Sugar Consumption And Breastfeeding: What You Should Know
High sugar intake while breastfeeding could be detrimental to the baby’s health. Breast milk contains simple carbohydrates in its interior as a general rule, but an excess of them is capable of increasing the incidence of metabolic pathologies in the child over the years.
For this reason, it is not only necessary to take care of the diet during pregnancy, but also during breastfeeding. It must be ensured that the consumption of toxins and substances that can pass into breast milk and cause harm to the baby, which is still developing internally, is avoided.
Sugar and breast milk
According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , a high consumption of sugar during pregnancy can affect the body mass index of the future baby. In this sense, it is necessary to reduce the contribution of simple carbohydrates to prevent obesity situations.
However, the importance of the mother maintaining a good diet is not reduced to the pregnancy itself. It also extends throughout the entire breastfeeding period, since the consumption of certain substances can change the nutritional composition of the main food for the baby.
According to research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , the mother’s exposure to high levels of fructose in the diet can negatively affect the baby’s brain development. For this reason, it is necessary to regulate the consumption of this nutrient in the diet.
A diet high in sugar can damage a child’s liver
Eating sugary drinks or foods high in simple carbohydrates early in life has been shown to be detrimental to metabolism. But the truth is that this habit in the mother’s diet also affects the development of the baby’s organs.
If the woman is exposed to sugar in large amounts, the child is more likely to experience liver or cardiovascular problems during adolescence or adulthood. The same happens with diabetes, since a situation of insulin resistance will be generated due to the high presence of fructose in breast milk.
It must be taken into account that this alteration in nutritional value impacts on the child’s body composition. At the same time, it is important to remember that subcutaneous fat levels can have a significant influence on health during all stages of life.
The healthy diet during breastfeeding
Ideally, the diet of the nursing mother is based on the consumption of fresh food. It is important that industrial ultra-processed products are reduced to the maximum, since they contain excessive doses of simple sugars and trans fats that can affect the nutritional value of breast milk.
Also, avoid soft drinks. Glucose or fructose given by liquid medium have a more direct impact on metabolism. They are considered the most dangerous simple carbohydrates.
Likewise, the regular contribution of artificial sweeteners or large amounts of salt is not convenient. Of course, it will be necessary to restrict alcohol, although unlike previous periods, higher amounts of caffeine are already tolerable without harming the baby’s health.
It is important to reduce sugar intake while breastfeeding
It is true that during lactation energy needs continue to increase. Not only must the mother’s requirements be met, but it is also necessary to ensure the production of quality breast milk so that the baby is nourished correctly.
However, this does not mean that all foods are welcome in a woman’s diet. Unlike. It is optimal that fresh ones predominate, while the intake of ultra-processed products and products with a high content of simple sugars must be kept very limited.
On the other hand, it is still necessary to be careful with toxic elements such as alcohol and drugs. Even some infusions could be harmful due to the passage of its components into breast milk. When in doubt, it is best to consult a specialist so that he or she can confirm what can and cannot be eaten.
