During lactation, a woman's nutrition should be special. From the diet of a nursing mother, you need to exclude fast food, instant foods, purchased convenience foods, dishes with lots of spices, alcohol and carbonated drinks. However, this list is not enough for everyone. Many women have a question about whether tomatoes can be breastfed. You will get the answer after reading the article.
You can find out what effect fresh tomatoes produce when breastfeeding. Also get acquainted with the opinion of specialists and doctors in this regard. It is worth mentioning several types of this product.
Can I breast-feed tomatoes?
This question can be addressed to several specialists. Pediatricians, therapists, nutritionists, allergists, and breastfeeding counselors all have different points of view on this. Some of them allow nursing mothers to eat this product. Others advise to completely exclude tomatoes from the diet.
It is worth noting that tomatoes during breastfeeding can affect not only the woman's body. Substances from this product also pass into breast milk, which is then delivered to the baby. Consider the main opinions of experts regarding such nutrition.
What do nutritionists say?
Most of the fairer sex during pregnancy gain extra pounds. Normally, weight gain by childbirth should not exceed 11-12 kilograms. However, not all women fit into this range. Often, after the appearance of the baby, the newly made mother wants to quickly recover and return to previous forms. Cucumbers and tomatoes can help her in this.
When breastfeeding, Mom needs to consume about 2000 calories daily. If part of this volume will be fruits and vegetables, then she will be able to lose weight very quickly and get back into shape. Simultaneous exercise will only enhance the effect.
Benefits for the digestive system of women
Breastfeeding tomatoes can have a beneficial effect on bowel function. Very often, women who have recently given birth face constipation. Newly made mothers are forced to take laxatives or use rectal suppositories. All this is not the best way affects the quality of breast milk.
Daily consumption of tomatoes leads to the establishment of the intestines. Also, this product becomes a prevention of the development of hemorrhoidal nodes, which so often arise during childbirth and continue to torment a woman during lactation. It is worth noting that the regulation of digestion and the establishment of stool helps to produce exactly the peel of a tomato. If you clean the vegetable before eating, then you won’t get this positive effect.
Contribution to the immunity of a nursing woman
Tomatoes during breastfeeding can be a good prevention of colds. These vegetables contain a large amount of vitamin C. Especially important is the use of vegetables during various epidemics.
In addition, tomatoes contain a unique substance called lycopene. Scientists have proven that it helps prevent cervical cancer. It is worth noting that approximately 20 percent of women who give birth face this pathology. All these beneficial substances also enter the baby's body.
Useful components of the product
What are the benefits of tomatoes for breastfeeding? As you already know, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and ascorbic acid. They have a positive effect on immunity. Also, the vegetable contains vitamin B. It is very important for the functioning of the nervous system. Since many mothers experience neurological problems after the baby is born, this product will be very useful to them. The composition of the vegetable includes folic acid. It is important for regulating the circulatory system.
Lycopene, the benefits of which you already know, is found exclusively in red and pink tomatoes. It gives the vegetable this special color and is a great antioxidant. That is why the product can be used not only for nutrition, but also in cosmetic procedures. Tryptophan is present in all tomatoes. It causes the formation of the so-called hormone of joy. It is him who is sometimes so lacking in newly mummies. In addition, tomatoes contain choline. This substance is able to increase the level of hemoglobin in human blood.
The effect of vegetables on the body of the child
If a newly made mom is interested in whether she can use tomatoes, then, most likely, she worries about the health of her crumbs. Breastfeeding experts say that in the first months after birth, tomatoes can adversely affect the health of the crumbs. All due to the fact that they contain fiber in their composition and contribute to gas formation. Experts advise to refrain from using this product for several months. However, as soon as the crumbs are 3-4 months old, you can safely gradually introduce the tomato into your diet.
Please note that this vegetable affects the body and the crumbs, and mothers. That is why tomatoes must be picked and cooked correctly. The best option would be to eat a raw vegetable.
Yellow tomatoes for breastfeeding
If you or your baby has a risk of allergies, then eating a yellow vegetable is a good solution. It is worth noting that it is no less useful for the body of the mother and her child. If desired, you can use a green variety of tomatoes.
It is worth noting that these products have a more dense and fleshy consistency. They are ideal for salads and stews. Remember that both red and yellow tomatoes should be beneficial, not harmful. Buy vegetables only in season, but rather grow them yourself. Refuse imported tomatoes. Surely they contain a large amount of chemicals and nitrates. Also, non-seasonal foods are unlikely to bring any benefits to your body.
Prohibition of the use of vegetables or time limits
Who and why can not breast-feed tomatoes? In some cases, doctors strongly advise against using this vegetable for lactation. The reasons for the ban may be the following:
- Mom’s urolithiasis or biliary tract pathology. In both cases, the fairer sex is advised to abandon tomatoes. The fact is that these products can contribute to the formation of kidney stones and gall bladder. The product also has a diuretic effect, which is not always useful for diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
- Allergic reactions. If the newly made mother is prone to allergies, then you should refuse such a meal. It is worth noting that sometimes this unpleasant condition can have a hereditary form. When a baby is prone to allergies, the nutrition of a nursing woman should be strictly limited.
- Severe colic in a child. Most newborn babies experience increased flatulence in the intestines. Tomatoes and other vegetables can trigger an exacerbation of this condition. If your baby suffers from colic, then you should abandon the use of tomatoes in the first 2-3 months after birth.
- Pickled and salted vegetables. A nursing mother should abandon the tomatoes prepared in this way. The thing is that after such a treatment, vegetables lose most of the nutrients. Also, the content of salt and vinegar in a dish can have an adverse effect on the quality of milk. Sometimes its taste and composition change.
Summarizing
Now you know if fresh tomatoes can be breastfed. If you decide to introduce this vegetable into your diet, then you need to do it gradually. Eat a quarter of a large tomato or half a small tomato in the morning. After that, carefully monitor the baby during the day. If no reaction has occurred, then in a few days you can increase the portion. A day is allowed to eat no more than three fruits. Tomatoes are very useful during lactation, but their use should be moderate. Health to you!