Can You Eat Avocado While Breastfeeding?

Consume avocados in moderation during pregnancy to avoid gastric discomfort.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jessica Madden, MD, FAAP, IBCLC Dr. Jessica Madden Dr. Jessica MaddenMD, FAAP, IBCLC MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on TwitterFollow MomJunction on LinkedinFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Neonatology, Pediatrics, and Lactation Experience: 19 years
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Eating Avocado During Breastfeeding

Image: ShutterStock

In the past few years, avocados have gained a lot of popularity as a superfood. Nursing mothers may always look for ideas to add nutrition-rich food to their diet. In addition, they may want to know if it would be a good idea to consume avocados while breastfeeding. They have a distinct taste and a nice creamy texture that many lactating women enjoy. Read this post to know more about the nutritional value of avocados. We also tell you it is safe to consume them while breastfeeding and the possible health benefits of eating avocados while nursing your baby.

In This Article

What Are Avocados?

Avocados, also known as “Alligator Pears,” are wonderful, nutritious fruits that grow on an evergreen tree called Persea Americana, which belongs to the Lauraceae family. The fruit’s skin possesses a leathery appearance, and it’s native to Puebla, Mexico. Each avocado weighs between eight ounces and three pounds. The fruit is widely popular for its unique taste, appearance, and many individuals include it in their snacks for numerous health benefits (1).

Is Eating Avocados Safe While Breastfeeding?

Avacados also promote the growth and development of newborn.

Image: Shutterstock

Yes, you can include avocados in your diet for optimal postpartum nutrition., especially when you are nursing a newborn round the clock. In fact, several doctors and lactation consultants recommend adding this fruit to your breakfast or snacks while breastfeeding since it offers several infant and maternal health benefits. It may positively impact the growth and development of your newborn. So, make sure you eat the nutritious fruit in appropriate quantities while nursing your baby (2).

protip_icon Point to consider
Since avocados are a good source of fat, they help in better absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K (1).

Health Benefits Of Eating Avocados While Breastfeeding

Avocados offer you and your newborn several health benefits during lactation. Here, we list some important health benefits of eating avocados while nursing.

1. Helps neurological development of newborn

Avocados contain high amounts of healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fats, which are healthy, particularly for newborns. Consuming the fruit provides your baby with healthy fat which helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins K, A, E, and D, during digestion. These vitamins promote your baby’s growth and neurological development. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid present in avocados that promotes your baby’s brain growth and improves her visual functioning. Avocados are also a great source of minerals, including magnesium and potassium, which benefit the baby’s health (1). Moreover, the folic acid content in avocados helps boost your baby’s growth and brain and nervous system development.

2. Promotes digestion

Avocados provide about 40% of the daily dietary fiber requirement per serving. Soluble and insoluble fibers in the nutritious fruit promote smooth digestion while you are nursing your baby. Also, consumption of avocados prevents stomach upset, indigestion, and constipation while breastfeeding.

3. Helps with dental care

Eating avocados also prevents bad breath (halitosis).

Image: Shutterstock

Eating avocados also prevents bad breath (halitosis). Flavonoids and antibacterial properties of the fruit kill the bacteria in your mouth effectively and promote good oral hygiene while breastfeeding. Also, consumption of avocados prevents the risk of development of oral cancer.

4. Promotes liver health

Avocados help to keep the liver healthy. Organic compounds in the fruit help promote your liver health substantially while you are nursing your baby.

5. Supports weight management

Incorporating avocados into your breastfeeding diet can significantly improve your overall nourishment and aid in weight regulation. The fruit prevents you from gaining too much weight during the postpartum period and helps you stay fit and active.

protip_icon Point to consider
Avocados are a combination of fat and fiber, so they keep you full for longer (1).

6. Treats arthritis

Anti-inflammatory benefits of avocados prevent inflammation and pain of joints

Image: Shutterstock

Anti-inflammatory benefits of avocados prevent inflammation and pain of tissues, muscles, joints while breastfeeding. A high amount of flavonoids, carotenoids, phytochemicals, and phytosterols in the fruit make it an excellent anti-arthritic, pain and joint swelling (arthritis).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does avocado cause gas?

Avocados are high in polyols, which is a type of sugar alcohol. An excessive intake of avocados may cause bloating in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (3).

