Why You Should Eat Papaya During Breastfeeding?

As a breastfeeding mother, you might be extra cautious about what you eat during pregnancy to ensure your baby stays safe and healthy. Many mothers take extra precautions to consume balanced meals and a generous serving of fruits daily to lactate enough to provide the baby with the required nutrients. One fruit that is considered excellent for nursing mothers is papaya. Therefore, papaya during breastfeeding is highly recommended by dieticians as a rich source of essential vitamins and minerals that enhance the quality and quantity of milk and also help in post-delivery recovery. Let’s look at the benefits of eating papaya for breastfeeding mothers.

Is Papaya Good for Breastfeeding Mothers?

Many mothers wonder, “Can I eat papaya while breastfeeding?” as they want to make healthy dietary choices for themselves and their babies. The answer is Yes; consuming papaya is safe after delivering the baby because of its high nutritional value (5). Ensure not to eat raw papaya during pregnancy, as it can trigger early labour. Despite its sweet taste, it is an excellent food with low sugar content. Papaya is very good for lactating mothers. Just ensure you are not allergic to papaya and consume it in moderation if you are not.

Nutritional Content of Papaya

Papaya is low in calories but rich in essential nutrients like vitamins C, A, and folate. It also provides a good amount of dietary fibre, which is beneficial for digestive health.

Here’s the nutritional content of papaya per 100 g (1):

Health Benefits of Eating Papaya While Breastfeeding

Papaya is ranked as one of the most nutritious fruits to have for nursing mothers. The orange flesh of the ripe melon-like fruit is exceptionally nutritious, creamy and sweet which makes it a favourite fruit for many. In many parts of the world, raw papaya is a common component in curries and stews and is also popular for its potential health benefits. Here are some major benefits of eating papaya for breastfeeding moms (3):

1. Prevents Heart Diseases

Papaya prevents cholesterol from building up in the blood vessels. It is rich in potassium and helps regulate heart rate and blood pressure. It reduces the chances of heart diseases and promotes a healthy circulatory system (9).

2. Helps With Post-Natal Weight Management

Papaya helps prevent cellulite development. It has a detoxifying effect and helps in burning fat. Being a low-calorie fruit, it contains no cholesterol and helps in weight management.

3. Boosts Immunity

Eating ripe papaya in breastfeeding is a very good option because of its health benefits. Fresh and ripe papaya has vitamin C, which is an immune-boosting agent. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties which promote healing and prevent infections.

4. Boosts Milk Production

Papayas are known to have a lactogenic effect, which helps increase milk production in nursing mothers (5). Green papayas are more lactogenic, and hence nursing mothers should definitely try out different recipes incorporating green papayas.

5. Promotes Healthy Bowel Movements

Papayas contain dietary fibre, which helps in preventing constipation and haemorrhoids. A regular intake of papaya can work wonders for the digestive system. It also lowers high cholesterol levels and regulates the blood glucose level.

How Does Consuming Papaya Affect Milk Production?

Delicious papayas not only contribute as culinary treats but also have a range of health benefits to offer. Raw or green papaya increases the production of oxytocin – the hormone which regulates milk production in the mother’s body. It also fortifies breast milk with its inherent vitamins and minerals (4).

How to Include Papaya in Your Diet While Breastfeeding?

All mothers should understand that the health and growth of the newborn baby are completely dependent on the mother’s diet. Papaya, in fact, can bring in variety, flavour and health benefits which are required for your recovery and essential for your baby’s development. While you can eat ripe papayas either as it is or in a fruit salad, there are a few ways you could include raw papaya (green papaya) in your diet. It can be eaten cooked, raw or even as a curry. Here are some more ways you could include papaya in your regular diet.

• Green Papaya Curry – Green papaya can be cooked with some spices and made into a curry.
• Stir-fried Green Papaya – The raw fruit can be stir-fried in a tempering of your choice to make a quick side dish.
• Salad – Add some lime, salt, and pepper to grated raw papaya. To enhance the flavour, you could also add basil or mint leaves.
• Green Papaya Smoothie – A green papaya smoothie is a great breakfast recipe and can be made with papaya, spinach, carrot, and yogurt.
• Parathas – Just the way radish parathas are made, stuff raw papaya in some wholewheat dough and roll out. These can be eaten along with your regular meal.
• Green Papaya Soup – You could prepare a fresh green papaya soup or can add the ingredient to fish and chicken soups.

Green Papaya or Ripe Papaya – Which is Better While Nursing?

Ripe papaya tastes better than raw papaya, but from a medicinal point of view, raw papaya should be consumed by lactating mothers regularly. The enzymes and minerals are more concentrated in raw papaya, making it healthier for nursing mothers.

Is Cooked Papaya as Beneficial as Uncooked Papaya for Breastfeeding Moms?

When we talk about uncooked papaya, we are essentially talking about raw papaya, which has a bland taste, unlike the ripe papaya. Most people avoid raw papaya for its unappealing taste, but cannot ignore it completely because of its nutritive value. They, therefore, prefer to cook it with other vegetables to make soups, stews, curries, stir-fries, or salads.

