12 beneficial properties of chicory during breastfeeding

Chicory is a plant with a valuable root. It can be found on borders, hills, and by the road. There are 8 types of this herb. Common chicory is especially popular. Entire plantations are dedicated to planting this species. Chicory root is the most popular coffee substitute. It is often chosen by nursing women, as dry roasting gives a similar taste. To understand whether it is possible to drink chicory after childbirth while breastfeeding, you need to analyze the composition of the drink, features and contraindications.

Chicory is a popular coffee substitute used by nursing mothers.

Useful properties of chicory

The root of the plant has a beneficial effect on the body of a nursing woman, as it contains macro- and microelements, vitamins, protein, resins, and amino acids. The healing properties are used in pharmacology and folk medicine. A soluble mixture for preparing a drink is included in the treatment menu for diseases of the cardiovascular system, diabetes, and joint pain.

The root retains its beneficial properties after heat treatment. The product contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, C, carotene. Mineral salts in the raw materials (derivatives of iron, calcium, sodium, manganese, phosphorus) have a positive effect on a woman’s metabolism and appearance.

Useful properties of chicory:

• Natural sugar substitute. The dried root contains from 49 to 75% inulin, a valuable polysaccharide. When interacting with hot water, the substance is converted to fructose. To soften the taste of the drink, you do not need to add a lot of sugar.
• Contains a lot of insoluble fiber, which is a prebiotic - a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria. They cleanse the intestines and also promote the absorption of beneficial elements and the removal of toxins.
• Improves digestion. The root normalizes the production of gastric juice, restores stool, and eliminates dysbacteriosis.
• Relieves joint inflammation. Minerals normalize metabolic processes in the body. Due to this, joint mobility is restored, and the condition of arthrosis, arthritis, and gout improves.
• Has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gallbladder and liver. Chicory helps break down fats and thins bile.
• Strengthens the walls of blood vessels because it contains ascorbic acid.
• Ensures harmonious functioning of the heart. The drink helps improve well-being with tachycardia and arrhythmia.

Soluble chicory has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and choleretic effects. When consumed regularly, it stimulates blood flow, reduces blood glucose levels, accelerates skin regeneration, and helps lose weight.

The essence of the problem

So can a nursing mother drink chicory? There is no clear answer to this question. To date, no special studies have been conducted to prove that chicory should not be consumed by nursing mothers. We can only safely say that “coffee substitute” is contraindicated for a baby, although it is unlikely that anyone would think of giving such a drink to a baby. But what about his mother?

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Cautious pediatricians do not recommend drinking chicory during breastfeeding, and innovative doctors say that the drink will not harm either mother or child. Therefore, it is worth focusing on the numerous reviews of mothers who drank chicory while breastfeeding.

Statistics, medical reports and numerous online forums indicate that the drink does not have any negative effects on the child. In addition, millions of breastfeeding women claim that the “coffee substitute” has a positive effect on their general condition, which is reflected in a decrease in swelling due to the diuretic properties of the plant. A mild laxative effect and the ability to normalize intestinal function eliminates regular and frequent constipation associated with anxiety and changes in diet.

Attention: if you still have doubts about whether you can drink chicory while breastfeeding, consult your local pediatrician. He will help you assess the situation and make the right choice.

Is it possible to drink chicory while breastfeeding?

Doctors have different opinions about drinking the drink during lactation. Some experts believe that the high biological activity of the grass can harm the baby. This applies to children with sensitive digestion and increased excitability. Chicory, like other herbs, can cause an allergic reaction in a child. This is the main risk for the nursing mother and baby.

Most specialists, including Dr. E.O. Komarovsky, they believe that consuming chicory 2-3 times a week while breastfeeding will not harm the baby.

The drink does not contain caffeine. Despite this fact, it should not be introduced into the diet immediately after childbirth. The baby's digestive tract gets used to new conditions by about 3 months of age. During this period, you can try chicory. A negative reaction is expressed by changes in stool, colic, rash, peeling of the skin, and restlessness of the child. These signs may appear within 2 days. If no bad reaction was observed, the product is introduced into the diet.

Negative manifestations are often caused not by chicory itself, but by cow's milk added to the drink.

The effect of chicory on lactation has not been studied. In some women, milk production increases, in others it decreases. Everything here is individual. A woman needs to be guided by her own observations.

