Medically Reviewed By:
Last Updated on June 22, 2022 by Neelam Singh
Yes. The Indian Dietetic Association recommends that breastfeeding mothers should consume a diverse, balanced and healthy diet.
One must focus on making healthier food choices while breastfeeding. High protein-rich food items such as dals, nuts, eggs, dairy, etc are recommended. A mother’s need for iodine and choline increases during lactation. Therefore, food items rich in choline such as dairy, eggs, meats, seafood, pulses, and lentils are recommended.
Food items that should be avoided or limited while breastfeeding is fish (due to high mercury content), caffeine, highly processed foods, and alcohol.
Also, CDC recommends “Breastfeeding mothers generally need more calories to meet their nutritional needs while breastfeeding.” According to the National Institute of Nutrition, an additional of 300 kilocalories (kcal) per day is recommended along with a balanced diet for well-nourished breastfeeding mothers, as compared with the amount they were consuming before pregnancy. Therefore, if you’re not eating enough calories or nutrient-rich foods, this can negatively affect the quality of your breast milk.
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