Benefits of Garlic for Breast Feeding

Garlic, also known as allium sativa, is often linked to studies that suggest its medicinal value. While the medical community generally agrees that garlic may help in cases of high cholesterol, cancer or viral illnesses, there is much debate about whether or not garlic is safe for breastfeeding mothers. Despite its use as a natural antibiotic, some mothers avoid garlic in fear that it will irritate the infants stomach. But some mothers who ate garlic experienced benefits when they breastfed.

Babies Nursed Longer

According to Dr. Julie A. Mennella, babies are likely to benefit when breastfeeding from a mother who eats garlic. Her study at Philadelphias Monell Chemical Senses Center demonstrated that babies nursed longer in response to a mothers large garlic intake several hours earlier. Dr. Mennella also observed that the babies took more milk without suffering from cramps or additional issues linked to spicy foods. It was even noted that babies showed signs of preferring the taste of the milk when nursing mothers ate garlic. These findings were illustrated by various tests administered during the study.

Maintains Babys Weight

A study conducted by Dr. D. Sooranna, Ms. J. Hirani and Dr. I. Das at the Academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London, England, suggested that garlic might contribute to an increase in a small babys birth weight during pregnancy. Through a series of experiments, the research team demonstrated that growth could be stimulated by adding garlic extracts to cells from the placenta of women who were likely to give birth to a small baby. The babys healthy weight was then maintained after birth when mothers who nursed ate garlic. According to a study by Dr. Mennella and Dr. Beauchamp, babies accepted larger quantities of milk from their mothers when they tasted the flavor of garlic.

Preparation for Solid Foods

Another benefit to mothers who nurse while eating garlic is preparing her baby for solid foods. Being introduced to the strong flavor of garlic is thought to open babies up to a more varied pallet of tastes. Dr. Menella, also an expert in the early development of human flavor preferences, concluded from her study that "mothers' milk provides a rich sensory experience for the infant, and may act as a flavor bridge from the tastes in utero to table foods, therefore making certain tastes familiar to the baby.