Consumption of chicory during pregnancy and lactation

Chicory is a godsend for pregnant coffee lovers. Having a pleasant, coffee-like taste, it will perfectly replace coffee in the diet with benefits for the body of mother and child. After all, all the positive effects of this plant will have a great impact on the well-being of the expectant mother. Particularly valuable in this case will be improving the functioning of the heart, kidneys and liver, stimulating the elimination of toxins, and combating constipation and heartburn.

Whether to use chicory while breastfeeding is a more difficult question. This is due to the fact that no additional studies have been conducted on the possibility of its use during lactation. Therefore, many experts do not completely prohibit the use of the product, but recommend drinking it in small quantities.

Judging by the composition of the drink, it cannot cause much harm to the child. It is only necessary to take into account the possible stimulating effect on the nervous system (which is undesirable for the baby), as well as the manifestation of allergic reactions. To eliminate these adverse effects, the drink should be introduced into the diet gradually, monitoring the baby’s condition and behavior.

Consumption of chicory in recommended doses during lactation will help to gradually bring your figure back to normal without exhausting diets, thanks to the improvement of metabolic processes in the body. However, it is not worth abusing it, even if there is no effect on the child. After all, this is a medicinal herb that has a fairly strong effect on the body.

Chicory for children

1. The chicory drink is approved for use by children over 1 year of age. In kindergartens it is often included in the menu to strengthen children's immunity.
2. Many parents use chicory root to improve the appetite of their children. The main thing here is not to overdo it and not to stimulate excessive appetite, which can subsequently lead to obesity.
3. Despite all the positive qualities of the drink, it is not advisable to give it to children all the time. Since it contains many substances in quantities that exceed the needs of the child’s body.
4. The use of baths with this herbal remedy is effective for infants suffering from diathesis. For this purpose, make a special infusion consisting of 4 tablespoons of crushed roots along with chicory stems, poured with one glass of boiling water and left for about 30 minutes in a water bath. Then they add it to bathing water, and also make compresses and lotions.

The effect of chicory on the mother's body

Many women find it difficult to give up coffee in the morning, so chicory becomes a substitute for them. The drink invigorates you in the morning and helps relieve fatigue in the evening. Like any warm drink, chicory improves milk flow. If there are no contraindications, a nursing mother will only benefit from using the product.

A drink made from chicory helps during breastfeeding:

• relieve nervous tension;
• strengthen the immune system;
• improve the condition of hair, nails, skin;
• normalize hormonal levels after childbirth;
• lower blood pressure;
• restore the balance of intestinal microflora;
• eliminate constipation;
• normalize metabolism;
• get rid of insomnia.

The plant affects the functioning of the thyroid gland. If a woman has increased synthesis of thyroid-stimulating hormones, the drink will help reduce their production. Some experts note that the root of the plant stimulates menstruation, and as a result, decreased lactation.

How does chicory affect a nursing mother and baby?

Chicory is a product that can be consumed during breastfeeding. It will have the most positive effect on the health of mother and baby.

1. The plant has the amazing property of preserving the beauty of the skin by accelerating the process of regeneration of collagen fibers, reducing the risk of stretch marks. The drink will help improve the condition of weakened, thin, split ends, increasing its strength and growth.
2. With regular consumption of chicory, constipation and dysbacteriosis will no longer torment the new mother. Inulin, which is part of the root, will bring the intestinal microflora back to normal.
3. By stimulating the excretion of bile in a natural way, the plant will help a nursing woman and baby remove waste and toxins from the body.
4. Will bring cholesterol levels to normal and improve blood circulation.
5. It will be an excellent prevention of respiratory diseases, which is especially important for newborns and nursing mothers. After all, recovering from a cold during this period without using medications prohibited during breastfeeding is extremely problematic.

Chicory will become an invisible protector against infections and help avoid many annoying diseases, strengthening the immune system.

Contraindications for use

The drink is not recommended for varicose veins, hemorrhoids, gastritis with high acidity, asthma, chronic bronchitis, cholelithiasis. The product is incompatible with cardiac medications. During treatment, the drink is excluded from the diet.

Chicory can cause intolerance in a woman, which is manifested by itching, flaking of the skin, swelling of the throat, and intestinal upset. A negative reaction of the body to the root of the plant is usually observed in women with a pollen allergy (hay fever).

A drink made from freshly ground dried chicory root is considered the most useful, but an instant version is better as a substitute for coffee.

Preparation and composition of chicory

Chicory is a perennial herb that belongs to the medicinal category. To prepare medicinal decoctions, all its parts are used, and to create a soluble drink, the roots are fried and crushed to a powdery state.

