Do you want your breast milk to continue to flow? Then it’s best to know what foods to avoid while breastfeeding. Avoid these foods and plants, as they can all diminish your supply of breast milk. If you’ve ever struggled with milk production, you know that a woman having trouble producing enough milk won’t be able to supply her baby. You may undoubtedly also be aware that some meals and herbs can help you produce more milk. However, we won’t recommend these foods if you’re already having hyperlactation issues. Oatmeal, fenugreek, blessed thistle, and a variety of other herbs and foods have a reputation for assisting moms in producing an abundance of milk.
But do you know, however, that there are some certain foods to avoid while breastfeeding? Small amounts of these foods are not harmful, but avoid consuming significant amounts if you already have a low milk supply. On the other hand, the meals listed below may be beneficial if you have breast milk oversupply or are weaning your child. Below are the foods to avoid while breastfeeding.
1. Chasteberry
It’s a dried fruit that people eat without realizing it has negative effects on the production of breast milk. This fruit is used to treat a variety of female reproductive issues. This dried fruit is also preferred by mothers who have a problem with milk oversupply. In addition, chasteberry fruit exerts its effects by interacting directly with the pituitary gland in the brain. As a result, the production of prolactin is thus reduced (a hormone that stimulates the production of breast milk in women). Milk production inevitably decreases as prolactin levels in the body fall.
2. Alcohol and cigarette
Alcohol has a harmful impact on your child. Although only a small quantity enters breast milk, it takes nearly 1-2 hours to metabolize, so you can wait to feed your infant if you’ve had one or two glasses. Cigarettes have an influence on milk production since they contain nicotine. It is incredibly hazardous to your kid since it enters your breast milk and exposes your infant to these poisons. While breastfeeding, neither cigarettes nor smokeless tobacco is recommended.
3. Parsley
Herbs, like tea, are typically thought to be a safe choice for food flavorings and homeopathic medicines. Still, several common ones can actually diminish milk supply if consumed in significant amounts. Parsley, a common palate cleanser after a meal, is actually a diuretic and can cause dehydration. Because water makes up so much of breastmilk, having less water in your body can result in less milk. A few small sprigs are unlikely to affect your milk supply, but big amounts, such as tabbouleh, an Arabic vegetarian salad meal, may have an effect if consumed frequently. Although people use parsley to treat gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and anemia, breastfeeding mothers should avoid the concentrated supplement form.
4. Caffeine
Caffeine-rich foods like chocolate and coffee can harm your infant if consumed in excess. Caffeine is present in extremely small amounts in breast milk, usually less than 1%. If you feed your newborn baby right after drinking coffee or chocolate, it is difficult for him to break it down, making him fussy and unhappy. So, it’s best to consume it in moderation, with no more than 300 milligrams of caffeine each day.
5. Cabbage Leaves
There is some evidence that cabbage leaves may help relieve breast engorgement. While the reason for this is unclear, green cabbage does have a high sulfur content, which is an anti-inflammatory agent. If you have an excess of breast milk or are ready to stop nursing, this is helpful. However, if you want to enhance your milk supply, stay away from the cabbage!
6. Peppermint
Peppermint is used in cough drops and candies. Too many candies consumed per day may cause a significant decline in breast milk production in women. It should not be an issue if you enjoy tea and limit yourself to a cup or two of peppermint tea every now and then. However, regular ingestion may have an impact on breast milk production.
7. Beer/ Alcohol
We’ve probably all heard that beer can boost milk production. You may have also heard that it’s a complete hoax and that it actually has the opposite effect, reducing your capacity to breastfeed. Surprisingly, both statements are partially right. Beer’s alcohol inhibits the release of oxytocin, which increases the let-down response, also known as the milk ejection reflex, making it more difficult to supply milk to your infant. However, hops and barley, two of the most important constituents in beer, are also helpful for promoting milk flow. Barley polysaccharides boost milk production by stimulating the release of prolactin. To boost lactation, women used to drink low-alcohol beer that was higher in hops and barley than most commercial beers today. However, if you want to try beer to boost your milk supply, go for something non-alcoholic with a lot of hops and barley for the best results.
8. Breakfast Cereal
The appropriate breakfast cereal may be enjoyable while also being a good source of nutrients. However, as much as we all enjoy cereal as a quick and easy dinner, keep your intake in check. Breakfast cereals are fortified with a variety of vitamins and minerals, including B6. High doses of B6 have been shown to lower milk production, and it can be found in a variety of foods other than cereals. Potatoes, garbanzo beans (the major ingredient in hummus), and chicken contain a significant quantity of B6. You don’t want to completely ignore B6 because it aids your neurological system, immunological system, digestion, and hormone synthesis. A daily dose of 1.3 milligrams and no more than 100 milligrams is suggested for adults over the age of 18. You’ll be fine as long as you stay within that window.
9. Sage
While several of the foods on this list primarily affect new moms with insufficient milk supply, sage appears to diminish milk supply in mothers who have been nursing for more than a year. A pinch of sage in a supper dish won’t hurt your breast milk supply. However, at bigger doses, such as the amount used in sage tea, lactation can be hampered. Sage includes a natural form of estrogen, which has been shown to reduce milk production. In fact, sage tea is much more powerful than peppermint tea in suppressing milk supply, which is why it is frequently recommended to moms who have an milk oversupply or are ready to wean their children.
Although the above are foods to avoid while breastfeeding, if you’re having an issue with milk oversupply, they might as well work for you.