2. Does avocado increase milk supply?

There are not sufficient studies stating if avocados increase the milk supply. However, a study published in the National Library of Medicine stated that the good fat content of avocados might improve breast milk quality (4).

3. Can eating avocados affect the taste of breast milk?

There is no direct evidence to suggest that eating avocados can affect the taste of breast milk. Yet, a mother’s fruit and vegetable consumption can affect the flavors in breast milk, shaping infants’ food preferences. Avocados have good fats and vitamins, making them nutritious for breastfeeding moms (4).

4. Are there any potential allergies associated with avocados and breastfeeding?

Yes, there is a possibility of allergies linked to avocados. A study revealed that specific proteins in avocados could trigger allergic responses in individuals with a previous latex-fruit allergy. Although digestion breaks down these proteins partially, reactions can still occur (5).

5. What are some alternative sources of healthy fats for breastfeeding mothers aside from avocados?

In addition to avocados, breastfeeding moms can get healthy fats from foods such as nuts and seeds (like almonds and cashews), olive oil, olives, vegetable oils ( sunflower and safflower), and peanut butter (6).

6. Can avocados help with breastfeeding-related fatigue?

While avocados are a nutritious food and can contribute to overall well-being, there is no direct evidence to suggest that they specifically help with breastfeeding-related fatigue. A balanced diet and proper rest are important for managing fatigue during breastfeeding.

Did you enjoy eating avocados while nursing your dear little one? How did you benefit from it? Fellow moms would love to hear your side of the story. So, leave us a comment in the section below.

Infographic: Benefits Of Eating Avocados During Breastfeeding

Avocados are a nutritional powerhouse for nursing mothers. They are rich in healthy fats and provide immense benefits to you and your baby. Have a look at this infographic as we share some benefits of including this superfood in your nursing diet.

how eating avocados helps nursing mothers and their babies (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • Eating avocados while breastfeeding is recommended by many doctors due to its benefits.
  • Avocados are rich in healthy fats and fiber, aiding in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and promoting digestion.
  • Avocados contain DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and folic acid, which aid in brain and nervous system development.
  • Consuming avocados can improve the nursing mother’s oral hygiene, weight regulation, liver, and joint health.
  • Additionally, avocados help the mother feel fuller for longer periods and provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
Avocado While Breastfeeding_illustration

Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. In Case You Need a Reason to Eat More Avocado.
    https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/healthy-and-delicious-avocado.html
  2. Breastfeeding and your diet.
    https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breastfeeding-and-your-diet
  3. Anamaria Cozma-Petruţ et al; (2017); Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend not what to forbid to patients!; US National Library of Medicine
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5467063/
  4. Kevin B. Comerford et al; The Role of Avocados in Maternal Diets during the Periconceptional Period Pregnancy and Lactation
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882725/
  5. Araceli Díaz-Perales et al; Analysis of avocado allergen (Prs a 1) IgE-binding peptides generated by simulated gastric fluid digestion; The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14610495/
  6. Session 2: Fats – Saturated, Unsaturated, and Trans Fat.
    https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/146588/cdc_146588_DS1.pdf”
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Dr. Jessica Madden
Dr. Jessica MaddenMD, FAAP, IBCLC
Jessica Madden is a pediatrician, neonatologist, lactation consultant, and mother of four, who has been taking care of newborns for more than 19 years now. She works as a neonatologist in the NICU at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and founded Primrose Newborn Care, a newborn medicine and “4th trimester” home-visiting and telemedicine practice, in 2018.

Read full bio of Dr. Jessica Madden
Jessica Albert
Jessica AlbertBE
Jessica Albert is a passionate writer who seeks to connect with her readers through wit and charm. Her work aims to invoke curiosity and keep the readers engaged through and through. She has two years of experience working with magazines and e-commerce establishments as a content marketer and editor.

Read full bio of Jessica Albert
Rohit Garoo
Rohit GarooBSc, MBA
Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

Read full bio of Rohit Garoo
Anindita Ghatak
Anindita GhatakB.Tech
Anindita Ghatak holds a B.Tech degree in Biotechnology from Amity University, Kolkata. During the course of her studies, she has worked on different research projects in the fields of Microbiology and Bioinformatics. Anindita has over three years of experience writing medical articles for journals.

Read full bio of Anindita Ghatak