21 Foods that Increase Breast Milk Supply

21 Foods that Increase Breast Milk Supply

by | Feb 9, 2022 | Health & Wellness

If you are looking for foods that increase breast milk supply, it means you are worried that you are not producing enough. You are most likely worried that your baby is not getting enough milk he deserves. Or you are worried that you are not well nourished for your body to produce enough breast milk. 

You are worried and stressed out trying to understand what to eat and what not to eat to increase the milk supply. Mothers want to know they are doing their best for the health of their babies. Certain foods are known to induce lactation and they are called Galactagogues. Below are some of the foods we found useful for you:

Foods that Increase Breast Milk Supply

1. Fenugreek

It is a natural herb that can be used to increase lactation. Fenugreek is known to be an excellent galactagogue for women trying to increase their milk supply.  They also have phytoestrogens that are essential in boosting lactation.

To benefit from this herb, drink it before sleeping and it will not only increase your milk supply but also the quality of your milk.

Fenugreek

2. Garlic

Apart from being nutritious and a healthy spice we add to our meals, it is also a galactagogue that helps women boost their milk supply. It has been used as a natural lactation aid and for other health benefits.

Furthermore, garlic may alter the taste of milk which may trigger colic in babies. You should try to notice if your baby reacts after you consume garlic. You will know if your baby is allergic or not by doing so.

Garlic

3. Papaya

Papaya contains lactogenic effects and its leaves can increase breast milk supply. It is a fruit that can be eaten as it is, added to foods when cooking or in soups. The fruit contains phytochemicals and enzymes responsible for breast milk supply. It can improve digestion, enrich you and your baby with vitamins and minerals.

4. Carrots

Carrot is a rich vegetable that provides nutrients. It increases breast milk due to the presence of phytoestrogens that have lactogenic effects in carrots. Carrots are also rich in Vitamin A and potassium, they help to improve the quality of the milk you produce. It can also help you to lose weight as well. You can eat carrots raw, in salads, juices, foods, dessert as it is a delicious orange rich vegetable.

Carrots

5. Basil

Basil leaves have a soothing effect and are rich in antioxidants. It is common in some countries for using basil leaves to increase breast milk supply since it is a medical herb. In addition, it is added to tea for a calming effect. It is also added to foods when cooking to boost milk supply in nursing mothers.

Basil

6. Sesame Seeds (Egusi)

It is rich in calcium, protein, fibre, essential nutrients. Egusi has quercetin a phytochemical that increases prolactin secretion and breast milk supply. You can add it to your salad as toppings, in soups (like Egusi Soup), pasta to increase breast milk supply in lactating mothers.

Sesame Seeds

7. Sweet Potato

It is rich food that has fibre, micronutrients, and has phytochemicals that are responsible for promoting your health. This food is known as a superfood that increases prolactin and breast milk supply. In addition, sweet potatoes are rich in potassium, energy, vitamins, minerals that are required by your body.  It can be eaten boiled, fried, in porridge, and salads.

Sweet Potato

8. Milk

It is a nutritious liquid that has more water content, no fibre, fat, proteins, sugar, carbs, and calories. It is also a rich source of protein. Casein present in milk can lower blood pressure. And it also contains all the best foods that increase milk supply. Apart from quenching your thirst, it is highly nutritious and important to take more liquid like water and milk to increase your milk supply. Try to avoid liquids that will dehydrate you when nursing or eat as a snack.

MIlk

9. Moringa (Zogale)                                                                                                                    

Zogale is beneficial in lowering blood sugar levels, weight loss, improving digestion, improving the cardiovascular system, and much more. It is widely used in Africa and Asia. The plant is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, carotenoids, calcium, and iron and can help in increasing breast milk supply when used as a lactating diet. It can be eaten as salads, in soups, foods, and juices to increase breast milk supply.

Moringa

10. Tofu (Awara)

Awara is a delicious food that can be eaten fried with pepper or eaten after being boiled. It is widely available in Northern Nigeria sold by street vendors. It is made from soybeans and is rich in protein micronutrients. This snack contains phytoestrogen and it can increase breast milk supply. It can also be eaten in soups and salads too.

