What Spices Should Be Avoided During Breastfeeding?

During lactation, breastfeeding mothers should eat less food and drinks commonly used for seasoning, such as Chinese chives, garlic sprouts, chili peppers, pepper, fennel, and alcohol. These seasoning food and drinks are spicy and warm in nature, and overeating may cause internal heat and irritation in the mother, leading to mouth ulcers, constipation, or hemorrhoids. Babies may develop stomatitis and drooling after breastfeeding, so these food and drinks should not be consumed excessively.

1. Drinking plenty of soup and water is crucial for lactation. In addition to having soup or water with every meal, breastfeeding mothers should consume at least 2,700 to 3,200 milliliters of water per day. Therefore, they can also supplement with water, milk, soy milk, rye juice, etc., as appropriate.

2. Eating sufficient protein-rich foods is essential. Most of the foods that promote lactation are rich in protein. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers must ensure adequate protein intake, with lean meat and fish as good choices. For vegetarian breastfeeding mothers, experts recommend choosing soy products, pods, nuts, and other foods rich in high-quality protein, and seasoning them with ginger or sesame oil.

3. Avoiding certain foods that may suppress lactation is also important. Common foods that may inhibit lactation include Chinese chives, ginseng, raw malt, and barley tea. Breastfeeding mothers should minimize their intake of these foods. Additionally, cold and raw foods may also affect lactation, so breastfeeding mothers should consume them sparingly.