Can red fish be breastfed?

About the benefits of eating fish - people have known since ancient times. This food product is a real storehouse of trace elements and vitamins that are useful to adults and children. The inclusion of red fish in the diet contributes to the normal development of the human body. However, today there is an idea about the danger of eating red fish by nursing mothers. Is such a statement true - we will consider in our article.

Varieties of red fish and its benefits

What kind of fish do we call red? Salmon, pink salmon, chum salmon, salmon - all this is a delicious fish from the sturgeon family. It is called red because the color of the muscle tissue of the listed species has a reddish or white-pink hue. Red fish contains various minerals and trace elements. They can be useful both for a nursing mother and her baby. Let's start with a detailed acquaintance with the list of useful substances that are contained in red fish.

1. First of all, red fish is high in vitamin D. We get enough of it by eating salmon, salmon or tuna. The average daily intake of vitamin D for children from 0 to 12 months is 400 IU (international units). It contributes to the normal development of bone tissue, strengthens the immune system, and prevents the appearance of a disease such as rickets.
2. Vitamin B12 is the next healthy vitamin rich in salmon and fresh tuna. It helps to optimize the functioning of the central nervous system. We must not forget that vitamin B12 affects the number of red blood cells in the blood of both a nursing mother and her baby.
3. Salmon is high in vitamin C. We all know about the destructive effect of oxidation processes in our body. By producing an antioxidant effect, vitamin C protects cell membranes from harmful reactions caused by excessive oxidation.
4. Vitamin E, available in various varieties of fish, has an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthens the walls of blood vessels.

Of course, the list of nutrients contained in red fish is not limited to this list. You need to remember about vitamins A and B6, as well as about omega-3 acids. The presence of the latter is distinguished precisely by red fish. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, strengthen the cardiovascular system and muscles. When a mother eats red fish, her health is optimized, as well as her baby, who is breast-feeding.

Thus, the beneficial components contained in red fish are important and necessary for the body of a nursing mother. They are easily perceived by the digestive system of a woman, and also help strengthen her body.

Is red fish allowed?

Based on the knowledge about the beneficial properties of red fish as a rich source of all kinds of vitamins, we will try to find out if this food product is absolutely harmless to mom during the period of breastfeeding.

Begin with the fact that often red fish has not only vitamins, but also allergens. Her use can cause an allergy, and not in the mother herself, but in a child who is eating her milk. This aspect makes many nursing mothers refuse the opportunity to add red fish to their diet, because they do not want to harm the baby. However, nutritionists note that the occurrence of an allergy from eating red fish is an exclusively individual case, which can be caused by a single intolerance to the product.

In general, red fish is a product that does not harm the baby during breastfeeding.

Note! The salmon contains the least number of allergens, so its use in food will be as safe as possible.

Therefore, red fish is a food product that can be harmful in the exceptional case of its individual intolerance. In the rest, eating salmon, trout or chum salmon will only benefit her and her baby. In order to conduct preliminary observations, you can start eating red fish with small quantities. This will allow you to follow the baby’s reaction and postpone the product until a certain time, in case of a negative reaction.

Are there any contraindications?

It will not be a secret to anyone that the use of certain foods can adversely affect both the health of the baby and his mother. We will deal with the existing contraindications for eating red fish.

The most famous among others is an allergic reaction. Be sure to exclude the product from the diet if you notice allergy symptoms. When the child is six months old, you can return to using the product again. If negative reactions are not observed, then mothers during breastfeeding are recommended to eat red fish from the moment when the baby is two months old.

Important! Do not experiment with red fish in the first month of the baby’s life, as many new products can cause negative manifestations in the functioning of the baby’s digestive system.

Thus, the beginning of the intake of red fish by the mother during breastfeeding is one month from the moment of the birth of the baby. The presence of a negative reaction of the child will delay the use of this product until he reaches six months, in rare cases - up to a year.

We must not forget that 30-50 grams of red fish is the optimal amount of product that mom can afford per week. Exaggeration of the norm can cause a negative reaction in the baby. Compliance with the norm will make it possible to replenish in the baby's body all the missing useful substances.

In what form should I use?

There are many ways to cook red fish. It can be salted, fried, baked and even smoked. However, none of the above methods can be compared in terms of the brought benefits to a nursing mother with cooked red fish or steamed. Consider the main advantages of the proposed methods of heat treatment of the product.

1. The largest number of beneficial trace elements and vitamins is stored.
2. Increases the nutritional level of the product.
3. High heat treatment temperatures are the best way to rid the fish of bacteria and other microorganisms.

Do not forget that when cooking, you can not add all kinds of seasonings, as well as salt and pepper. The best spice substitute for mom will be adding freshly squeezed lemon juice to the cooked dish.

As previously noted, no more than 50 grams of red fish can be eaten per week by a nursing mother. An increase in the quantity of the product is contraindicated, as it can adversely affect the well-being of the baby. In case of observing negative reactions, be sure to consult a doctor. Compliance with the proposed recommendations will allow you to reduce the likelihood of allergies or digestive problems of the baby.

Video: the right diet for a nursing mother