Pineapple During Breastfeeding: Safety, Nutritional Value And Benefits

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Lactating women may be unsure about their dietary choices because whatever they eat will be shared with their infants. One such doubt is whether or not to eat pineapple during breastfeeding.

Pineapple is a hydrating fruit that contains several essential nutrients, dietary fiber, and bioactiveⁱXA type of chemical that can be found in trace amounts in plants and some foods components that support long-term health (1). Most of these nutrients can be passed through breast milk and could help the infant too. But pineapple is acidic and can cause diaper rash in breastfeeding babies.

This post addresses the most prevalent questions about pineapple, including its benefits for nursing mothers and ways to incorporate it into a breastfeeding diet.

Can Nursing Mothers Eat Pineapple?

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Yes. Pineapple is a nutritious fruit that you can consume when nursing and during motherhood.

Contrary to the popular belief, there are no research studies to corroborate the belief that breastfed babies get diaper rash due to the maternal intake of acidic fruits. Instead, it’s the babies’ consumption of acidic fruits, such as citrus fruits, which may lead to diaper rash, especially in sensitive babies (2).

Nevertheless, if you suspect any food, including pineapple, is affecting your baby, eliminate it from the diet for a few days and observe the change. If your baby shows improvement in their health, it is most likely that the food item was affecting them through breast milk.

Nutritional Value Of Pineapple

Pineapple has several varieties with varying nutritional values and is a breastfeeding-friendly fruit On average, one cup of pineapple (165g) can offer a nursing mother the following nutrients to contribute to her nutritional needs during the lactation period and beyond (3)(4).

Source: USFDA and Dietary Guidelines For Americans 2020-2025

* RDA for lactating mothers between the ages of 19 and 30 years.

AI = Adequate intake – nutrient level assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy.

Health fact

Pineapples are low in calories and free of cholesterol and fat (9).

Possible Health Benefits Of Pineapple

Pineapple is known to have several medicinal and therapeutic properties. Most of these properties are attributed to bromelainⁱXAn anti-inflammatory enzyme that helps the body fight pain and swelling , an enzyme found in the fruit and stem of pineapple (5). Here’s a brief overview of some of the benefits you could reap from eating pineapple as a part of your well-balanced breastfeeding diet.

1. Offers hydration: 165g of pineapple gives approximately 142g of water, making pineapple a natural source of hydration. Since breastfeeding moms need good hydration to keep their breast milk production going, adding pineapple to your breastfeeding diet is a good choice (6). Besides water, pineapple also provides several micronutrients to promote postpartum recovery and benefit long-term health.

2. Provides several nutrients: Pineapple contains significant amounts of vitamin C and essential nutrients, such as potassium and folate, which could contribute to a nursing mother’s nutritional needs. Some of the nutrients, such as vitamins, can also pass to the breastfeeding baby in small quantities through breast milk (7).

Image: S: iStock

3. Gives dietary fiber: A nursing mother needs about 34g of fiber daily. Pineapple being a fiber-rich food, can help meet this requirement and improves digestion. Dietary fiber is essential for adding bulk to the diet and keeping the bowel movement smooth. Since several mothers experience constipation during the postpartum period, pineapple can be a good choice for them.
   

4. Offers antioxidants: Pineapple is rich in vitamin C, a vital vitamin that acts as an antioxidant and fights free radical damage to improve long-term health. In addition, it has bromelain, flavonoidsⁱXA class of natural compounds found in various fruits and vegetables , and phenolic compounds, such as coumaric acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ellagic acid, which also confer antioxidant effects essential for robust immune system functioning (8).

Besides these benefits, pineapple is known to have anti-inflammatory, analgesicⁱXA type of medicine used to treat pain , and antimicrobial properties. Perhaps, it’s why the use of pineapple flesh and juice is prevalent in treating ailments, such as sore throat and seasickness, in folk and traditional medicine (9).

The graph below represents the amount of bromelain present in different parts of a pineapple, such as the skin, flesh, core, crown, and stem. It shows that the skin contains the highest amount of bromelain, closely followed by the amount contained in the flesh. The amounts are seen to decrease slightly over ten days.

The concentration of bromelain in different pineapple parts

Be watchful

Pineapples that have not ripened can be toxic, irritate the throat, and act as a strong laxative (9).

Tips To Select And Store Pineapple

Proper selection and storage of pineapple are vital to ensure you reap its benefits to the fullest. Here are some simple tips you can follow while buying pineapple.

Selecting a pineapple

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1. Look for an organic pineapple with dark green leaves and a greenish-yellow exterior. These attributes indicate that the pineapple is ripe, fresh, and of course, healthy.

2. Hold the pineapple in your hands and squeeze it. A ripe pineapple has a firm shell and feels soft when you squeeze it.

3. Pick a pineapple that feels heavy for its size. Heavy pineapples are often juicier, sweeter, and riper.

4. Sniff the base of the pineapple. A fresh and fully ripe pineapple smells sweet and pleasant.

5. Discard pineapples with soft spots and bruises with the juice oozing out of them. Ensure the pineapple you pick doesn’t have any darkened eyes.

Storing a pineapple

1. Once you bring pineapple home, clean with a damp cloth to remove any dust, dirt, or debris.

2. Store the pineapple at the kitchen counter if you plan to consume it within two to three days. Otherwise, keep it in a perforated plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator for three to five days.

3. Store cut pineapple in a glass or BPA-free airtight plastic container in the refrigerator.

Image: S: iStock

Ways To Add Pineapple To Your Breastfeeding Diet

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You can consume fresh or frozen pineapple in a salad or make its juice (with pulp) and prepare nutritious lactation smoothies. Alternatively, you can use pineapple to tenderize tough meat cuts or enhance a sweet or savory dish’s flavor. Irrespective of your choice, remember the following points.

• Eat pineapple in moderation as a part of a well-balanced and nourishing diet.

• Use fresh pineapple as much as possible. If fresh and juicy pineapple isn’t available, you can opt for frozen pineapple.

• Use canned pineapple cautiously. Most canned fruits are preserved in sugar syrup, so they are high in calories. Therefore, look for canned pineapple preserved in its juice or water.

Infographic: Pineapple Recipes For Breastfeeding Mothers

Besides being refreshing and delicious, the many nutrients of pineapple make it one of the superfoods for lactating mothers. But since breastfeeding is the phase when your routine is most hectic, these quick and easy recipes will let you include the goodness of pineapple in your diet while allowing you to dedicate enough time to your baby.

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Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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Explore the advantages of pineapple for lactating mothers in this informative video. Gain insights on including this delectable fruit into your dietary regimen as a wholesome and satisfying snack.

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Mindy CockeramLCCE, CLEC

Mindy Cockeram is a childbirth and breastfeeding educator with 11 years of experience. She currently resides in Southern California, where she teaches at a non-profit hospital. Her career began after the birth of her second child when she changed career direction and trained as an antenatal teacher with the National Childbirth Trust in London, England. She taught childbirth classes for...more

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in...more

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. Also, he holds a certificate in Developmental Psychology from The University of Queensland and loves to expand his knowledge through certifications in various...more

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. Her interest in writing on different health-related topics and their accessibility to people have led her...more