Wednesday, 4 January 2012
0
Every mom wants to give the best for her new baby. This is the basic foundation why most, if not all moms, want to breastfeed. Instead of worrying what kind of nutrients your baby gets from a high-priced formula, among the plethora of advertising that boasts of many healthy benefits, you can simply focus on giving your best to your baby through your own breast milk. Is there truth behind the claim that what you eat will ultimately be transferred to the breast milk you are feeding your baby?
Indeed, many moms worry about shedding pregnancy pounds when in fact, during breastfeeding, their body needs energy-boosting foods as well as nutrient-rich choices. While these may not necessarily translate into food for her baby, it will certainly do well in giving mom the energy she needs for caring for a newborn! Also, the quality of breast milk will stay relatively constant when the mom is getting enough nutrients in her diet; in the absence of needed nutrients, the body may provide them from the mom’s own stores. As such, it is best to be sure the mom gets the nutrients both she and her baby needs from a variety of healthy foods during the nursing season.
The following foods are considered the top 6 in providing what a new mom needs during this energy-sapping, albeit rewarding, season of her life:
1. Salmon – While there is no perfect food for moms who breastfeed, salmon is virtually a nutritional powerhouse for new mothers. This is largely because of the high levels of DHA, a fat crucial for the development of a baby’s nervous system. DHA is present in all breast milk, but women who receive more DHA from their daily diets tend to produce breast milk with higher levels of this crucial nutrient. In addition to helping give your baby the DHA he needs, the DHA found in salmon has also been found to help with a mom’s post-partum mood swings. A word of caution should be in place, though: fish with low mercury content should be limited by nursing mothers to 12 ounces a week.
2. Low-fat dairy products – Breastfeeding moms will benefit well from dairy options like milk, cheese, or yogurt, thanks to the protein, vitamin D, and B vitamins that they are rich in. Calcium is also an important component that helps develop a new baby’s bones. As such, new moms are recommended to take a minimum of three cups of dairy per day.
3. Lean beef – Iron-rich lean beef is a great choice for boosting the energy of any new mom. When iron is deficient in a mom’s daily diet, energy levels can be drained, which makes it very hard to take care of a growing and demanding baby. Adding lean beef to one’s diet will also ensure that she gets enough extra protein and vitamin B12.
4. Legumes – Dark-colored beans like kidney beans and black beans are great for nursing moms, thanks to their high contents of iron. For vegetarians or those on a budget, these legumes are also excellent sources of good quality non-animal protein while not causing a major strain on the budget.
5. Blueberries – These berries are rich in antioxidants and healthy carbohydrates to ensure that any new mom will get the vitamins and minerals she needs along with the energy boost without the added sugar. A new mom can benefit from two or more servings of these berries in fruit or juice form everyday.
6. Brown rice – Many moms who hope to lose their pregnancy weight will opt for reducing their consumption of carbohydrates. However, losing weight from a cutback on carbohydrates may not only affect the mom by making her feel sluggish and lethargic, it can also dramatically reduce breast milk production. As such, a better alternative would be to substitute healthier whole-grain carbohydrate sources, such as brown rice, as this will keep one’s energy levels high without risking packing on even more pounds. Food choices like brown rice are also known for giving a mom the calories she needs for producing breast milk of the best quality for her baby.
All in all, these foods will definitely boost your energy requirements for nursing your new baby. Ensure you get plenty of rest as well to balance the rest of the equation, and surely, your months of breastfeeding will certainly turn out to be the most memorable of your mommy years.
6 Best Foods for Breastfeeding Moms
Indeed, many moms worry about shedding pregnancy pounds when in fact, during breastfeeding, their body needs energy-boosting foods as well as nutrient-rich choices. While these may not necessarily translate into food for her baby, it will certainly do well in giving mom the energy she needs for caring for a newborn! Also, the quality of breast milk will stay relatively constant when the mom is getting enough nutrients in her diet; in the absence of needed nutrients, the body may provide them from the mom’s own stores. As such, it is best to be sure the mom gets the nutrients both she and her baby needs from a variety of healthy foods during the nursing season.
The following foods are considered the top 6 in providing what a new mom needs during this energy-sapping, albeit rewarding, season of her life:
1. Salmon – While there is no perfect food for moms who breastfeed, salmon is virtually a nutritional powerhouse for new mothers. This is largely because of the high levels of DHA, a fat crucial for the development of a baby’s nervous system. DHA is present in all breast milk, but women who receive more DHA from their daily diets tend to produce breast milk with higher levels of this crucial nutrient. In addition to helping give your baby the DHA he needs, the DHA found in salmon has also been found to help with a mom’s post-partum mood swings. A word of caution should be in place, though: fish with low mercury content should be limited by nursing mothers to 12 ounces a week.
2. Low-fat dairy products – Breastfeeding moms will benefit well from dairy options like milk, cheese, or yogurt, thanks to the protein, vitamin D, and B vitamins that they are rich in. Calcium is also an important component that helps develop a new baby’s bones. As such, new moms are recommended to take a minimum of three cups of dairy per day.
3. Lean beef – Iron-rich lean beef is a great choice for boosting the energy of any new mom. When iron is deficient in a mom’s daily diet, energy levels can be drained, which makes it very hard to take care of a growing and demanding baby. Adding lean beef to one’s diet will also ensure that she gets enough extra protein and vitamin B12.
4. Legumes – Dark-colored beans like kidney beans and black beans are great for nursing moms, thanks to their high contents of iron. For vegetarians or those on a budget, these legumes are also excellent sources of good quality non-animal protein while not causing a major strain on the budget.
5. Blueberries – These berries are rich in antioxidants and healthy carbohydrates to ensure that any new mom will get the vitamins and minerals she needs along with the energy boost without the added sugar. A new mom can benefit from two or more servings of these berries in fruit or juice form everyday.
6. Brown rice – Many moms who hope to lose their pregnancy weight will opt for reducing their consumption of carbohydrates. However, losing weight from a cutback on carbohydrates may not only affect the mom by making her feel sluggish and lethargic, it can also dramatically reduce breast milk production. As such, a better alternative would be to substitute healthier whole-grain carbohydrate sources, such as brown rice, as this will keep one’s energy levels high without risking packing on even more pounds. Food choices like brown rice are also known for giving a mom the calories she needs for producing breast milk of the best quality for her baby.
All in all, these foods will definitely boost your energy requirements for nursing your new baby. Ensure you get plenty of rest as well to balance the rest of the equation, and surely, your months of breastfeeding will certainly turn out to be the most memorable of your mommy years.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 Responses to “6 Best Foods for Breastfeeding Moms”
Post a Comment