Tofu

11. Watermelon

Watermelon is a nutritious fruit that is high in water content. It contains potassium, vitamin C, A, B6, and gluthionine. It also contains fibre and fructose. The water content helps to keep your breast milk flowing when feeding your baby as it has a lactogenic effect. You can eat it as it is or in juices, smoothies, or deserts.

Watermelon

12. Lentils

They are rich in proteins, fibre, magnesium, and folate. It can boost your breast milk supply, lower your blood sugar level and digestion. You can add them to soups, stews, or snacks.

Lentils

13. Green Tea

Green tea is rich in antioxidants and nutrients, vitamin B, folate and manganese, and magnesium. Taking green tea can help you, relax your body. When taken in moderation and also boost milk supply the caffeine content in green tea will not affect your baby. If you take too much instead of increasing your milk supply. It can reduce it so always drinks it a few hours after meals for the best effect.

Green Tea

14. Barley

It contains beta-glucan which is responsible for increasing prolactin levels in your body. It is also rich in fibre. The beta-glucan is the sole reason why this polysaccharide is considered as food that increases breast milk supply. You can add it to rice, salads, stews, and vegetable meals to boost your breast milk production.

Barley

15. Oats

This food is rich in iron fibre, magnesium, zinc and has a great nutritional profile. Women fall back to oatmeals to increase their milk supply. Since it is rich in iron and low mineral that helps in increasing their milk supply. It can relieve stress, improve digestion and relieve stress, improve digestion. As a nursing mother, you get the nutrients required in a short period of time since it takes little time to prepare. The way it increases breast milk supply is by increasing the oxytocin hormone levels in your body. You can eat it as a meal, in cakes, porridge, cookies or even on bread.

Oats

16. Fennel

It is a leafy vegetable that is a galactagogue and has estrogen that helps increase your breast milk supply. It has a lactogenic effect too and contains phytoestrogens. Fennel is a lactation cookie for most women. You can eat it raw or cooked since it is a vegetable. You can add it to soups, stews, cookies, or even teas.

Fennel

17. Almonds

Almonds are sweet, healthy, and packed with proteins and calcium. It is a good example of foods that increase breast milk supply because of its estrogenic activity. It also contains vitamins and minerals. Let us not forget, it is rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. Drinking almond milk increases the sweetness, creaminess, and quality of your breast milk as a nursing mother. Almonds can be eaten like nuts, in smoothies, juices, milk can be extracted from it, almond butter, and almond flour too. And it can also be added to food.

Almonds

18. Flaxseed

This also contains phytoestrogens which are needed in boosting breast milk supply. Flaxseed contains protein fibre and omega-3 fatty acids (especially flaxseed oil). Flaxseed also has a lot of benefits from reducing the risk of cancers, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, blood glucose control, and weight loss. You can take it roasted, in soups, stews, salad dressing, and in warm water.

Flaxseed

19. Water

​Water is life! Water is very essential to humans. More than half of your body and the earth you live in is water. Breast milk has more water content than nutrients. The best and easiest way to increase milk supply is by taking more water to keep you hydrated and replace lost fluids. Take more water for a steady milk supply.

Water

20. Salmon

This food is important during pregnancy and also during your lactation. Salmon is rich in protein, vitamins, and omega-3-fatty acids. It is low in mercury, boosts milk supply improves your immunity, and provides you with the required nutrients you and your baby need. You can eat it fried in soups, stew, and foods.

Salmon

21. Green Vegetables

These vegetables add colour to foods and are packed with nutrients mostly calcium. They are rich in phytoestrogens too, which is important in boosting breast milk supply. They also contain fibre and micronutrients. You can add them to your foods, stew, soups, or salads.

Green Vegetables

Conclusion

There are certain foods that increase breast milk supply and help your body boost milk production and constant flow of breast milk. They are rich in phytoestrogens, recognised as galactogogues, and are rich in essential nutrients.

What are the foods that boost your milk supply when you were nursing? Kindly leave your comments below to let us know what your go-to foods were.

