Breast milk is the best food for the newborn. It contains all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals necessary for its growth and development. The composition of breast milk largely depends on the diet of a nursing mother. During this period, a woman needs to eat as many healthy foods as possible. But whether walnuts should be consumed with HB, and how high their nutritional value is, you will learn from our article. We will dwell on when to introduce this product into the diet of a nursing mother, as well as what its benefits and possible harm to the child are.
Nutritional value and calorie content of walnuts
This product can not be attributed to a diet that is recommended for women during breastfeeding. But, nevertheless, many nursing mothers without any doubt include walnuts in their daily diet.
The nutritional value of this product is really high. Walnuts contain proteins (15.4 g) necessary for the body, fats (65 g) and carbohydrates (10.2 g). They contain many amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, tannins and carotenoids. The latter are not synthesized by the body on their own, and yet their role for health is very high. First of all, they suppress the work of oncogenes, which trigger the process of cancerous transformation of cells.
The calorie content of walnuts, like any other nuts, is also high. 100 grams of the product contains as much as 648 kcal. That is why they should be consumed in limited quantities, including nursing mothers.
Vitamin and mineral composition
Walnut is a valuable product for the body. Its kernels contain a whole complex of useful vitamins: A, B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , B 5 , B 6 , B 9 , C, E. Only five walnuts eaten per day provide a daily intake of vitamin C. And for Nursing mothers are also an excellent tool to enhance immunity during lactation.
Walnuts also contain a lot of minerals. Among them are potassium, sulfur, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, chlorine, sodium, iron, zinc and iodine. By the content of the last two elements, walnuts are superior to most products of plant origin. Doctors recommend including them in your daily diet for anemia, to increase immunity after illness and to enhance lactation.
Walnuts on the menu of a nursing mother
The quality of breast milk directly depends on how a woman eats during lactation. That is why the menu of a nursing mother should be full and varied. To increase the fat content of milk, many women include walnuts in the diet. With HB, they are also recommended as a product that enhances lactation.
Unfortunately, the last statement is a common misconception. You should not expect a big rush of milk after eating walnuts, since this product does not have a pronounced lactogenic effect. But you can increase the caloric content and fat content of milk, which means that the child will be better at eating and sleeping more calmly than usual.
Thus, it can be concluded that walnuts do not affect the amount of breast milk. But along with this, they qualitatively improve its composition.
Can walnuts be breastfed?
This product is recommended for use by a nursing mother. But before you include it in your usual menu, you must eliminate all contraindications so as not to harm yourself and your child.
Breastfeeding walnuts can be consumed daily. This will positively affect the qualitative composition of milk and make the mom’s diet more complete. In addition, walnuts help strengthen immunity and are a good prevention of viral diseases.
The benefits of walnuts for breastfeeding
The use of this product, which has a high nutritional value, will benefit both the mother and the child. Walnuts help increase immunity, strengthen muscles, relieve fatigue, etc. Their beneficial properties for the body of a nursing mother can not be overestimated:
- improve the condition of the cardiovascular system and blood vessels in particular;
- increase the functioning of the genitourinary system;
- reduces the risk of accumulation of excess fat in the blood, due to which the pressure normalizes and the cholesterol content in the body decreases;
- helps in the treatment of type 2 diabetes;
- reduces the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer;
- increase the functionality of the brain;
- improve memory.
Walnuts during breastfeeding are necessary, including for maintaining healthy skeletal system. Despite the high fat content, this product contributes to weight loss, which is important for nursing mothers. In addition, the hormone melatonin is present in walnuts, which is a regulator of circadian rhythms and facilitates falling asleep.
The vitamins contained in walnuts, especially group B, are useful for both mother and baby. They normalize the function of the gastrointestinal tract and have a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system.
Possible harm from eating walnuts
In addition to vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other beneficial substances, walnuts contain essential oils (0.03%), which can provoke an allergic skin reaction in infants. The risk group includes nursing mothers suffering from different types of allergies or suffering from bronchial asthma.
