinjecting things into my body.
Some say that it works reallywell.
I'm not a huge component ofthis.
At least I haven't gotten onthe bandwagon yet.
Time will tell but for mostpostpartum clients this is not
the first line, but it is worthknowing that it exists when
(26:30):
digestion is so compromised orthere needs to be something
urgently in place.
So here's what to look for.
Okay, so bioavailable formsthink a mentholated B vitamins,
chelated vitamins like magnesium, glycinate instead of oxide.
If you're not familiar withthis, you can do some some big
(26:54):
research on on what that meansin terms of bioavailable forms.
That is a whole class in and ofitself that you would need to
take.
That is extensive work there.
We also want to make sure thatthere's some third-party testing
, especially for heavy metalsand toxins, and that there is no
(27:15):
unnecessary fillers like skips,synthetic dyes and titanium
dioxide or hydrogenated oils.
If that is in there, say no.
Okay, you wanna make sure thatthere's transparent sourcing.
You should know where your rawmaterials are coming from,
because if your client can'tabsorb what's in the bottle, if
(27:37):
it's not coming from a reallygreat source, then what's the
point?
Right, there's no point indoing that.
Okay, so let's move on to theadvanced section, because this
is where the highest qualityforms of nutrients and
supplements can still cause harmif it's not formulated
intelligently, and most aren'tokay.
(27:58):
So we have what I call vitamininteractions.
So when nutrients work againsteach other, so not all nutrients
play nice in the sandbox, gofigure right.
Here are some of the mostcritical conflicts iron and
calcium these two compete forabsorption in the gut.
If they are taken together,like in most multivitamins, you
(28:21):
reduce the efficacy of both.
This is why iron supplementsshould never be in a general
multi.
If a woman needs iron, itshould be taken separately.
It should be taken separately,ideally with vitamin C, away
from things like caffeine, sodefinitely not far away from
(28:47):
your coffee in the morning.
Okay, and a little tidbit ironshould always be taken on a
liquid form, otherwise the pillform, generally speaking, always
, always, always means an upsetstomach or constipation, ugh,
okay.
Then we also have zinc andcopper.
So high dose zinc over time candeplete copper, leading to
(29:11):
imbalances that impact immunityand energy.
So quality multis shouldbalance this very, very
carefully.
Sometimes copper should even beavoided postpartum due to its
effects of estrogen and mentalhealth.
We also have a lot of women whohave copper toxicity thanks to
the copper IUD.
Okay, magnesium versus calciumAgain, these two can work
(29:34):
together, but the ratio matters.
Too much calcium can blockmagnesium absorption and vice
versa, and in postpartum mostwomen are more deficient in
magnesium, especially if stressis high, so that becomes
prioritized.
I always recommend doing ittransdermally, though.
(29:54):
Get that in a bath, get it in afoot soak, put it on some, get
it in some lotion, whatever thecase may be for in terms of
magnesium, folate versus B12.
These are both methylationnutrients that work together
until they don't.
Too much folate withoutadequate B12 can mask a B12
(30:19):
deficiency, which can lead toneurological issues.
So you must have both inbalance and providers need to
evaluate the whole picturebefore finally supplementing
with just one.
Here's a big one the B6controversy.
This is where things get really, really challenging in the
(30:41):
functional medicine world.
So we have B.
It's called P5P.
It's often cited as a superiorform of vitamin B6.
(31:02):
We have new case studies andobservational research that
suggests, and beyondobservational research, we have
clinical trials that are ineffect right now that are
showing that this form canbecome a neurotoxic form for
some people, especially whenit's taken in isolation or in
high doses over time, which isfrustrating because we need B6
(31:24):
and it's not something that ourbody creates, it's something
that has to come from food.
So when we when neurotoxin andthis is something that we see
often in postpartum andsomething that we really need to
pay attention to we see nervetingling and numbness,
irritability, insomnia,anxiety-like symptoms.
These are symptoms of aneurotoxin B6 overdose or not
(31:51):
even an overdose, of just itbeing toxic within the body,
because this is huge, becauseit's not about form, it's about
context, dose and need.
So B12 should be used cautiously, very cautiously, especially in
combination supplements, andevaluated against symptoms and
(32:13):
labs and all of that as well.
