
Formula milk is a product that’s sometimes offered to infants over 6 months of age as a substitute for breast…
There's an idea that there are foods that should be avoided during breastfeeding. But what's true and what isn't? Find out here.
Because they want to provide as much well-being as possible to their baby from the very first moment, many mothers wonder if there are any foods to avoid during lactation to prevent their milk from being “contaminated”. Have you ever asked yourself this question? If so, be sure to read everything we’re going to tell you below.
Breast milk is, par excellence, the best food that can be provided to a newborn. However, can it really be altered if the mother consumes certain foods and beverages? What’s the case with fish? What’s true and what’s not true regarding this subject? Let’s take a closer look below.
First of all, there’s a crucial point to remember in all this: The composition of breast milk isn’t as easily altered as is often believed. The mother’s diet affects only a few nutrients, according to a study published in the journal Anales de Pediatría.
“The content of carbohydrates, protein, calcium and iron doesn’t change much even if the mother ingests little of these in her diet. However, if a mother’s diet is deficient in water-soluble vitamins and vitamins A and D, her milk contains less of these nutrients.”
Priya Tew, mother, dietitian, and member of the British Dietetic Association and the Health Professionals Council says that, except for oily fish, there’s no list of foods to avoid during lactation.
Certain species of oily fish should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation because of their mercury content.
The expert also comments that there’s no need for a special diet during breastfeeding, but rather a balanced diet, according to the mother’s needs from a nutritional point of view. Of course, if the mother’s allergic to any type of food, she should avoid it, but for her own health.
Some of her most important recommendations for breastfeeding mothers are the following:
As with many other topics, there are many myths about what should and shouldn’t be consumed during breastfeeding. Most of them are based on a lack of knowledge about nutrition and health, as well as popular beliefs that science doesn’t support.
There’s no scientific evidence that the above-mentioned foods have a real impact on the baby’s health during breastfeeding.
Therefore, first of all, common sense must be maintained: Any excess can harm a woman’s health and interfere (to a greater or lesser extent) with the baby’s feeding.
For example, excessive caffeine consumption can cause the mother to overdose and this can prevent her from being willing to breastfeed her child. As the experts at MedlinePlus explain: “a short hospital stay may be needed to complete treatment for caffeine overdose”.
So, what foods should be avoided during breastfeeding?
The Science News and Information Service indicates that there’s still a lot of research and clarification to be done by the scientific community on what to avoid and why. However, it recommends completely avoiding the consumption of drugs in general: Tobacco, alcohol, and narcotics, as these substances could have different consequences for the baby’s health.
Discover: Myths and Doubts About Breastfeeding
It’s also not advisable to take medicinal plants, plant supplements, or any other kind of supplements. Some of the active ingredients could be harmful. In any case, if you have any doubts, you can consult a health professional.
If you’re about to become a mother (or have recently become one), don’t be anxious. Tell your doctor all your concerns and the professional will help you clear them up and help you know how you should eat during breastfeeding so that you can be healthy and self-confident when taking care of your baby.
If at any time you have doubts about a specific aspect, don’t keep the doubt to yourself and tell the professional. This way, you won’t only know what to do and what not to do, but you’ll also be more confident when it comes to organizing your meals on a daily basis. Remember, no question is silly when it comes to your or your baby’s health.