When nursing a newborn, eating a nutritious and balanced diet is especially difficult but critical. Some foods may be more beneficial than others. What about vegetables? Can I eat Brussel sprouts while breastfeeding?
Yes, you can eat Brussel sprouts while breastfeeding because they’re a good source of folate.
Folate helps to support brain and neural development in newborn babies.
Overall, leafy greens like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage are healthy and nutritious veggies to eat while breastfeeding; they can greatly benefit you and your baby.
In this article, I will tap into the nutritional benefits of Brussel sprouts, any side effects, and their potential impacts on breast milk supply while breastfeeding.
Can you eat Brussel sprouts while breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding moms pass what they eat onto their baby through their breast milk, and having gone through lots of dos and don’ts during pregnancy, you might be wondering if you can eat Brussel sprouts while breastfeeding.
Now that you have had your baby, you can relax a little bit on the list of strict dietary restrictions from when you were pregnant.
Eating Brussel sprouts is beneficial during breastfeeding because they are a rich supply of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C and K and folate.
These nutrients are vital to the overall health of the mother and the newborn baby while breastfeeding.
For instance, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant in breast milk, protecting cells from the damaging effects of free radicals and, therefore, reducing oxidative stress.
Brussel sprouts are also rich in folate, also known as vitamin B9. While it is no longer news, the importance of folate during pregnancy (especially early pregnancy) is also essential during breastfeeding.
Folate is vital for healthy red blood cell development and cell functioning.
Green leafy vegetables like Brussels sprouts are a decent supply of iron, which can help rebuild your iron stores used during pregnancy while breastfeeding.
Lastly, Brussels sprouts have about 4 g of protein per one-cup serving. So, they aid in muscle growth and many functions in the body.
Since newborn babies derive their nutrients from their mother’s foods, protein from the foods the breastfeeding mother eats will help support the baby’s muscle growth.
Potential side effects of eating Brussels sprouts during breastfeeding
During breastfeeding, the recommended daily allowance of iodine increases to 290 micrograms from 150 micrograms before pregnancy.
Iodine supports the optimal functioning of the thyroid gland and is also vital for the development of your baby’s brain.
Nursing moms who eat goitrogenic foods such as Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower can be at risk of iodine deficiency while breastfeeding.
However, it can be hard to get sufficient iodine from foods. Therefore, most breastfeeding multivitamins could provide adequate amounts of iodine.
Also, eating too many fiber-rich foods like Brussels sprouts when your body is not used to them can cause gastrointestinal discomforts such as diarrhea, flatulence, stomach pain, or bloating.
So, there is a possibility that Brussels sprouts could cause gas in your breastfed baby—more on this below!
Do Brussel sprouts cause gas in breastfeeding babies?
Consuming vegetables is absolutely one of the best things that you can do for both your body and your baby’s development.
If you have a gassy baby, look at how often you’ve eaten Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower, and review your eating plan.
Yes, these vegetables are healthy, but they are also known for being culprits when it comes to giving you—and perhaps your nursing baby—gas.
When breastfeeding, your baby takes all its nutrients directly from your food. Be watchful of the foods you eat while breastfeeding.
If you have a colicky baby, limit your intake of Brussels sprouts and other foods that could give you gas because they could ultimately work against a “teeny tiny baby tummy.”
Indeed, some foods aren’t quite ready for your baby’s stomach yet. And chances are, it’s precisely the food that may leave you feeling uneasy.
According to the Rule of Thumbs, if any food makes you gassy, there is a tendency that it may do the same for your baby because of traces of what could end up in your breast milk.
However, this is only sometimes the case. One breastfed baby may experience gas from Brussels sprouts, while another may not.
So, look for patterns in your baby’s reaction to different foods in your diet to notice if Brussels sprouts are causing the gas.
I will suggest that you avoid Brussel sprouts and any other foods that give you gas when you eat them for a while. And observe whether there are any positive changes in you and your baby.
This will let you know whether eating Brussels sprouts while breastfeeding could give your baby gas.
Recommended: Why does cabbage make me gassy?
Are Brussel sprouts good for milk supply?
Nutritious vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale may positively impact breast milk production in some women.
To get to this final thought, I have to get a bit scientific, so please stay with me.
Cruciferous vegetables contain significant amounts of glucosinolate, a sulfur-containing phytochemical that gives cruciferous vegetables their intense, almost musky smell as you chop them up.
One of the breakdown products of glucosinolate is indole-3-carbinol, a natural estrogen inhibitor.
Estrogen is an enemy of breast milk production.
While estrogen levels are naturally high during pregnancy, the concentrations drop a few days after giving birth to a baby. It is a signal to the production and supply of breast milk, as per a review in clinics in obstetrics and gynecology.
Indole-3-carbonol has been demonstrated to balance hormones by breaking down and lowering estrogen levels.
Studies also revealed that a high intake of cruciferous vegetables could be significantly associated with reduced risk of cancer, especially in estrogen-dependent tissues such as the breast due to Indole-3- carbinol’s ability to suppress high estrogen levels.
Some women with metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity or who are in the habit of taking some pills have difficulty establishing and maintaining an adequate milk supply.
This is because these conditions or habits predispose one to a higher estrogen level, suppressing breast milk production.
While breastfeeding, incorporating Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables into your diet may be one way to initiate and maintain a healthy breast milk supply, especially if you’re struggling with low milk supply from a high estrogen level.
Conclusion
Eating vegetables is one of the best things you can do for your body and your baby’s development. But when it comes to avoiding foods when breastfeeding, all “gassy” foods should be eaten cautiously.
Other cruciferous vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and food like beans can cause issues in your little one’s tummy. It’s so painful to watch your little one wrenching around due to a stomach ache that you can’t help with.
While breastfeeding, cruciferous vegetables may assist in establishing and maintaining an adequate milk supply through the suppression of estrogen, particularly in those who have a low milk supply due to higher-than-normal estrogen levels.
Most cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens; you should limit your intake of raw cruciferous vegetables (for example, as a supplement or powder).
Avoiding these vegetables may be hard if you’re a nursing mom, as they provide a lot of nutrients that you need and also support your milk flow.
Consult your healthcare provider about supplements like Vitamin B-9 and Vitamin D that can help you while you’re avoiding these foods.