Previously, instant chicory was made from an extract of this plant. But over time, technology has changed. Currently, chicory powder is prepared in a manner similar to the production of instant coffee: from roasted and ground roots.

Photo gallery: what the product looks like

Chicory grows everywhere in central Russia

Chicory roots are used to prepare an instant drink

Soluble chicory powder may contain additives, such as stevia as a sweetener.

Unlike a fresh plant, the powder has a less rich chemical composition - some vitamins are not preserved after heat treatment, but the mineral content is quite high. The roots also contain inulin (dietary fiber), which promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

Table: composition of soluble powder

Rules for selecting and storing chicory

Chicory is sold in its pure form, or with the addition of ground cereals, spices, berries, herbs or natural coffee. Dried and fried roots are used to prepare the mixture. For a nursing woman, a liquid extract or a product with whole pieces is best suited. It is with this treatment that the plant retains maximum beneficial substances. Whole pieces are crushed with a coffee grinder and brewed.

For coffee lovers, instant chicory is more suitable. It contains fewer nutrients, but tastes more like coffee. The darker the cooking mixture, the higher the degree of roasting and the more pronounced the flavor.

To choose a quality product, you need to pay attention to the composition. If a woman wants to replace coffee with chicory, preference is given to a freeze-dried mixture without additives. The grains in the product (most often barley) add calories to the drink.

Manufacturers often add rose hips, blueberries, and ginseng to the mixture to enhance the taste and benefits. If these are natural ingredients and not flavorings, the healing properties of chicory increase. A product containing preservatives will not be beneficial.

To ensure that the mixture retains its properties after opening the package, you should choose a product packaged in a glass jar or bag with an airtight zipper. This way the powder will not absorb foreign odors or moisture.

How to choose and drink chicory correctly?

The range of instant chicory on sale is huge - there are all kinds of combinations with coffee and various additives. When choosing a drink or tea for a nursing mother, you should give preference to a product without artificial flavors and chemicals that are harmful to the baby.

Before purchasing, you need to carefully study the composition indicated on the package. It should not contain coffee, which manufacturers sometimes add to enhance the taste. You can safely take chicory with natural extracts (rose hips, ginger, echinacea), but it is safer for the baby’s health to buy a product without impurities.

Usually start taking an instant drink with 1 teaspoon diluted with a glass of hot water. This drink is not much like coffee, but after it you can assess the child’s condition. In the absence of an allergic reaction or other alarming symptoms, the dose is doubled the next day. However, do not forget that the baby’s nervous system has not yet become stronger, and drinking a large number of cups or drinking a “strong” drink can have a bad effect on the toddler’s nervous system.

Method of use

A teaspoon of granulated root is dissolved in hot water. A little sugar and milk are added to the drink. In the first months of life, a child may react poorly to the mother's consumption of cow's milk, so it is better to replace it with vegetable mixtures. They will soften the bitterness. Oatmeal and rice milk are suitable (for example, from, “Healthy Menu”, etc.).

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Chicory can be consumed during lactation if the child and woman tolerate this drink well. A large amount of drink during breastfeeding can lead to unpleasant consequences - diarrhea, bloating, hypervitaminosis. Therefore, the main thing is to observe moderation.

Why is it better to replace coffee with chicory during breastfeeding?

Of course, if mommy loves coffee very much, it is very difficult to give it up completely. You can sometimes allow yourself a small cup of your favorite drink, but it is not difficult to partially replace coffee with chicory during this period. Indeed, due to its bitter taste and dark brown color, it is almost indistinguishable from instant coffee. And it will bring much more benefits than caffeine. Scientists have not conducted special studies on the benefits of chicory for nursing mothers and their babies during breastfeeding, and you need to rely on your own feelings when consuming it.

Any doctor will advise you to drink a substitute instead of coffee, since caffeine can cause:

• allergies in a child;
• overexcitement. If it has an invigorating effect on the mother, it will also invigorate the baby. And an overexcited baby at three o'clock in the morning is unlikely to be a joy to a tired mom who allowed herself a little whim in the evening;
• addiction. If it is difficult for a woman to give up her favorite drink, then she will instill an unconscious caffeine habit in her baby from an early age;
• coffee actively removes calcium from the mother's body. And this element is pulled by the baby, who vitally needs it;
• Newborns are not able to absorb and remove caffeine from the body and only accumulate it over a long period of time.

But a warm chicory decoction will help enhance lactation, will not cause addiction, will help the overtired nervous system to fully rest and fill the body with vitamins and microelements.