Breastfeeding truly is one of the best things a mother can do, both for herself and her newborn child. It not only provides her baby with the perfect food during the first few months, it is also an opportunity for bonding and cuddling, both of which have been proven beneficial to both mother and child. Breastfeeding also helps the mother lose the excess pounds and fat gained during the pregnancy and even lessens her chances for certain cancers. In a nutshell, breastfeeding truly is a good thing.
Although breastfeeding is very natural, it does take its toll on the mother's body. While breastfeeding, the body not only has to sustain and keep itself healthy, it also has to produce enough breast milk to feed and nourish the baby. Sustaining breastfeeding while maintaining a healthy body means that the mother must be very conscious about her food and nutrition intake so that she can stay healthy and provide for her child.
Here, a few suggestions to add to the breastfeeding mom's menu:
Monggo soup with malunggayNew moms looking for a nutritious meal should try making monggo soup with malunggay. According to LiveStrong, mung beans can be considered galactagogues—substances that increase milk supply. They're also a good source of protein, which helps build muscle and develop baby tissues, and B vitamins, fiber, and flavonoids. Malunggay, on the other hand, is healthy because it's loaded with vitamin C, potassium, and calcium and has also been proven to help in increasing a mother's breast milk. Together, they make up the perfect healthy mommy meal.
Shellfish and clear soupsTaking clear soups and shellfish, on the other hand, not only helps in providing additional fluid sources for breastfeeding mothers, but the fish and shellfish are great sources of protein with the added advantage of being low in saturated fat and high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
