Breastfeeding can be a full-time job, but having a healthy diet to back it up should not be, because of the extra energy used by the body to produce breast milk, many moms tend to feel hungrier. Grabbing whatever is readily available seems like the easiest thing to do, but your body needs more than that and so does your baby. Below are some foods your body need and the best part of it is that many of these foods are easily accessible.
1. Avocados
Many moms complain of having little or no time to prep and eat meals, but guess what? Avocados are your best bet. Avocados are a nutritional powerhouse for nursing moms with nearly 80 percent fat, this helps the body maintain a sense of fullness and providing fats healthy for the heart.
2. Ginger
Ginger is known to be effective for morning sickness during pregnancy, what many moms do not know is that ginger also possesses postpartum benefits. Believed to be a Galactagogue, ginger is said to increase milk supply.
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one food and is believed to increase breast milk supply. Though not scientifically proven, oatmeal does contain a lot of iron, and low iron level can lead to low milk supply.
4. Nuts
Nuts are a powerhouse of nutrition. They contain essential minerals such as zinc, iron, calcium, vitamin K and B. In many parts of the world, nuts are regarded as lactogenic foods.
5. Carrot
Carrots contain an antioxidant that turns to Vitamin A when eaten, called Beta-Carotene. Beta-Carotene is good for the immune system, vision and the overall health of both mother and child.
6. Beans and Legumes
Beans contain considerable amount of protein, mineral, vitamins, and phytoestrogens. Of all beans, soybeans has the highest level of phytoestrogens and are used as galactagogues. Eating beans ensures you stay healthy and have a healthy milk supply.
7. Milk
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p class=”MsoNormal” style=”text-align: justify”>While breastfeeding, many women lose bone density and this is because if when a nursing mother does not get enough calcium in their diet, the body will take from the storage in your bones and get it to the baby. A glass of slim milk contains just about 30 percent of the recommended daily calcium of 1000mg.
