Can You Eat Peanut Butter While Breastfeeding?

Most of us love peanut butter! But can we eat it if we are breastfeeding?

• This is a question you should ask yourself if you are in this situation. The good news is that you can enjoy your peanut butter even if you are breastfeeding.
• As a matter of fact, exposing your baby to peanut butter might reduce the risk of developing an allergy for peanuts.
• Their bodies will be used to peanuts and will learn to digest them properly.
• As long as you don't overdo it, two sandwiches with peanut butter a day will not do any harm to your infant.

If you overeat peanut butter, however, the reaction might be just the opposite.

• Your baby might develop an allergy to peanuts because too much of the peanut butter you eat, get to them via the breastmilk.
• If you know your child has a peanut allergy, you have to avoid all forms of peanuts. The consequences can be severe and even fatal in this case.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) study, there is a peanut-specific protein (allergen) called 'Ara h 6' that had been shown to transfer to breast milk within 10 minutes after consuming 30 g of peanut protein.

This allergen amount in breast milk peaks after 1 hour of consumption. However, the peanut protein can still be seen over 24 hours.

On contrary, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology research findings, nursing mothers could help protect their babies from developing allergies by eating peanuts while they are breastfeeding.

Researchers in Canada found babies will be 5 times less likely to develop an allergy if the nursing moms ate nuts in the first year before the weaning process.