Nutritional advice for breastfeeding mothers

Stating that it is normal for mothers who gained more weight than recommended during pregnancy to lose two kilograms per month, Specialist Dietitian Güleçoğlu noted that losing more than two kilograms per month is not a healthy method, adding, ''Breastfeeding mothers should not be put on a weight-loss diet. Care should be taken not to overconsume floury, sugary, and fatty foods, and more liquid foods should be consumed after birth while breastfeeding compared to the pre-pregnancy period. 

Mothers should regularly consume certain amounts of milk, yogurt, and cheese, which are rich in calcium. One egg per day and one portion of a vegetable dish with meat or dried legumes will help maintain a protein-rich diet. 

Consuming dishes made with a mixture of dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, and bulgur together with vegetables and fruits rich in Vitamin C, such as oranges, tangerines, tomatoes, parsley, green peppers, and green onions, is very effective for the absorption of plant-based protein from dried legumes. 

Consuming vitamin-rich vegetables and fruits of different colors every day will be very effective and beneficial for nutritional diversity,” she said.

WARNED ABOUT PROCESSED FOODS

Specifying which foods mothers should pay attention to during the pregnancy period, Medical Point Gaziantep Hospital Nutrition and Diet Specialist Özlem Güleçoğlu said, “Vitamin D cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities through food. It is only provided through direct exposure to sunlight. Therefore, care should be taken to get sunlight. Iodized salt must be used in meals; iodine, which cannot be obtained sufficiently through natural foods, only passes from breast milk to the baby through the use of iodized salt. 

Dried fruits and nuts are rich in minerals such as iron and calcium in addition to their high energy content. These foods can be consumed while also managing weight. Instead of ready-made fruit juices, sodas, and cola drinks; freshly squeezed fruit juices, ayran, and homemade lemonade should be preferred. Molasses is blood-forming, but sugar is a source of empty energy. Instead of consuming sugar, eating molasses as a dessert is appropriate as a precaution against anemia. 

Other processed foods containing additives such as salami, sausage, and sucuk should be avoided as much as possible. Tea should not be consumed with meals as much as possible because it causes anemia. Tea can be drunk weak and with lemon during snack times, that is, one or two hours after eating. 

Herbal teas such as linden, mint, chamomile, and rosehip can be preferred as beverages. Smoking and alcohol should definitely not be used, and the boiling water of vegetables, pasta, and noodles should not be poured away. Dried legumes such as dried beans, chickpeas, and kidney beans should be soaked after being washed thoroughly and cooked until their skins separate. Since chemicals are used in agricultural products, vegetables and fruits should be washed thoroughly,'' she said.

News Source: 12punto