Can a nursing mother eat sorrel: 5 recipes for sorrel soup during lactation

During breastfeeding, sorrel saturates the body with beneficial microelements and vitamins that the mother needs after childbirth. When using it, follow the rules: introduce it into the diet 2 months after birth and carefully monitor the baby’s condition. A lot of delicious dishes are prepared from sorrel in which the product will not lose vitamins: soups, salads, smoothies and pies. In addition, in the form of decoctions and tinctures, it helps to cope with diseases of the mucous membranes.

The expert worked on the article:

Gagarina Svetlana Vyacheslavovna

Author of the article Education: Moscow Medical Academy named after. Sechenov. Professor, Doctor of Science, mammologist, surgical specialist: gynecology, oncology, pediatric and aesthetic surgery.

The information on the site is provided for informational purposes only. Don't self-medicate! Consult your doctor for advice.

Composition and calorie content

Sorrel contains vitamin C, PP, B, malic, oxalic and citric acid, mineral salts, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. It is also rich in carotene, tannins and essential oils. The calorie content of the plant is approximately 20 kilocalories per 100 grams.

Beneficial features

During breastfeeding, sorrel improves intestinal function: it stimulates and improves digestion, enhances the secretion of gastric juice, copes with dysbacteriosis and fermentation, and relieves constipation - a common problem for women who have recently given birth.

Benefit:

1. eliminates sudden mood swings and hormonal imbalance;
2. relieves dysentery, colitis, flatulence, constipation, hemorrhoids;
3. heals inflammation of the oral cavity;
4. reduces glucose levels in diabetes;
5. increases immunity against acute respiratory viral infections and influenza;
6. lotions and compresses heal damaged skin.

Circulatory system: strengthens the walls of blood vessels, increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood. Activates the liver, helps with inflammation of the bladder and other organs. Enriches the body with vitamins and beneficial microelements, which is important for the mother during postpartum recovery, and for the baby during the growth period.

Is sorrel good for breastfeeding?

The plant has a pleasant taste, which is given to it by malic and citric acids. Eating sorrel during breastfeeding should be done with caution and only until the inflorescences appear. During the flowering period, the leaves accumulate oxalic acid, become rough, and are poorly digested.

The chemical composition of sorrel includes micro- and macroelements:

• calcium;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• sodium.

Sorrel is a storehouse of vitamins, it contains:

• A – retinol;
• B1 – thiamine;
• B2 – riboflavin;
• C – ascorbic acid;
• PP – nicotinic acid;
• E – tocopherol.

Young sorrel greens are rich in fiber, which during lactation helps to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. After childbirth, many mothers face such a delicate problem as constipation. Plant foods have a beneficial effect on the intestines and normalize stool.

To understand whether a woman can eat sorrel while breastfeeding, let’s take a closer look at its healing effect.

Beneficial properties of sour weed:

1. Reduces cholesterol levels, strengthens the walls of blood vessels.
2. Increases hemoglobin content in the blood.
3. Eliminates putrefactive processes in the intestines.
4. Activates the immune system.
5. Removes toxins from the body.
6. Restores muscle tone.
7. Normalizes fat metabolism.
8. Improves well-being.

Despite the impressive list of qualities of the medicinal herb, a woman during lactation cannot eat it as much as she likes. If sorrel is consumed in moderation while breastfeeding, then the harm for a newborn or older infant will be minimized.

In folk medicine, the herb is used to treat respiratory diseases. Gargle with infusion for sore throat, stomatitis, and inflammation of the gums. Compresses with fresh sorrel juice are applied to areas of the skin affected by acne. These methods of using sorrel are not prohibited when breastfeeding a newborn, because a negligible amount of acid gets into the milk.

Everything is clear about fresh herbs, but can a nursing mother have borscht with sorrel? During the first three months, it is better not to experiment with this so as not to cause allergies in the baby. With mother's milk, the baby gets acquainted with the food that enters the mother's stomach and this process does not always go well.

