The health benefits of breastfeeding for a child don't need an introduction. Its awareness is so crucial that every year the first week of August is celebrated as World Breastfeeding Week. Nutritionist Lovneet Batra has taken the opportunity to inform new mothers about foods that they must avoid during breastfeeding. While sharing glimpses of the food items, she explained the reasons in a detailed caption. The nutritionist began by saying, “While breastfeeding, it is important to be mindful of what you eat, as some foods can affect both the baby's health and the quality of breast milk.”
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Here're 5 Foods That Breastfeeding Mothers Must Avoid, As Per The Nutritionist:
1. Raw vegetables
The nutritionist said that consuming raw vegetables like “cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli can cause gas in the mother's bowel.” Not only this but raw vegetables also have the potential to cause “food poisoning” in mothers.
2. Coffee
Often it is instructed that women must avoid caffeine during pregnancy. Now, Lovneet Batra advised that breastfeeding mothers should also avoid coffee. This is because “coffee is a common source of caffeine” and infants “have a hard time breaking down and getting rid of caffeine.” This can cause the accumulation of caffeine in your baby's system, resulting in “irritability and troubled sleeping.”
3. High mercury fish
While fish is considered a great source of protein and healthy fats, the breastfeeding mother must avoid “Bigeye tuna, King mackerel, and Marlin fish,” as they are high in mercury. Lovneet Batra reveals that it is “a metal that can be toxic.” Children are more sensitive to mercury poisoning.
4. Peppermint/sage/parsley
Herbs like parsley, sage and peppermint are considered “anti-galactagogues”. Lovneet Batra claimed that they are “known to decrease breast milk production.”
5. Alcohol
The harmful impacts of alcohol can't be said enough. The nutritionist said that avoiding “alcohol is the safest option during breastfeeding,” as it “inhibits your milk ejection (let down) reflex.” She revealed that alcohol makes “it harder for the baby to get your milk.”