Natural Ways To Boost Your Milk Supply: Food

I'm currently breastfeeding and started eating a lot of different foods to increase my milk supply in the early days and they really helped.

I've included a list of my top 10 below. There are loads more out there, but these ones I found to be the most effective and beneficial to me.

Tomorrow I will be posting some of my recipes featuring these yummy, nutritional and nourishing foods. These featured foods are packed full of vitamins and minerals and contain chemical properties that get that lovely breast milk flowing.

Star's Top Ten Lactation Boosting Foods (and drinks!):

WATER & JUICES - it goes without saying that you need to be drinking a lot of fluids. You don’t need to drink litres of water every day, but keep a water bottle around you so that when you are nursing your baby and feel thirsty you have water to drink. Juices are amazing for energy too! I will also feature my amazing lactation tea recipe tomorrow.

OATS – are a good source of iron. It also contains beta-glucans, phytochemicals, protein, fibre, and carbohydrates which promotes a more lush supply of nourishing milk. Oatmeal is also calming, comfort food. Oxytocin and relaxin is released when eaten, which stimulates breast milk production and helps with milk flow. Oxytocin is said to promote feelings of trust, so, you transmit that to your baby who will, in turn, feed better. More sucking, more milk!

BREWERS YEAST – is a rich source of iron, chromium, protein, vitamin B & other minerals. It is also known to combat post-partum exhaustion & baby blues. I ate brewers yeast like it was going out of fashion! And made some amazing lactation balls using it, more on those tomorrow!

FLAX SEED - has phytoestrogens that can influence breast milk production. It also contains essential fatty acids.

ALMONDS - are rich in Vitamin E & Omega 3 too. Omega-3 helps to boost lactation hormones. Many nursing mothers choose to eat almonds or drink almond milk to increase the creaminess, sweetness, and amount of their breast milk.

FENNEL - has similar properties as the hormone estrogens (Phytoestrogens) and has been known to increase the fat content of breast milk.

CHICKPEAS - are a nutritious food that is high in protein. They also contain plant estrogens.

BROWN RICE – is high in fibre and has hormone stimulants which can boost lactation. It also maintains sugar levels in your body and can help to increase the appetite and normalise mood swings.

GARLIC - has been used for years to stimulate breast milk supply. Avoid if your baby suffers with colic though! Intake of 2 to 3 garlic cloves daily aids in breast milk production in new mothers.

MORINGA - leaf powder has been known to increase breast milk as it stimulates the mammary glands. It also has a high iron and calcium content.

I hope you found this useful. Don't forget to look out for my lactation boosting recipes in my next post in the series.

BIG love,

Star xx