As a nursing mother, you have to pay a lot of attention to your diet[1]. Everything you eat will have a smaller or a more significant impact on your breastmilk and will contribute to your baby’s development as well.
Onions, along with garlic, can add a lot of flavor to your dishes, and if you are among those that love onion a lot, you will have to know how it will affect your breastmilk.
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Do Onions Affect Breast Milk?
Onions could add a strong flavor to your breastmilk, and combined with other ingredients, it might even give it a sour taste. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should altogether avoid onions. Still, you will have to consider that your baby might not appreciate the intense flavor[2].
There are also benefits of eating onions as a nursing mother so keep reading to find out everything you need to know on this topic!
What Effects Onions Have On Breastmilk?
Onions have many benefits but also a few disadvantages when it comes to their impact on breastmilk. We will go through both the pros and cons of enjoying onions while nursing and what you should expect.
Benefits of eating onions as nursing moms
Onions are rich in Vitamin C, which helps support the immune system[3].
- Onions also support HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol, and support the lipid levels in your body.
- Eating onions regularly will increase your overall health and support the natural detox of your body.
- Onions can heal or significantly reduce gestational diabetes, which is a condition that develops during pregnancy and often continues after the baby is born.
- Onions will also reduce risks of digestive issues in lactating mothers, such as ulcers or diarrhea.
- Consuming onions while breastfeeding will help maintain your blood sugar level at normal parameters, thanks to the chromium present in these veggies.
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Cons of eating onions as nursing moms
If you consume onions, your breastmilk might have a stronger flavor that not all babies like.
- Onions can make your baby gassy and even cause them nausea.
- If you consume too many onions, you might experience bloating as well as a runny nose and dry eyes.
- If you or your baby are allergic to onions, the side effects of consuming them could be more severe. They might even include breathing problems, skin hives, and severe itching.
- If you eat too much onions, you will also be at risk of excessive heartburn and red-itchy eyes.
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Nutrition From Onions
Onions are rich in nutrients that you will benefit from as a nursing mother, and they shouldn’t be neglected.
- First of all, onions are rich in flavor and can add a better taste to various dishes. In addition, they contain Vitamin C[4] , Phytochemical, Sulphuric compounds, and Flavanoids, and Quercetin, which is an important antioxidant that helps prevent cancer and other health conditions.
- The antimicrobial properties of onions come from cepaene, disulfides, trisulfides, which are essential phytochemicals, and vinyldithiins.
- Onions also contain Vitamin B and chromium[5], which can help maintain insulinin your blood at the proper levels.
You will be pleased to know that onions are low in calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol, which makes them a very healthy vegetable.
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How Often Can You Eat Onions as a Nursing Mother?
As a nursing mother, you can enjoy onions in various dishes as long as your baby accepts the taste they give to your breastmilk.
- So, eating onions daily will not interfere with your health as long as you don’t overdo it. For instance, try to keep only one meal with onions and use small quantities.
- These pungent veggies have a vibrant taste, so you will not eat them in large quantities anyway.
- If your baby refuses to drink your breastmilk after you ate onions or if they are too gassy or present other side effects, you will have to reduce the consumption of these veggies to a minimum.
- In rare cases, you might even want to skip onions if your little one doesn’t appreciate their taste.
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Best Way to Enjoy Your Onions While Nursing
If you want to add onions to your diet while breastfeeding, the way you prepare this vegetable is also an important aspect to consider.
- The best way to eat this veggie is raw. You can add it to your salads or even enjoy a slice of onion along with your favorite dishes.
- Onions will also taste delicious in sandwiches and burgers, so there is no need to avoid them in such combinations. At the same time, you can use it as an ingredient in different sauces, and it goes great with tomato sauce in particular.
- A less healthy way of eating onions during the nursing phase is friedor caramelized. Dishes that contain fried onion tend to increase the risk of heartburn, bloating, and other side effects of this veggie.
- Also, fried dishes, in general, are not among the healthiest options to enjoy as a nursing mother.
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Onions are very healthy veggies that can enhance the flavor of many dishes and, there is no reason why you should skip them when you are nursing.
However, take into account the effects that these vegetables have not only on your health but also on your baby’s health. In moderation, onions can bring many benefits to you and your baby, and you can enjoy them regularly.
