Breastfeeding mothers are often encouraged to follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to provide sufficient nutrition to their little ones. In this regard, drinking prune juice while breastfeeding is a good way to ensure your energy and nutrients are replenished while feeding your baby. Read this post to learn about the safeness and health benefits of consuming prunes and prune juice while breastfeeding.
What Are Prunes?
Prunes are dried plums, popular as European Plum. You prepare prune juice from dried plums, and it offers you lots of nutrients and energy. Vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients present in the prunes prevent health problems during lactation (1).
Is It Safe To Eat Prunes Or Drink Prune Juice While Breastfeeding?
Yes, you can drink fresh prune juice and eat prunes while breastfeeding your infant. Drinking prune juice while nursing helps prevent and treat disorders like constipation, thus promoting digestive health. However, an excess of prunes or its juice can have a few side effects. Have a word with your doctor before you include prunes in your diet (2).
Health Benefits Of Drinking Prune Juice While Breastfeeding
High nutritional content in prunes helps you stay fit and healthy while nursing your baby. Here, we list some prominent health benefits of drinking prune juice while breastfeeding.
1. A cure for constipation
High fiber content in prunes helps prevent or treat the troubles resulting due to constipation during breastfeeding. Fresh juice of the nutritious fruit acts as a stool softener and promotes smooth bowel movements. Drinking prune juice also prevents hemorrhoidsiXSwollen and enlarged blood vessels around the rectum and anal region, which develop due to chronic constipation (3).
Pediatrician Dr. Bidisha Sarkar opines, “Prunes are known for their laxative properties and many mothers have found that drinking prune juice can help aid digestion for their baby when they are having difficulty passing stool. There is no definitive answer as to how effective this method is since every baby’s digestive system is unique.”
2. Regulates the bladder functions
Constipation may result in compression over urinary bladder and increases the frequency of urination. You can find it difficult to regulate an overactive bladder. Prunes prevent constipation and promote normal functioning of your bladder while breastfeeding.
3. Promotes nerve impulses
Prunes are rich in mineral potassium. Potassium is a vital electrolyte that is essential for transmission of nerve impulses for carrying out various body functions. Drinking prune juice while breastfeeding will boost the health of your nervous system and promote healthy body functions (4).
4. Regulates weight gain
You can manage your weight by consuming dried plums while breastfeeding. A good intake of prunes helps you feel full for a long time, suppresses your hunger pangs, and regulates your weight gain. Also, prunes contain a very low amount of fats that prevent you from turning obese while you are nursing your dear little one.
5. Prevents anemia
Prune juice is an excellent source of iron. Adequate intake of prune juice helps increase the amount of iron in your body. Good hemoglobin helps prevent the risk of effects of anemiaiXA health condition characterized by low levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin levels in the body, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and irritability (5)
6. Minimize plaque deposition in arteries
You suffer from atherosclerosis, narrowing of arteries, due to plaqueiXA layer of cholesterol and other fatty deposits on the arterial walls, leading to heart ailmentsdeposition. As a result, you suffer from the shortage of blood and oxygen to your body tissues that can lead to heart failure, heart attack, or stroke. Drinking prune juice is highly effective in slowing down the development of atherosclerosis. Potassium in prunes helps regulate your blood pressure substantially and prevents the risk of heart problems while breastfeeding (6).
7. Promotes muscle health
Several medical studies reveal that prunes are a rich source of minerals boron and potassium. Potassium promotes smooth muscle contractions, and boron helps in building strong muscles and bones while breastfeeding. Also, drinking prune juice helps treat osteoporosisiXA condition that makes the bones brittle and weak and more prone to fracturessubstantially.
8. Good for diabetes
Prunes have a lower glycemic index (GI) and are rich in fiber, making them a healthier snack option when it comes to managing blood sugar levels. Foods with a low GI are generally considered better for managing blood sugar as they lead to slower increases in blood glucose (7). Consuming prunes may contribute to a feeling of fullness, thereby reducing the urge for unnecessary snacking throughout the day. As per research, prunes do not cause a significant spike in blood glucose and insulin, making them a suitable and satisfying snack for individuals with diabetes (8).
Prunes are a popular remedy for constipation for adults and kids. Prune juice helps regulate bladder function, promotes healthy body functions, serves as a healthy snack, controls weight gain, is a good source of iron, and promotes muscle and colon health. It also helps treat osteoporosis, reduces the risk of cardiac problems, and regulates blood pressure. Like everything else, you should consume prunes in moderation. It is better to consult a nutritionist to know the safe amount of prunes you can consume when breastfeeding.
Key Pointers
- Prune juice is dried plum juice packed with nutrients and vitamins that help you meet nutritional needs during breastfeeding.
- Consuming moderate amounts of prune juice while breastfeeding helps to improve digestive issues and bladder functions and regulates weight gain in mothers.
- Prune juice also promotes cardiovascular health, provides muscle strength, and protects from osteoporosis.
Learn how to incorporate prunes and apricots into your diet for improved gut health! Discover the benefits of these delicious fruits and how to make them part of your daily routine.
