Halva in breastfeeding: benefit or harm?

Often it is advised to use sweets, in particular, and halva, for the nursing mother for fatty milk. But the woman's diet during this period is extremely strict. Therefore, the question often arises: is halva permitted in breastfeeding or not? Is it safe for the baby's health?

What is this product - halva?

Eastern sweets that are made from nuts, seeds or sesame are called "halva." When breast-feeding this product is recommended to use it because of its components, which favorably affect the lactation of a woman.

There are many kinds of this delicacy: tahini, peanut, sunflower, nut halva. On the territory of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, this sweetness is mainly popular, which is made from sunflower seeds. That is, the protein mass of the above halva is prepared from seeds. It differs in a darker color than the cot or tahini.

Halva has three main components:

• Protein main body (nuts, seeds, sesame, peanuts);
• Caramel mass (molasses, sugar);
• Blowing agent.

As the last component, the root of the althaea or fossil is used and, of course, the egg white. The foaming agent is used in the manufacture of halva in order to give it a layered fibrous structure.

For a variety of taste in this eastern delicacy, manufacturers can add other ingredients, such as vanillin, cocoa, pistachios, chocolate.

When produced at home, this delicacy, instead of sugar, sometimes add honey.

Halva in breastfeeding: useful properties

Nursing mothers are often often strongly recommended to use the above-mentioned sweetness when there is a lack of milk or to increase its fat content. Therefore, the question often arises: is halva useful in breastfeeding? Or still it is the next assumption of alternative medicine. Let's try to understand.

The benefits of this goodies:

• Has a sedative effect;
• Stabilizes the process of blood formation;
• Improves the functioning of the digestive tract and the system as a whole;
• Increases lactation in women;
• The quality of milk improves - it becomes more fat.

Halva during breastfeeding produces such an effect due to the fact that it in itself is a fatty product, because 30% of vegetable fats. In addition, it includes folic acid, which affects the development of the baby's body.

Also, halva in its composition has useful minerals and proteins, such as sodium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, food acids.

Halva for a nursing mother in terms of medicine

Official medicine is of the opinion that the above product will really benefit a lactating woman and her baby if it is a natural home product without industrial dyes and flavors. The fact is that for a variety of taste manufacturers add to this delicacy many other ingredients that can adversely affect the body of both mother and child.

In most cases, halva is very useful in breastfeeding. Komarovsky, a well-known pediatrician, says that it's important with this product to be especially careful of nursing mother. Why? The doctor gives the following arguments:

• First, the production halva, containing chocolate, cocoa, vanillin, pistachios, can cause allergic reactions in the baby;
• Secondly, this delicacy is a product excessively fatty and can cause digestive problems in the baby, as a result of which there are colic and other pains in the abdomen.

Why halva in breastfeeding is not recommended?

In some situations, this delicacy is not recommended for a nursing mother:

• High calorie content of the product can trigger rapid weight gain;
• The possibility of allergic reactions due to the content in halva of the vast composition of amino acids and protein.

In addition, there may be some health problems or even a child's disease: indigestion (colic, diarrhea), allergies.

Some recommendations on the use of halva in breastfeeding

You can use halva for breastfeeding? The answer is positive, only certain recommendations must be followed:

• Start eating the above product during lactation from a small piece, while carefully following the infant's reaction to this innovation;
• In most cases only sunflower halva without dyes and other additives can benefit the body;
• For different types of halva, the organism of both the woman and her baby can react in different ways, that is, it is undesirable to experiment in this period;
• It is worth refraining from the above delicacy, if it contains honey, since this product is allergenic.

Contraindications to the use of halva breastfeeding mother

This treat is undesirable to use for nursing mothers with the following health problems:

• Frequent colic and bloating of the baby;
• Symptoms of diarrhea in a baby;
• Propensity to allergic reactions of the child;
• Overweight mother;
• Problems with the digestive system of a nursing woman;
• Individual intolerance of the product and its components.

Can you use halva when breastfeeding a woman? Only an experienced specialist will answer this question competently after a thorough examination of the baby and his mother. After all, each organism has its own individual characteristics, and before deciding to increase lactation with this product, it is advisable to consult with a doctor after all.