What Are The Benefits Of Eating Papaya During Breastfeeding?
4 min readWritten by Pradeep
Are you a new mother worrying about whether your baby is getting enough milk? Do you intend to stick to a diet that ensures sufficient milk for your baby? Do you hesitate to eat the food you like most thinking that it may get into the breast milk and affect the health of your baby? No wonder those thoughts grip your mind as your baby is surviving on your breast milk alone. It is true that the essence of many foods you eat can get into breast milk and influence the health of the baby. And also, there is lots of food that is not safe while breastfeeding. In this article let us find out if eating papaya during breastfeeding has benefits associated with it.
Now, are you deeply fond of papaya? Are you not having it because you think that it may affect your baby’s health as you may have already heard that it is not safe to eat papaya during pregnancy as it triggers an abortion? The medicinal value of papaya is well-known since ancient times. But the question is, is it safe to have it during the lactation period? This article may help you to find the answer.
In This Article
- Is it Safe to Eat Papaya During Breastfeeding?
- What are the Benefits of Eating Papaya During the Lactation Period?
- Is Cooked Papaya Equally Beneficial as Uncooked One?
- Green Papaya or Ripe Papaya, Which is More Beneficial During Breastfeeding?
- How Can I Have Papaya During Breastfeeding?
- When to Avoid Papaya During Breastfeeding?
- What Causes Papaya Allergy?
- What are the Warning Signs of Papaya Allergy?
- FAQ’s
Is it Safe to Eat Papaya During Breastfeeding?
Yes,it is absolutely safe to eat papaya while breastfeeding, provided the mother has no allergy to it. Also, moderate consumption is recommended as overconsumption of anything during the lactating period can harm the mother and the little one.
What are the Benefits of Eating Papaya During the Lactation Period?
The benefits of raw and ripe papaya differ. We have listed how both are beneficial to lactating mothers:
- Raw papaya helps to regulate diarrhea.
- Ripe papaya helps to prevent constipation.
- Raw papaya is approved as a galactagogue (inducing lactation) across Asia. This is because green papaya increases the production of a hormone – oxytocin – in the mother’s body which is the hormone that regulates milk production.
- Raw papaya also improves the quality of breast milk for the reason that it is a good source of vitamins [vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), folate (salt of folic acid, a member of vitamin B complex), vitamin E, and vitamin A] and minerals[calcium, magnesium, potassium].
- It is also a low-calorie food with just 39 calories per 100 gm bowl of papaya and hence keeps a check on your calorie intake.
- Papaya is also very good for the digestive system and it helps in regular bowel movements keeping constipation at bay.
Is Cooked Papaya Equally Beneficial as Uncooked One?
Studies show that raw papaya, cooked or uncooked, is equally beneficial. However, it is always better to cook the raw papaya before consumption. Later in the article, we covered how you can consume raw papaya during breastfeeding.
Green Papaya or Ripe Papaya, Which is More Beneficial During Breastfeeding?
It is suggested to add raw papaya to the vegetables or include whole ripe papaya in the diet. Raw or green papaya possesses a higher medicinal value than a ripe one. This is because the enzymes and minerals are more concentrated in raw or green papaya than the ripe ones.
How Can I Have Papaya During Breastfeeding?
Because of its bland taste, green papaya can be made interesting by adding some ingredients, and thus it makes for a great snacking option. Here are a few options:
- Cut a salad for yourself, season it with some lime juice and hot peppers and relish a bowlful.
- You can even try cooking green papaya curry, which is a traditional dish in South Asia. Have it stir-fried or make a green papaya stew. Not only will it help in boosting your breast milk production, but will also satiate those untimely hunger pangs.
When to Avoid Papaya During Breastfeeding?
Even though papaya is highly recommended while breastfeeding, you are not supposed to eat papaya, if any one of your intimate family members is allergic to papaya or even if you show even a slight allergy to the papaya.
What Causes Papaya Allergy?
The skin and fruit of papaya contain an enzyme almost identical to latex. This enzyme is accountable for the allergic reaction of papaya. This enzyme is mistaken for an allergen by the body which tries to dispose of it by making a particular antibody called IgE. The reaction of the antibody causes an allergic reaction which varies from mild to severe from person to person.
What are the Warning Signs of Papaya Allergy?
Look out for these warning signs:
- Itchy rashes and redness on the skin when the skin touches the latex of the papaya.
- Chest congestion and breathing trouble.
- Burning sensation along with the Inflammation of the oral cavity, mouth, and lips (oral allergic symptom) while eating papaya.
- Diarrhea and vomiting.
- The most severe allergic reaction is falling unconscious.
Now, there is no wonder papaya is called the “fruit of angels”, considering its benefits. Go ahead and include it in your postpartum diet. Other than producing more breast milk it will also help you to heal faster from the injuries from your delivery. But make sure to consult with your doctor first about this.
FAQ’s
1. Can Eating Papaya During Breastfeeding Increases Body Heat?
Papaya is a heat-inducing fruit. So, eat them in moderation. Over consumption can increase body heat, which is not healthy.
2. Will Papaya Increase Lactation?
Papaya is rich in oxytocin. This is the hormone responsible for regulating milk production. Green papaya can increase the milk supply.
3. Can the Benefit of Eating Papaya While Breastfeeding Reach the Baby?
Oh yes! Papaya is rich in many vitamins. These can be passed to the baby.
4. Will Papaya Help With Constipation?
Papaya improves bowel movements. Eating it in moderation can help with constipation. Some people can experience diarrhea too.
Read Also: 16 Best Foods For Breastfeeding
Pradeep,
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