Right, again, this is kind oflike new science, it's just
coming out, it's just rollingout and again, I think this is
more in line with how somemultivitamins and some simple
vitamins that are taken awayfrom their food context, their
(32:35):
whole food context, and whenthat happens, it becomes harmful
.
And I think we're just going tosee this increase, increase,
increase.
And in terms of science, Iwould not be surprised if one
day, supplements are no more,that we're no longer
recommending them, that we're nolonger using them, because
we're going to recognize that somany of them are harmful.
(32:55):
This is the same forantioxidant overload.
It's a total thing.
So many supplements includevitamin C, e, selenium, coq10,
and individually, thesenutrients support oxidative
stress, but when combined inhigher doses they actually
suppress necessary immuneresponses and disrupt the body's
(33:17):
natural signaling pathways.
So in postpartum, wheninflammation is part of the
repair process, too manyantioxidants may interfere with
proper healing, and this isanother reason why we should be
looking at food-based, low-dose,synergistic support rather than
mega doses of vitamins.
(33:37):
Okay.
So synergy, let's talk aboutthis.
Let's talk about combos that doenhance.
So we talked about things thatdon't work well together.
Let's talk about things that dowork really well together
Vitamin D and K2, magnesium andB6, iron and vitamin C, zinc, b6
(34:03):
and magnesium.
Okay, these are really powerfulcombinations.
And the truth is, even even thebest formulas okay mean nothing
if your client is not absorbingit, especially true in
postpartum, when digestion issluggish and inflammation is
(34:24):
common and stress is high.
So we have to address keyissues like low stomach acid,
gut inflammation, dysbiosis.
So, no matter what they take,if they don't have the capacity
to digest and absorb, they'regoing to just be peeing out
expensive urine or againirritating their systems or
(34:44):
causing toxicity.
So, again, precision matters.
We can't throw everything intoone capsule and call it care.
We really need to understandthe nutrient synergy and the
competition of these nutrients.
We have to respectbioavailability and dose and
delivery, and we need to knowwhen a supplement is supportive
(35:05):
and when it's toxic.
And it has to be personalizedbased on symptoms and labs when
available.
And, most importantly, food,food, food, food, food, food,
food is the most important thingthat we can do, and this is
also why the postpartumnutrition certification program
teaches beyond label reading.
It's about real clinicaldecision-making, because this
(35:28):
level of nuance can changeoutcomes and it can save mothers
from months or even years ofsuffering.
So you've heard me say all ofthis before.
The deeper you go into thissupplemental world, the more
that you'll realize that it isso deep.
There's so much to talk about.
(35:48):
There's so many, many, manythings.
Okay, and I do want to breakdown a couple of other red flags
to you.
We talked about it a little bit.
Folic acid, not folate, that bigred flag this is still one of
the most common issues I see.
Folic acid is this syntheticversion of vitamin B9.
And while it is used widely infortified foods and supplements.
(36:11):
It is not what your body wants.
It is not what your body wants.
Folic acid requires multipleenzymatic conversions to become
bioavailable and if you have aclient that has MTHFR gene
variant so many women do thisconversion is impaired.
So folic acid can actuallyblock the receptors for real
(36:35):
folate, and it makes thingsworse.
So always, always, always.
Instead, look for methylatedfolate and folate versions,
never folic acid.
Be really cognizant of whitelevel supplements, especially
ones that have no transparency.
This is big.
If a brand can't or won't tellyou where they source their
(36:58):
ingredients, who formulatestheir products, where it's
manufactured, what testing isdone, walk away.
White labeling has made it easyfor everyone, even again
well-meaning influencers andproviders.
They can slap their name on asupplement without knowing
what's inside, and in many cases, the same product is being sold
under 50 different brand nameswith the exact same ingredients.
(37:22):
Transparency is trust, like youshould be able to trace the
supplement from soil to shelf.
Okay, proprietary blends.
If you see the word proprietaryblend, know that this is a
loophole.
If you see the word proprietaryblend, know that this is a
loophole.
Okay, for many, it allows themanufacturer to hide how much of
each ingredient is in theformula.
(37:43):
Okay, you might see magnesiumor ashwagandha listed, but it's
only a sprinkle.
It's not enough to be effective, just enough to market, and
then they don't have to alsotell you all about the fillers.
So look for something thatactually tells you more than
what a proprietary blend is.
