Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin: Purpose, Benefits & FAQ

| Reviewed By Sarah Schulze, MSN, APRN, CPNP

If you are experiencing a clogged milk duct, Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin is a useful remedy to alleviate symptoms.

What is sunflower lecithin? Sunflower lecithin is a supplement made from sunflower seeds, the only guaranteed non-GMO source of lecithin. It acts as an emulsifier and breaks down the fat globules in breast milk. As a result, your milk becomes thinner and less sticky, reducing the risk of clogged ducts and mastitis.

Read on to learn more about sunflower lecithin’s benefits and side effects.

What Does Sunflower Lecithin Do?

Sunflower lecithin is beneficial for breastfeeding mothers because it helps prevent clogged ducts and mastitis and improves milk flow.

Does Sunflower Lecithin Increase Milk Supply?

No, sunflower lecithin doesn’t increase milk supply, but some women notice an improvement in milk flow to help with feeding their babies.

As an emulsifier, sunflower lecithin breaks down the fat globules in breast milk, taking away the milk’s stickiness and thinning it to prevent clogged ducts.

Does Sunflower Lecithin Make Milk Flow Faster?

Yes, sunflower lecithin makes milk flow faster. Even though breastfeeding mothers take this supplement to prevent clogged milk ducts, it also helps with milk flow.

Sunflower lecithin removes the fat globules from breast milk, making it thinner and less sticky.

Can Sunflower Lecithin Lower Milk Supply?

No, sunflower lecithin cannot decrease milk supply. In fact, sunflower lecithin doesn’t affect milk supply at all.

It only affects the milk’s stickiness, smoothing it out to prevent clogged milk ducts. Sunflower lecithin also helps with milk flow so that it’s easier for babies to feed.

Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin Ingredients

Legendary Milk Sunflower Lecithin gel capsules contain the following ingredients:

  • Organic sunflower lecithin
  • Gelatin
  • Vegetable glycerin
  • Purified water

Their liquid Sunflower Lecithin only contains organic sunflower lecithin.

Is Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin Organic?

Yes, Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin is organic. The gel capsules and liquid are made from organic sunflower seeds.

Sunflower seeds are one of the only guaranteed non-GMO sources of lecithin. Keep in mind that the gel capsules aren’t vegan because they contain gelatin.

Is Sunflower Lecithin Bad for You?

No, sunflower lecithin isn’t bad for you. Lecithin is found in many food products, but sunflower lecithin is among the safest and healthiest because of its high nutrient content.

Also, sunflower seeds aren’t a common allergen like peanuts and soybeans are.

How Safe Is Sunflower Lecithin?

Sunflower lecithin is safer than soy lecithin because sunflower seeds aren’t a common allergen like soybeans.

Breastfeeding mothers who use sunflower lecithin typically don’t have any side effects if they take a regular dose, though high doses can cause digestive issues and sometimes depression.

Sunflower Lecithin Breastfeeding

Sunflower lecithin can be helpful for breastfeeding mothers who struggle with plugged ducts.

Sunflower Lecithin Breastfeeding Benefits

Sunflower lecithin makes breast milk smoother to help prevent clogged ducts and mastitis in breastfeeding mothers.

If you have recurring clogged ducts or mastitis, sunflower lecithin works like an emulsifier to break down the fat globules in the milk to reduce the risk of clogs.

Sunflower Lecithin Side Effects

Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin is safe for short-term use and is usually well tolerated by breastfeeding mothers and babies.

If you have a history of depression, high doses of sunflower lecithin can affect your mood. You may also have digestive issues, such as diarrhea, bloating, and nausea.

Sunflower Lecithin Breastfeeding Dose

The dosage for Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin soft gel capsules is one soft gel three to four times each day to treat plugged ducts and one to two times per day to prevent them.

The dosage for liquid lecithin is one teaspoon daily to treat plugged ducts and half a teaspoon to prevent them.

However, since sunflower lecithin is a supplement and not regulated by the FDA, check with your doctor before taking it while breastfeeding. 

Sunflower Lecithin Effects on Baby

A mother holding her newborn against her chest while resting in bed.

Sunflower lecithin is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, including for babies. The only effect sunflower lecithin would have on your baby is if your baby had an allergy.

Sunflower isn’t a common allergen, but soy is, so if you wanted to take lecithin, sunflower lecithin is your better option.

Sunflower Lecithin Mastitis

Sunflower lecithin can help prevent mastitis by thinning out breast milk and reducing the risk of clogged milk ducts. It can also alleviate the pain that comes from mastitis by treating a clogged milk duct.

If you have other uncomfortable symptoms of mastitis, reach out to a lactation consultant.

How Long Does It Take for Lecithin To Work for Plugged Ducts?

It takes 24 to 48 hours for sunflower lecithin to work for plugged ducts. Compared to other treatments, it works a lot more quickly.

If you have recurring clogged milk ducts, taking sunflower lecithin before your ducts get clogged is also a good idea to help prevent infection.

Can You Take Sunflower Lecithin When Pregnant?

You can take sunflower lecithin when pregnant. Although sunflower lecithin is a supplement, lecithin is naturally found in foods, such as eggs, peanuts, soy, and, of course, sunflower seeds.

Even though it’s better to wait until you need to take it to relieve clogged ducts, it’s considered safe when pregnant.

However, since sunflower lecithin is a supplement and not regulated by the FDA, check with your doctor before taking it during pregnancy. 

When To Start Taking Sunflower Lecithin

You should start taking sunflower lecithin when you’re breastfeeding if you’re prone to clogged ducts. Sunflower lecithin is safe to prevent clogged ducts and treat them.

Sunflower lecithin should only be used short term, so reach out to a lactation consultant if you have recurring clogged ducts.

Best Time To Take Lecithin

To get the most benefits out of the supplement, the best time to take lecithin is before meals.

That means if the manufacturer’s recommended dose is three to four soft gels per day, take one before each meal, or take two before breakfast and two before dinner.

You should take sunflower lecithin before meals so that it has enough time to soften your breast milk and clear the milk ducts as you prepare to feed your baby.

Besides helping with feeding your baby, sunflower lecithin also has other benefits, such as improvement in cardiovascular health.

Can You Take Sunflower Lecithin Every Day?

Yes, you can take sunflower lecithin every day, especially if you need it to help with clogged ducts.

You can also take sunflower lecithin every day to prevent clogged ducts. Even though there is no official recommended dose, you should take the amount suggested from your product’s instructions.

Since Legendairy offers different types of sunflower lecithin products, it helps to read the bottle to find out the right dosage.

You should take three to four soft gel capsules every day to treat clogged ducts and one to two soft gel capsules every day to maintain your breast milk health and texture.

If you’re using the liquid product, you should take a teaspoon each day to treat plugged ducts or half a teaspoon each day to prevent them.

Sunflower Lecithin While Weaning

It can be helpful to take sunflower lecithin while weaning to prevent clogged ducts and ultimately protect your body against mastitis.

As you try to take your baby off breast milk, your breasts are more likely to develop clogged ducts since your baby isn’t taking out as much milk. 

Sunflower lecithin can loosen the milk so you don’t have to pump or breastfeed longer than you want. It also helps ease the pain that comes with clogged ducts or mastitis.

Consult your doctor before taking sunflower lecithin if you have any concerns regarding your medical history.

Conclusion

Legendairy Milk Sunflower Lecithin can help prevent clogged milk ducts from breastfeeding and weaning, but it should only be a short-term solution.

If you have recurring clogged milk ducts and/or mastitis, reach out to a certified lactation consultant for long-term treatment.

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