On a note! Any new product is introduced into the diet of mother and child in small doses. You should try unusual foods in the morning and carefully monitor your baby throughout the day. If a skin rash or excessive gas formation or colic appears, you should temporarily discard this product.

Harm and contraindications

During lactation, sorrel tends to disrupt the mineral metabolism in the body of mother and baby and cause kidney stones if consumed excessively. Increases stomach acidity, which often leads to gastritis and other diseases. There is also an opinion that it makes it difficult for the body to absorb calcium, which is very important during lactation to maintain the bone health of a woman and child.

Is it possible to eat sorrel while breastfeeding? Yes, if you follow the measure and if there are no contraindications. The most dangerous herb is for those mothers who suffer from diseases associated with disruption of the integrity of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and liver diseases. A high acid content provokes exacerbation of chronic ulcers and gastritis. Sorrel is contraindicated for nursing mothers in case of a negative reaction in the baby - allergies or gastrointestinal disorders.

Benefit

Green grass contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals beneficial to the body. Thanks to this, the body's immune system is strengthened. A nursing mother needs a sufficient amount of acid and essential oils, which are found in abundance in sorrel.

Compound:

• beta-carotene;
• vitamins C, E, K, B9;
• iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium;
• other.

We recommend reading:Can I eat radishes while breastfeeding?

When breastfeeding, sorrel soup has a positive effect on the body:

• increases the tone of all muscles;
• has a positive effect on the functioning of the immune system;
• lowers blood cholesterol;
• regular use of spring grass removes free radicals;
• fat processing is accelerated;
• the body's protective function increases;
• hemoglobin increases;
• contaminants are removed from the vessels;
• improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

The green component of the herb reduces pain during menstruation. Traditional medicine has long used it to treat colds, whooping cough and bronchitis. Antioxidants help fight cancer and are an excellent preventive measure. Sorrel cleanses the body, so the skin noticeably improves.

Sorrel borscht is recommended to be included in the diet of people with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

How to select and store sorrel

For a nursing mother, only smooth and even leaves, without signs of pest damage, are suitable for food. They should be medium in size and light or dark green in color.

The fresh product is kept in the refrigerator in plastic or glass containers. The shelf life during such storage is no more than 3-5 days, after which the plant will wither and lose its appetizing appearance. But sorrel for a nursing mother can be frozen, dried or canned to be added to a dish as a seasoning if necessary. In this form, it can be stored for six months or longer.

Rules for use during lactation

Sorrel is introduced into the diet no earlier than 2 months after the birth of the child. You need to start with a small portion - 1-2 leaves, eaten in the morning. The baby's condition is monitored throughout the day. If allergies, bloating, colic or diarrhea occur, you should postpone your next sorrel intake for the next month. If everything is in order, then the portion is increased slightly. The maximum volume is 60-70 g in its pure form, no more than twice a week.

If a child has stomach problems from fresh greens, then a nursing mother should eat sorrel soup. But when a negative reaction occurs even during heat treatment, other greens or fruits rich in vitamin C become a replacement: pomegranate, apples or kiwi.

Can a nursing mother eat sorrel?

An important rule during breastfeeding is that all food should be natural. Any natural products are allowed to be eaten during breastfeeding, including sorrel. The plant is rich in useful substances, so if the baby does not have allergies or colic, this product is allowed to eat. It is important to know how to properly introduce it into the diet and when.

In the first month after birth

The menu of a lactating woman directly affects the health and well-being of the baby. There is a theory according to which only the substances necessary for the child are transferred with milk, and colic and allergies are a consequence of other processes in his body. However, almost all experts agree that in the first month of a baby’s life, a nursing mother should refrain from foods that contain allergens, chemical additives, or that are difficult to digest. During this period, the infant’s body is not strong enough to properly perceive new substances in food. Sorrel contains many biologically active additives, so it is not recommended for use during this period.