(38:04):
They need to have percentages.
Always look for specificdosages, like you deserve to
know what you're putting intoyour body.
Avoid synthetic dyes, fillers,additives.
It seems really basic, but manytop selling postnatal and
prenatal vitamins still includetitanium dioxide, which is a
potential carcinogen.
(38:25):
It still has red 40 and yellowfive and thankfully these are
finally being removed from ourshelves.
But they have five years to doit right and we know that they
have been linked to behavioralissues and allergies and all of
that stuff.
They're not good for your body,but they're still there.
Magnesium serrate it's used as aflow agent.
(38:48):
It can hinder absorption.
It's also, you know, one ofthose things that's always
included talc or hydradated oils.
These do nothing to support themother and often introduce
unnecessary toxins into a verystressed system.
Too much is not everything.
It's not.
More is better.
(39:10):
A supplement that claims to becomprehensive or everything you
need in one dose is usually notit at all.
It's often crammed with megadoses that don't respect
nutrient balance or absorption,and this can disrupt pathways,
overwhelm the liver, triggersymptoms like headache and
fatigue and anxiety and evenskin reactions.
(39:30):
So the best supplements respectbio-individuality.
They don't try to do it all,they do what's needed.
No more Iron in the wrongcontext.
Like we touched on this earlier, but it bears repeating, iron
should never be included in ageneral multivitamin because it
competes with other mineralslike zinc and calcium and it's
(39:53):
often harsh on the gut.
It oxidizes quickly, so itreleases free radicals if it's
not buffered properly.
Iron should be dosed based onlabs or clear symptoms, always
taken with vitamin C, never withcalcium, ideally standalone, et
cetera, et cetera.
Okay, Expired or unstablenutrients right.
(40:16):
I don't know if you knew this.
I didn't know this until I hadto research this but a lot of
vitamins degrade quickly,especially B vitamins and
vitamin C.
They're fragile and theyoxidize over time.
Fat soluble vitamins like A, d,e, k they require proper
storage to remain stable.
(40:36):
Probiotics should alwaysrequire refrigeration, unless
they're freeze-dried, and eventhen potency really drops in
time.
So always check expirationdates, storage instructions,
batch testing, quality, all ofthat, and then, of course, make
sure that you're not going aftera trend.
(41:00):
Make sure that you're usingsomething correctly.
Postpartum has needs.
Breastfeeding has needs.
We got to make sure that thingsare breastfeeding safe, that
there's synergy between thenutrients, that bioavailability
is done right.
And just because it's claimednatural doesn't mean it's
(41:21):
appropriate for postpartum.
So choose supplements like youwould choose food.
Be intentional, wise and withfull awareness of where it came
from.
Okay, now I'm gonna tell you myabsolute favorite way to biohack
and actually, honestly, I'mgonna take that word back.
I don't even love that word.
(41:42):
I do not like that word at all,because what we're really doing
here is returning to somethingancient and wise and profoundly
nourishing, and that is herbs.
Before there were syntheticvitamins, before there were
proprietary blends and pillpacks and lab isolated nutrients
, there were herbs, and theyweren't fringe, they weren't
(42:04):
alternative.
They were simply food, medicine, nourishment, spiritual tools.
They were, and still are, god'sgift, bundled in the most
perfect bioavailable balance ofnutrients, and it's delivered us
straight from the earth.
Herbs are the first food and thetruth is, herbs are not
(42:28):
pharmaceuticals.
They're meant to override.
They're not meant to overrideyour biology, they're meant to
support it.
So things like stinging nettlespacked with iron and calcium
and magnesium and vitamin K.
Red raspberry leaf rich inminerals and helps tone the
uterus.
Oat straw soothes the nervoussystem, supports emotional
(42:50):
resilience.
Dandelion root aids digestion,liver function and gentle
detoxification.
Chamomile helps with sleep,colic inflammation, postpartum
anxiety.
What's more is that thenutrients and herbs are
naturally balanced, meaning thatthe cofactors that your body
(43:11):
needs to actually digest and usethem are already there.
There's wisdom in that.
There's chemistry too.
It's living nutrition.
So you don't need you do notneed capsules to get the benefit
of herbs.
In fact, the most potent waysto receive the gift of herbs is
(43:33):
often the most comforting aswell.
The gift of herbs is often themost comforting as well.
