Research-backed
Image: iStock
A delicious news awaits all breastfeeding mothers out there! Ben and Jerry’s ice cream distributors have now come up with a new flavor! You must be wondering what’s in it for you? Wait till you hear it completely.
The answer to their post delivery cravings is finally here!The new flavor introduced by Ben and Jerry’s is called Oat of this Swirled. Did something click now? No? Well, this ice cream is believed to boost the breastmilk supply for nursing mothers! Isn’t that a news to celebrate! One of your deepest desires now has a reason to be relished.
While this news might be a little tough to believe initially, your doubts will be cleared once you actually see the ice cream for yourself!
Here is a picture of the gooey goodness! I can’t help but drool by just looking at it!
Image: Newz Magazine
Image: Newz Magazine
Oat of the Swirled is a buttery-textured ice cream, made of brown sugar and swirls of oatmeal cinnamon cookie. While the sound of this is definitely drool worthy, let us also have a look at how it enhances breastmilk production.
As oatmeal is one of the main ingredients in this ice cream it is super healthy. Oats are considered to be a galactagogue by many lactation consultants. They also contains saponins. It is theses substances, which are said to induce lactation in nursing women post consumption.
The following is a brief overview of the lactation-inducing substances in oats.
- Galactagogues
Research has found that galactagogues have an important role in increasing and inducing the production of milk in both humans and animals. These substances can be herbal or synthetic in nature. 1
- Saponins
Saponins are plant based chemical compounds. These are said to enhance the absorption of nutrients in oats, while also increasing the production of hormones in breastfeeding mothers. 2
Now you know the ingredient which has made this Ben and Jerry’s ice cream an instant hit among many nursing mothers! Oats are indeed a fiber loaded with various beneficial goodness.
However, don’t rely yourself completely on this dessert for enhancing your lactational needs.
The diet of a breastfeeding mother is of extreme significance as there is another tiny life dependent on her. During this period, whatever the mother ingests has direct consequences on the health of her developing infant.
While a few foods can increase the production of breastmilk, few others may have the ability to deter the quality of milk. Intake of such substances, namely alcohol, is quite dangerous to your infant. Thus, it would be wise to steer clear of anything which may prove toxic to your baby.
Since galactagogues are found to increase and enhance the quality of breastmilk, a nursing mother should try and include more of foods rich in it into her diet. Doing so will only prove beneficial for the health of your child.
And about Ben & Jerry’s, though finishing a jar or two of this ice cream may not give you any increased lactational benefits overnight, but a frozen dessert infused with oatmeal is undoubtedly a yummier alternative to regular oats. If this reasoning is not sufficient enough for you to binge into those ice cream tubs, I have no idea what is!