Directions for use while breastfeeding

Sorrel is not recommended to be included in the diet until 3–4 months after birth. At an earlier age, it can cause colic or intolerance. The first time, eat a small amount of the product, for example, 2 leaves. Observe the baby for about 2 days. If you notice a rash, other allergy symptoms, signs of tummy troubles, or bowel problems, avoid eating sorrel for a few months. If everything went well, you can gradually increase the amount. It is not recommended to eat the product more than 2 times a week.

Sorrel soup

Can a nursing mother eat sorrel soup? Yes, and this is safer for the baby than a woman eating fresh leaves during breastfeeding. Oxalic acid partially decomposes during heat treatment, so the risk of dyspeptic disorders in the baby is reduced.

Classical

Ingredients:

• sorrel – 150 grams;
• 2-3 potatoes;
• chicken breast fillet – 1 piece;
• eggs – 2 pieces;
• water – 1 liter.

To prepare, you first need to boil the chopped meat in water for about 40 minutes after boiling. During this time, you need to prepare the vegetables: peel and chop into small pieces. Add potatoes to the broth and cook until they are almost ready. After this, add some salt to the soup and add chopped sorrel. Cook for another 5 minutes, let it brew.

Before serving, crumble the egg into a plate and add sour cream. The dietary option allows for cooking without meat. During breastfeeding, sorrel soup is consumed both hot and cold.

Cabbage soup

Ingredients:

• 3-4 bunches of sorrel;
• 3-4 potatoes;
• half a fork of fresh cabbage;
• bulb;
• carrots, 200 g beef, 1.5 liters of water.

First, boil the meat: over low heat for an hour. Vegetables are peeled, chopped, onions and carrots are fried in a frying pan. After time has passed, the meat must be taken out, disassembled into fibers or pieces, and put back into the pan. Add potatoes and cabbage and cook until vegetables are almost done. 5 minutes before turning off the gas, add chopped sorrel and fry.

Borsch

Ingredients:

• meat – 200 g;
• sorrel – 150-200 g;
• potatoes – 3-4 pcs;
• half a small head of cabbage;
• 1-2 medium beets;
• onion - 1 piece;
• carrots - 1 piece;
• sugar - a pinch;
• vinegar – 1 teaspoon;
• salt to taste.

Cut the meat into small pieces and simmer in salted water until half cooked. Peel potatoes, cabbage, onions and carrots, cut into cubes, fry until golden brown. Boil the beets and grate them on a coarse grater. Add potatoes and cabbage to the broth and cook until soft. 10 minutes before readiness, add the roast, sorrel and beets. Add a spoonful of sugar and vinegar to preserve the bright color of the borscht.

Serve with sour cream and herbs. Sorrel soup is eaten during breastfeeding only if the child is not allergic to beets.

Kholodnik

Ingredients:

• 200 g beets;
• 300 g ham;
• 2 small cucumbers;
• 150 g sorrel;
• 4 boiled eggs;
• 1-2 tsp. mustard;
• 1 tsp. vinegar;
• greens and ground black pepper to taste.

The beets must be peeled, grated and boiled in 1 liter of water with 1 teaspoon of salt and vinegar for 15 minutes after boiling. While the broth is cooling, you need to prepare the remaining ingredients: cut into small cubes, finely chop the greens and sorrel. Add all the ingredients to the beet broth, stir, and leave in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Serve chilled with sour cream.

How to introduce sorrel soup into your diet and how much to eat?

It is better to try sorrel soup for the first time 2-3 months after birth, starting with a few tablespoons in the morning . Observe your baby's reaction for 1–2 days. It can manifest itself in the form of allergies or tummy problems. If you do not notice rashes, itching, bloating, bowel movements or other negative manifestations, you can gradually increase the amount.

Over time, you can increase the portion to a full plate. You shouldn't eat more. It is not recommended to consume the dish daily. 3 times a week is enough. Prepare soup exclusively from garden sorrel; wild greens are prohibited during breastfeeding.

Recipes for food and drinks

Salad

Ingredients:

• 300 g white cabbage;
• 200 g sorrel;
• 1 carrot;
• a bunch of greenery;
• sunflower or olive oil for dressing.