Things like teas they're slow,sacred, warming, perfect for the
postpartum restoration.
Herbal infusions, where yousteep the herbs for hours.
They provide deep, deepnourishment over time.
Tinctures we've got alcohol orglycerin based extractions that
(43:54):
are concentrated and easy to use, just like a dropper full under
the tongue.
So when that tea just feelsimpossible, we've got tinctures
at our hand.
We also have herbal baths.
Your skin is the largest organand you can absorb nutrients
through it.
A postpartum sits bath withcalendula and lavender and
(44:14):
yarrow and comfrey is freakingmagic.
It soothes tissues, calms thenervous system and offers gentle
ritual.
So herbs meet you wherever youare.
They invite slowness, presence,connection and that is exactly
what postpartum healing asks forand they are loaded with
(44:35):
vitamins and nutrients in theperfect balance.
There's something deeplyspiritual about herbs, too, like
they ground us in nature'srhythms.
They remind us that healingdoesn't always need to come in a
bottle from the pharmacy or thebig box store or some
influencer's hands.
(44:56):
They give us agency to care forourselves in a way that's
gentle, intuitive and wise, anda world that is obsessed with
quick fixes and syntheticsolutions and biohacks.
Herbs are this thing thatinvites us back to this
relationship with our bodies andour babies and earth.
(45:19):
And for providers, this iswhere you get to expand your
toolkit.
You don't need to be a clinicalherbalist to start integrating
gentle herbal support into yourclient care.
Just begin with the basicsrecommend teas, normalize baths,
invite the possibility thathealing can come in a warm mug
or a handful of wildflowers.
This is not woo.
(45:40):
This is evidence-based, it'stime-tested.
It is the most deepest rootedwisdom that we have.
It has been used for thousandsand thousands of years, and I
know that modern medicine saysthat doesn't matter, but I think
every single one of uslistening in here knows that
that is just bullshit.
(46:00):
Excuse my language.
Okay, I promise this is morepowerful than any white label
pill could ever be Herbs, herbs,herbs.
So no matter if you're aprovider recommending support to
your mamas and you're trying tosift through the noise, or
you're here as a mama lookingfor some support and you're
(46:24):
non-negotiables.
I'm going to give you a reallyquick rundown of everything that
we covered here.
Look for transparency.
Avoid folic acid, iron andcalcium.
Don't mix.
Check for dyes, fillers, flowagents.
Make sure the nutrients are intheir bioavailable form.
(46:44):
Okay, know your source.
Research the company.
Do third-party testing.
Are they practitioner grade orwhite label fluff?
Okay, and then createpersonalized supplemental
checklists.
You can do this for yourclients.
Okay, and then createpersonalized supplemental
checklists.
You can do this for yourclients, right?
You can either have a clientlike a checklist of all the
different things, but I love,love, love teaching people like
(47:05):
here's the things that you needto look for, and that's what
this whole entire episode hasbeen here for you.
So remember supplements aremeant to supplement.
They're not real food.
They do not replace it.
Not, remember supplements aremeant to supplement.
They're not real food.
They do not replace it.
Not all supplements are createdequal.
White labeling is everywhere.
New studies are reallyquestioning the safety of
long-term supplementation.
(47:27):
More is not always better, andherbs are powerful, trusted,
ancient, incredibly effectivefor postpartum nourishment, and
empowering moms and providerswith the knowledge is how we for
postpartum nourishment, andempowering moms and providers
with the knowledge is how weshift postpartum care from
generic to sacred.
At the end of the day,supplements are just one piece
(47:48):
of the puzzle.
But in a world full of shinybottles and influencer pitches
and billion dollar promises, weforget something very vital, and
that healing doesn't happen inisolation.
It happens in community, withfood, with rest, with love, with
(48:08):
providers who ask betterquestions and mamas who trust
their bodies.
Again, let's teach this, let'slive this, let's lead this,
because when we stop chasingquick fixes and start honoring
the biology of postpartum women,everything changes.
You're not just recommending aproduct, you're offering a path
(48:30):
back to the body, and for that Ithank you and for that the
(49:01):
letter ucom which is in the shownotes.
And if you found today'sepisode valuable, please leave a
review to help us reach moreproviders like you.
Together, we're building afuture where mothers are fully
supported and thriving.
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Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
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