Also, many nursing mothers with a mild allergy towards papaya can consume cooked papaya safely. Cooking the raw fruit brings about a chemical alteration in the protein that causes an allergic reaction. Nonetheless, you must take medical advice to either treat the allergy or prevent an allergic reaction.

When Should You Avoid Papaya While Breastfeeding?

Though papaya is highly recommended to nursing mothers, one must bear the following points before consuming it:

• Do not consume papaya if you are allergic to it. The skin of papaya contains an enzyme similar to latex, which the body considers an allergen (6). One must promptly discontinue consuming papaya if any warning symptom is seen.
• Papaya should be consumed in moderate quantity. Excess consumption may lead to allergic reactions in young mothers.

What Causes Papaya Allergy?

Consuming papaya sometimes triggers severe allergic reactions in sensitive mothers. People with a latex allergy should either consult a doctor or avoid the fruit completely. The skin of papaya contains an enzyme which is responsible for allergic reactions. One needs to be extremely careful during the sensitive period of breastfeeding as it can directly affect the health of the nursing mom and indirectly spell danger for the baby too.

Warning Symptoms of Papaya Allergy

Papaya is known to be a wonder fruit because of its nutritional properties. But, if you see any of the warning symptoms mentioned below, you must quickly seek medical attention (2).

• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy rashes wherever the skin touches the fruit
• Swollen lips
• Irritation in the mouth and the throat
• Diarrhoea and vomiting to eliminate the allergen
• Burning sensation along with inflammation of the oral cavity while eating papaya
• Severe symptoms include obstructed breathing and fainting

FAQs

1. Is it safe to drink papaya juice and eating seeds during breastfeeding?

Yes, it is generally safe for breastfeeding mothers to consume papaya juice and seeds in moderation (7). However, it is essential to note that while papaya fruit is safe for breastfeeding mothers, there is limited research on the safety of papaya seeds during breastfeeding (8). Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor before consuming papaya seeds. 

2. How often should breastfeeding mother consume papaya?

Breastfeeding mothers can consume papaya regularly as part of a balanced diet.

3. Can papaya be included in the breastfeeding mother’s diet if the baby is gassy or fussy?

Yes, the diet can include papaya, even if the baby is gassy or fussy Papaya is not known to cause gas in babies commonly.

This delicious fruit’s lactating benefits make it a favourite among nursing mothers. This nutrient-packed ‘fruit of angels’ is a tremendous postnatal diet to nourish you and your baby. Unfortunately, not all mothers can have it. However, you may seek medical advice from your doctor to try this fruit.

References/Resources:

1. Papayas, raw; U.S. Department of Agriculture; https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169926/nutrients

2. Bashir. T; Papaya Allergy Symptoms Treatment; Fruits Facts; https://fruitsfacts.com/papaya-allergy-symptoms/; September 2017

3. Papaya; Drugs and Lactation Database; National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501881/

4. Pebrianthy. L, Lubis. M. S, Maisyaroh. Y; Effect of Papaya Decoction (Papaya Carica L.) on Increasing Breast Milk Production in Breastfeeding Mothers; International Journal of Public Health Excellence; https://www.neliti.com/publications/410695/effect-of-papaya-decoction-papaya-carica-l-on-increasing-breast-milk-production#cite

5. Pesak. E, Losu. F. N, Dompas. R, et al.; Impact of Papaya (Carica papayaL.) on Breast Milk Production Enhancement of Nursing Mothers at Teling Atas Public Health Center, Wanea Subdistrict, Manado City; Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences; https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/5880/5588; April 2021

6. PAPAYA ALLERGY; Allergy Resources; https://www.allergyresources.co.uk/Papaya.php

7. Ikhlasiah. M, Winarni. L. M, Poddar. S, Bhaumik. A; The effects of papaya leaf juice for breastfeeding and working mothers on increasing prolactin hormone levels and infant’s weight in Tangerang; Enfermeria Clinica; ResearchGate; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343169313_The_effects_of_papaya_leaf_juice_for_breastfeeding_and_working_mothers_on_increasing_prolactin_hormone_levels_and_infant’s_weight_in_Tangerang; June 2020

8. Memudu. A. E, Oluwole. T. J; The contraceptive potential of Carica papaya seed on oestrus cycle, progesterone, and histomorphology of the Utero-ovarian tissue of adult wistar rats; PubMed Central;  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7863105/c

9. Somanah. J, Aruoma. O. I, Gunness. T. K, et al.; Effects of a short term supplementation of a fermented papaya preparation on biomarkers of diabetes mellitus in a randomized Mauritian population; PubMed Central; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22330753/

Also Read:

Jackfruit in Breastfeeding
Pomegranate in Breastfeeding
Pineapple during Breastfeeding Safe?
Is it Safe to Eat Bananas while Breastfeeding?
Fruits to Eat & Avoid during Breastfeeding

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