The cabbage needs to be finely chopped and salted until it becomes soft. Grate the carrots on a coarse grater, chop the greens and sorrel finely. Place everything in one container, season with vegetable oil and let steep for 15-20 minutes.

Pie

Ingredients:

• a pack of yeast puff pastry;
• 200 g sorrel;
• 2 eggs;
• 4 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
• salt;
• oil.

Divide the dough into two parts, roll out lightly, place one sheet on a greased baking sheet, make a small side. Sprinkle finely chopped sorrel on top. Lightly beat two eggs with salt and sugar and pour the mixture over the sorrel. A second sheet of dough is placed on top, brushed with egg yolk and placed in the oven. Cooking time 30 minutes at 200 degrees.

Canned sorrel

Ingredients:

• 250 g sorrel;
• 0.25 l of water;
• 1 tbsp. l. vinegar (9%);
• 7-8 g salt.

Sort the sorrel and chop it finely, and then place it in a small sterilized jar. Prepare a marinade from cold water and salt with vinegar, mix well until completely dissolved. Pour the resulting solution over the sorrel and close with a lid. Store in a cool place.

Smoothie

Ingredients:

• a bunch of sorrel;
• 1 orange;
• 1 large sweet apple;
• 100 ml of still mineral water;
• 2 mint leaves;
• a pinch of sesame.

The sorrel is sorted, the orange is peeled, the core is taken out of the apple. Place sorrel and water in a blender bowl and grind. After this, the remaining ingredients, cut into large cubes, are added. Whipped until smooth, sprinkled with sesame seeds for decoration.

Folk recipes

Gingivitis

This is inflammation in the oral cavity. To treat with sorrel, pour a tablespoon of dried roots of the plant into 0.5 liters of boiling water and let it brew for an hour and a half. Rinse as often as possible, but no more than once every 2 hours.

Haemorrhoids

Place a tablespoon of sorrel roots in a liter of boiling water and simmer for 3 minutes. After this, wrap the pan with the broth tightly and leave for 2.5 hours. After straining, pour into a bowl with a small amount of warm water. Take a sitz bath for 20 minutes, repeat the procedure daily for 7-10 days.

Diarrhea

Take a tablespoon of sorrel seeds per glass of boiling water and heat in a water bath for 15 minutes. After cooling, take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day until improvement occurs. If the remedy does not help for more than 2 days, you should consult a doctor.

Cystitis

Pour 500 g of fresh leaves into 1 liter of water and leave for an hour. Do sitz baths daily until recovery. Can only be used as part of a comprehensive treatment.

Painful periods

1 tablespoon of sorrel is poured into a glass of boiling water and infused for 40 minutes. You need to drink 1/3 glass 3 times a day, half an hour before meals. Start the course of treatment two days before the expected menstruation, continue for 5-7 days.

Sorrel during breastfeeding is allowed for a woman if she does not have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys, and the baby does not have allergic reactions or dyspeptic disorders. It is beneficial for its high content of vitamin C and folic acid, as well as iron, which is necessary to restore hemoglobin levels after childbirth. In addition to eating, infusions and decoctions of sorrel in complex therapy help in the fight against diarrhea, hemorrhoids, cystitis, painful periods, and gingivitis.

Standards of use

To ensure that sorrel greens do not become a cause of exacerbation of a particular disease for you, be sure to adhere to the norms of consumption and eat dishes containing sorrel no more than once a week. To neutralize the acidity of these greens, use fermented milk products: yogurt, sour cream, kefir. Season your salads with these products and don’t skimp on sour cream for sorrel soups.

Carefully choose the greens for consumption, young leaves contain much less oxalic acid than mature ones , so choose young sorrel, and if you grow it yourself in the garden, try to pick the greens more often, without giving them time to fully ripen, this will bring less harvest, but much more more benefit.

Sorrel, the so-called “king of greens,” when consumed correctly and regularly, will help you cope with insomnia, strengthen the nervous system, immunity, cope with problems in the digestive system, and also maintain the health of your blood vessels.

For your information . Just ten leaves will satisfy a person’s daily need for vitamins C and A.