In this case, it is highly likely that the child will be allergic, like his parents. Therefore, when rashes and redness appear on the skin, it is necessary to analyze all the possible causes and symptoms. Diagnostic tests, medical diagnosis and treatment may not be required in this case. But to abandon the use of walnuts during breastfeeding will have to.
It should be noted that allergens can accumulate in the body. Therefore, the reaction may not occur immediately, but after 10 or more days. Allergies and individual intolerance to walnuts are the only contraindication to their use by nursing mothers.
Eating nuts in the first month of HB
During the first 10 days after the birth of the baby, doctors recommend that all nursing mothers adhere to a strict diet. At this time, it is necessary to exclude from the menu all possible allergens. These include: milk, honey, chocolate, citrus fruits, eggs and nuts. If the mother does not have allergies, they can be introduced into the diet gradually, while observing the baby. If the reaction of his body is negative, then the product can be consumed without fear for the health of the child.
Thus, walnut with HS in the first month after the birth of the baby is allowed, then only in a limited amount and in the absence of allergies in the mother and baby. If these conditions are met, it will be useful during breastfeeding.
How many walnuts can a nursing mother eat?
This product is one of the possible allergens, so it should be consumed in limited quantities. The optimal daily rate of walnuts for HS is 3-4 pieces. Since they have a high calorie content, you can eat nuts between main meals. They well satisfy hunger and improve the quality of breast milk.
The recommended norm should not be exceeded, as this may adversely affect the health of the child. Excessive consumption of walnuts can not only cause redness and rashes on the skin, but also provoke colic and indigestion. With this reaction, the use of this product should be abandoned for a while.
The introduction of nuts in the diet
Since this product is among the allergens, it should be added to the menu gradually. You need to start acquaintance with it from one kernel of a walnut. With HB, it is imperative to monitor the condition of the baby. Usually, the first signs of an allergy appear on the skin after 1-2 days. If after this time no skin rashes or disorders of the digestive system (regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal colic) were detected, the portion of walnuts eaten per day can be increased.
In addition, nursing mothers should limit their use of roasted nuts, peanut butter, preserves, jams, cookies, and other pastries made with them. The fact is that when heated, nuts not only lose their beneficial properties, but also begin to release toxic oils. In addition, when used in most babies, intestinal colic occurs in the abdomen.
Reviews of lactating mothers on the use of walnuts
Most women do not give up this product while breastfeeding. Unless many of them reduced the amount of nuts eaten per day to 2-3 pieces. In general, according to reviews, walnuts during breastfeeding can cause the following reactions:
- allergies and skin rashes;
- stomach pain, bloating and constipation;
- intestinal colic.
However, among nursing mothers there are those who consume unlimited nuts daily and at the same time their children react absolutely normally to this. But still, to avoid complications from the digestive system, it is not recommended to eat more than 3-4 kernels per day. At the same time, they should be introduced into the diet gradually, observing the reaction of the baby. Walnuts should also be discarded in the first month after birth. Further, it all depends on the individual characteristics of the mother and baby.
Selection of nuts and their storage at home
When buying walnuts, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Inshell nuts should be preferred. Such a shell reliably protects the core, thereby increasing the shelf life of the product. The shell must be whole and dry, without cracks, stains and plaque.
- You can not buy nuts on the surface of which there are traces of mold and oily stains. They are likely to be rancid.
- The kernels of fresh nuts should have a golden and uniform color.
Since walnuts with HS, according to doctors and nursing mothers, increase the calorie content of breast milk and its qualitative composition, they should be consumed year-round. Moreover, they can be stored for a long time, observing the following conditions:
- without peeling;
- at a temperature of 15-20 °;
- in a wooden box, cardboard box or canvas bag.
Peeled walnuts should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month or in the freezer for 2-3 months.