If You Notice These 7 Signs, You Might Have Breast Cancer

If You Notice These 7 Signs, You Might Have Breast Cancer

by | Apr 27, 2021 | Health & Wellness

Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the mammary gland. Mostly affects the inner lining of the milk duct and the lobules that supply them with milk. However, the signs and symptoms of breast cancer are more pronounced compared to other types of cancer. Breast Cancer is commonly found among women and rare in men. 

According to the National breast cancer foundation, there are four types of breast cancer depending on which cell in the breast turns to cancer. Hence, in the post, I will be sharing the major signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

What are Some of the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

1. Development of Lump in the Breast

A breast lump is a swell or bumps in the breast usually hard, unevenly shaped, immobile and different from other surroundings of breast tissues.

2. Rashes Around or on the Nipples

This is the outburst of bumpy irritations and spots with a dry surface around one’s nipple.

3. Discharge of Blood from the Breast

Associated with breastfeeding mother’s, whereby traces of blood are seen mixed with breast milk indicating breast cancer.

4. Changes in Breast Shapes and Sizes

To notice this sign and symptom of breast cancer, you must be familiar with the shape and size of your breast to be able to tell when there is a change.

5. Severe Pain in the Breast

 When you begin to experience persistent pain in the breast, don’t assume it’s a mere pain. Visit the doctor immediately!

6. Swollen Lymph Nodes in the Neck or Armpit

This is a noticeable sign and symptom of breast cancer. The lymph nodes act as filters that collect and destroy bacteria and viruses. Lymph nodes multiply rapidly when they fight infections in the body such as cancer, causing them to swell.

7. Nipple Becomes Inverted

Of course, women are having naturally inverted nipples. But it becomes a sign of breast cancer when your normal nipple such as small, protruding, flat, bumpy, puffy, and big suddenly become inverted.

Treatment for Breast Cancer

1. Surgery

The surgical method applied in the removal of breast cancer depends on the extent of the tumour. During surgery part of the tumour and nearby tissue is removed.

This is because the complete removal of the tumour results in damage to the breast.

2. Radiation Therapy 

Employs high radiation to terminate, shrink and slow the growth of a cancerous cell in the breast by damaging their DNA. Preferable carried out during the early stages of the tumour. This method is done by either external means which involves the use of a machine to send radiation to a specific part affected by cancer whereas the internal method entails the insertion of radioactive substances in the form of seeds, ribbons or capsules in the breast. 

3. Chemotherapy

This method uses certain kinds of drugs to terminate the growth and spread of cancerous cells in the breast. These sets of drugs are prescribed based on the type and nature of cancer. Chemotherapy drugs are active agents in damaging the DNA of the cancerous cell. They include temozolomide, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, melphalan among others.

4. Herbal Treatment

Natural herbal products are employed in combating cancer. They help in stimulating the immune system which in turn fight cancerous cells most especially vegetables and fruits.

This herb includes Turmeric, ginger, garlic, laetrile saffron, oregano, and cayenne pepper. Moreover, nuts and extra virgin oil has been proven to reduce the rate of breast cancer.

What are the Preventive Measures Against Breast Cancer?

1. Avoid Alcohol Intake

Ethanol(Pure alcohol) contains acetaldehyde which causes damage to cells by binding itself to the DNA leading to cell replication incorrectly.

2. Have a Balanced Body Weight

The rapid increase in one body size promotes the growth of cancerous cells in the breast. Therefore, it’s advised you reduce the number of calories consumed and engage more in aerobics activities.

3. Avoid Post-menopausal Hormones

 Indeed postmenopausal hormones are useful in preventing diseases associated with the menopause stage. The same can increase the growth of cancer in the breast.

Hence, consult your doctor beforehand.

4. Breast-feeding Significantly Reduces the Risk of Breast Cancer

Breastfeeding is helpful for breastfeeding mothers, including in the reduction of breast cancer risk. In a nutshell, you shouldn’t refuse to breastfeed your child within the infant age.

5. Avoid Birth Control Pills

Research has proven that pills are taken to prevent pregnancy often have an adverse effect on the breast promoting breast cancer.

Conclusion

All the mentioned signs and symptoms of breast cancer must be taken seriously. When signs persist visit the hospital for a proper check-up. Furthermore, don’t engage in self-medication without proper knowledge of the type of breast cancer.

Also, share your thought about breast cancer in the comment section below.