A juice cleanse of your diet has many benefits and is great to regulate your body and feel better inside and out. But for a nursing mom, a three day cleanse is out of the question. When we do a juice cleanse, we awaken toxins in the body. The toxins circulate in the body before being eliminated, and may end up in the breast milk that your baby is consuming. It is important to wait to do a juice cleanse, or any other type of cleanse, after you are done breast feeding to avoid having your baby ingest these unwanted toxins. It would take a lot out of her physically and she needs all the nutrients, strength, and calories she can get! So, what can a nursing mom do to restart her metabolism, regulate her digestion, and feel better all around? Here are some foods to avoid and some foods to indulge while nursing:
Avoid:
- Gluten-if you are feeling bloated or gassy gluten may be the culprit. Gluten can be found in wheat, barley, and rye. That means no breads, pastas, or crackers. But is also hidden in many foods that would surprise you. Soy sauce, dressings, and even some meat have a lot of gluten in them. Start reading labels to see which foods may have gluten. The good news? There are many pastas, breads, and crackers that are gluten free.
- Dairy-dairy can often times upset your stomach and your child’s stomach. Limit or avoid milk, cheese, and yogurt.
- Sugar-this is true for nursing or non-nursing moms. There really is no benefit to consuming a lot of sugar. Sodas, candy, cakes, and cookies, while they may taste great at the moment there is no nutritional value and they too may upset your stomach. Of course, I am also a firm believer in moderation. If you love chocolate do not deprive yourself. This will only make you want it more. Keep to dark chocolate and cut back.
Indulge! Indulge! Indulge!
Now, for the healthy and delicious things that you can eat in abundance!
- Dark, leafy greens-you may stick your tongue out at these but you will get use to them. Kale, spinach, and broccoli, are all very good for you. Throw them in a smoothie with some carrot juice, a banana, and few drops of honey and you are sitting pretty!
- Fruit-summer is here so now is the time to soak up the fruit. Bananas, kiwis, strawberries, raspberries, the list goes on! Throw them in the blender with ice and water or put them over some coconut yogurt (remember we are skipping the dairy). Fruit is delicious and shouldn’t be hard incorporating in your diet while nursing.
- Vegetables-along with the dark leafy greens, other vegetables are very good for you too. Carrots, peas, tomatoes, and brussel sprouts are all delicious and nutritious. Stop by your local farmers market and mix it up. Grill veggies, steam veggies, or just eat them cold!
Nursing a child takes a lot of time, patience, and energy. The last thing a nursing mom wants is an upset stomach however it is so important to get enough calories and nutrients for both you and baby.
What are some of your favorite meals to prepare while nursing that do not include gluten or dairy?