After pregnancy, you may be surprised to find out that if you are breastfeeding, you must continue to observe your diet. This is because what you consume is passed on to your baby through breast milk. In most cases, ginger and honey tea are a good choice and are usually safe for most breastfed mothers. Please consult your doctor before adding it to your diet.
During breastfeeding, your baby will be affected by your food and drink choices. (Photo: Stockbyte / Stockbyte / Getty Images) Benefits
Tea made from ginger and honey has a soothing effect that relieves the symptoms of colds during breastfeeding. Most doctors recommend avoiding medications during breastfeeding because these ingredients can have a negative impact on your baby. Ginger may be effective in relieving breathing problems and coughing. Honey can soothe sore throat and help relieve cough. In most cases, both methods provide a safe alternative to you and your baby. Ginger is also effective for milk flow, which helps to make breastfeeding a success.
How to prepare
Ginger and honey tea are easy to prepare at home, only need four ingredients. Colleen Vanderlinden, author of the book Midwest Edible Horticulture, offers a recipe that requires four glasses of water, a 2 to 3 inch peeled ginger, honey and lemon. Boil the water on the stove. Cut the ginger into thin slices and add in boiling water for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove the ginger from the liquid and discard it. Fill in a cup of tea and season with lemon juice and honey.
Safety
Research on the safety of ginger during lactation is limited. Recommendations for their use vary by doctor and other medical professionals. MedlinePlus recommends avoiding it completely during breastfeeding, but the Baby Center website insists it is safe at moderate doses. Please discuss the appropriateness of ginger and honey tea with your doctor during breastfeeding.
Notes
Although ginger is rated as “widely considered safe” by US food and drugs, it may not be suitable for every breastfeeding mother. If you take diabetes, blood pressure, blood clotting or heart disease medications, ginger may affect its effectiveness. The foods and drinks that Summet you eat during breastfeeding may cause your baby's reaction. If you notice a rash, irritability or diarrhea soon after breastfeeding, your baby may be sensitive to honey or ginger. A food diary helps track these symptoms and lets you determine the trigger food. Honey is usually safe for breastfeeding, but Matthew Beshara, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Pennsylvania, recommends pasteurized honey because it is unlikely to be contaminated with bacteria that may harm you or your baby.
