Is it possible to breastfeed a lemon?

Lemon is a long recognized favorite among fruits. Its usefulness is beyond doubt. The refreshing taste of lemon invigorates in the winter, and in summer heat eliminates intense thirst. It is no coincidence that at the first sign of a cold everyone immediately remembers hot tea with lemon. Indeed, this fruit contains a lot of useful components, and especially a lot of vitamin C, which plays a decisive role in strengthening the body's immune resources.

Some fans of this exotic fruit use it in its pure form, despite its very sour taste - because without honey and sugar, the fruit is even healthier. Therefore, lemon is considered a necessary product for inclusion in the diet. Adults and children eat it with pleasure. But regarding nursing mothers, the opinion is ambiguous, because there are some nuances in this matter. Let's try to figure out how lemon is compatible with breastfeeding.

Useful qualities

Although with natural feeding, citrus fruits are for the most part forbidden for women, this limitation does not apply to lemons. After all, lemon is a natural source of vitamins and many other useful components that the human body really needs. The combination of beneficial elements concentrated in this tropical fruit regulates many vital processes. Here are just some of its characteristics:

1. Saturation with ascorbic acid allows you to positively affect the state of the immune system.
2. Antioxidant properties help cleanse the body of toxins and toxins.
3. The ability to improve the elastic properties of vascular walls makes lemons the best prophylactic against varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
4. The fruit improves the contractility of the heart muscle.
5. By stimulating intestinal motility, lemon copes with constipation.
6. The body of the mother and baby really needs calcium, which is quite a lot in the fruits.
7. Lemon improves the nutritional value of breast milk.
8. The fruit is able to replace salt due to its specific taste.
9. The low calorie content of the product allows women to eat it without fear of increasing their own weight.
10. The ability to influence metabolic processes makes lemons the main assistant in the struggle for a slim figure.

But, of course, the main advantage of tropical fruit is the prevention of colds and viruses. The female body after childbirth and the baby's body are in great need of such protection. Therefore, lemons with natural feeding will be useful for both mother and baby.

What may harm lemon

It should be noted immediately that all negative reactions when using lemons are possible only with excessive enthusiasm for this product. If the measure is followed, then the risks are minimal. But still, when you include an exotic fruit in the menu, this factor must be taken into account. There are three main risks:

1. Allergic manifestations in infants. Typically, reactions of this nature are due to improper storage of fruits and their lengthy transportation to the consumer. So that the fruits do not spoil, the lemons are harvested at their incomplete maturity. Then they are processed with means ensuring the preservation of fruits. It is these chemical compounds that are factors that trigger the development of allergies. To avoid a negative effect, you must thoroughly wash the fruits before use, and to eliminate all risks, it is recommended to cut the peel.If these precautions did not allow to prevent an allergy reaction, then it is better for mom to refuse to use lemons while breastfeeding.
2. Stool disorder in a child. Since the digestive system in babies is unstable, any new product can cause diarrhea, intestinal colic and increased gas formation. Lemons enhance motility, which is a positive quality for the mother's body. But for the baby, this property of exotic fruits is extremely undesirable. Therefore, mom should introduce very carefully any foods, including lemons.
3. Digestive dysfunctions in mother. After childbirth, the mother’s body is rebuilt, so chronic gastritis, ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems may worsen. Therefore, if a woman has such problems, one must be very careful in including foods such as lemon in the diet. The composition of the fetus contains substances that stimulate the production of gastric secretions, and may well lead to an exacerbation of the chronic processes of the stomach and intestines. In such situations, you should discard the lemon.

Rules for introducing lemons into the diet of a nursing mother

Given all the above risks, supplementing the menu with lemon is necessary if the following recommendations are strictly followed:

1. The first time you enter the fetus in the diet is only after the baby is three months old from the moment of birth.
2. Eat fresh fruit should start with the minimum dose - 1 slice per dose, then this amount can gradually be increased.
3. It is better to diversify the diet by adding lemon juice to tea or water.
4. At the first signs of intestinal discomfort in the baby or skin reaction, the lemon is immediately excluded from the mother's menu.
5. If the innovation was not accompanied by side effects, the dose is gradually increased, but it should not exceed 50 grams per day.
6. When adding lemon to tea, you must also take into account the quality of the tea leaves, since allergies can be caused precisely by tea additives.

Compliance with these simple measures will significantly reduce all negative risks.

Lemon Secrets

There are several subtleties of eating lemons. Knowing these secrets, you can get the maximum benefit from this product and get true pleasure from its use.

Supporters of proper nutrition are advised to eat fresh citrus fruit. But you can add lemon zest to baking or jam for a change. Although during the period of natural feeding, it is fresh fruit that is more valued.

A few tips that will be useful for lactating women:

1. Since boiling water destroys the main valuable component - ascorbic acid, you should add lemon to a slightly cooled drink.
2. If you add fresh lemon juice to drinking water, you can get an excellent tonic. To improve the taste, it is recommended to add a little honey and mint to the drink (if these additives do not cause allergies in the baby). Such a refreshing cocktail will give strength and vitality.
3. If a woman has problems with her teeth, then it is better to add lemon juice to salads, drinks or sauces. This precaution is dictated by the fact that lemon juice itself is very aggressive, and therefore it destroys tooth enamel.

Summing up, we can say with confidence that with a reasonable approach, lemon is useful for mom and baby. This affordable fruit with a bright taste will enrich the diet and positively affect their state of health.

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