Is It Safe To Eat Cheese When Breastfeeding?

Cheese is a rich source of protein, calcium, and certain vitamins and minerals. Consuming cheese while breastfeeding can help enhance the nutritional quotient of your postnatal diet, which is much required to fulfill your and your baby’s daily nutritional requirements. However, you should take certain precautions to ensure that the products you choose are safe for consumption during this period.

Continue reading this post to learn more about the types of cheese, their health benefits for nursing mothers, the nutritional value of different cheeses, and ways to identify the appropriate product.

Is It Safe To Eat Cheese While You Are Breastfeeding?

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While you are breastfeeding, it is important to have a healthy and balanced diet that will be nutritious for you and your little one. It is safe to eat most pasteurizedⁱProducts that are made bacteria and pathogens-free by heating at controlled temperatures for a specific duration. cheese during pregnancy, but some babies may react to the proteins casein and whey found in dairy products when you are breastfeeding. If your baby is in pain or gassy after a feed, it may be that the baby is struggling to digest those proteins. If you continue to face the issue, you can seek breastfeeding support from your doctor or lactation consultant. Also, tracking what you eat and how the baby reacts after the next feed can give you an idea of your diet’s effect on your baby’s digestion of your breastmilk.

An anonymous mother shares her experience of giving up cheese and other dairy products while breastfeeding because her child was sensitive to dairy. She mentions, “Ah, the dairy sensitivity. At around 1 month, we suspected Quinn had developed a sensitivity to dairy. So I altered my diet & she was like a different baby. I’d like to think I’m a fairly healthy eater but hell I missed cheese & ice cream. I would even dream of gooey 4-cheese pizzas, not kidding. It was quite jarring to alter my diet in such a way. I now have a whole new respect for people who have food allergies & sensitivities (i).”

Health Benefits Of Eating Cheese While Breastfeeding

Cheese is a storehouse of nutrients that will boost your maternal health and the growth of your breastfeeding baby. Here is a look at some of the ways cheese can work wonders for your health:

• Cheese is rich in protein and calcium. Both these nutrients are vital for safeguarding your baby’s overall development and promoting infant health. Adding protein to your maternal diet will keep your tummy full and prevent you from snacking on junk food. The calcium will also help strengthen your bones and teeth and prevent the onset of osteoporosisⁱA condition that weakens bones, increasing the chance of sudden, unsuspected bone fractures. .

• Eating cheese along with a well-balanced diet will help you absorb lesser carbohydrates and keep your blood sugar levels in check.
  

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• In some cases, women who eat cheese also seem to get some relief from their menstrual symptoms.
• Cheese is also a rich source of zinc and biotin. Zinc aids the growth and repair of your tissues. Therefore, eating the yummy cheese will not only help to pamper your taste buds but it can boost your speed of recovery too. It also prevents macular degenerationⁱ An eye disease that affects the center of the retina, leading to a loss of central vision. , keeps your skin healthy and makes your nails strong. Biotin helps to prevent hair fall, which is a common complaint among new moms.

Quick tip

Since the calcium requirement during breastfeeding increases, you will need five to six servings of dairy daily (one serving equals 1oz of cheese) (4).

Nutritional Value And Health Benefits Of Different Cheese

Have a look at the various nutritional and health benefits you get from the different types of cheese available in the supermarket:

1. Blue cheese

Blue cheese, rich in calcium and protein, can help manage osteoporosis and gout while keeping your teeth healthy and strong. However, it is high in saturated fat, so watch your intake (9).

2. Cheddar cheese

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It is a good source of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, Vitamin A, and protein. It also has a high saturated fat content. Therefore, go for the low-fat variant (1).

3. Cream cheese

It is a rich source of Vitamin A, Sodium, riboflavin, protein, and phosphorus (2)

4. Feta cheese

It is a powerhouse of nutrition as it contains protein, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, zinc, and seleniumⁱAn essential mineral found in foods such as nuts, fish, and chicken, involved in thyroid, reproductive, and cell-protective functions. (3)

Point to consider

If hard cheese like cheddar gets mold, cut one inch around and below the mold to save it. However, if soft cheese gets mold, it is better to discard it (5).

Tips To Shop For Cheese

Here are some tips for buying cheese during breastfeeding:

• Go for organic cheese: Organic cheese will have a far lesser chance of contamination than regular cheese. Remember, the safety of your food is extremely crucial when you are breastfeeding your baby. Therefore, opting for organic food is a wise idea for lactating moms.

• Grass-fed cheese: If you want to get something that is even better than just organic, ask for grass-fed cheese. Grass-fed cheese is a product obtained from grass-fed dairy animals. You should try and buy the cheese that says ‘100 percent grass-fed’ on the label.
  

  Image: Shutterstock

• Buy from local farms: If you have a local farm near your home, try getting organic and 100% grass-fed cheese directly from there. Local farms that have smaller flocks often let their dairy animals feed in a natural habitat.

Quick tip

Since there is a wide variety of dietary concerns with breastfeeding, always check the label for what kind of milk has been used to make the cheese. Also, check which animal’s milk has been used (6).

Infographic: Things To Consider When Buying Cheese When Nursing Moms

Enriched with protein, calcium, and other nutrients, eating cheese can benefit the breastfeeding mother and her baby. However, you should consider certain safety precautions when shopping for cheese. So, check out the infographic below to learn about valuable tips on buying cheese for lactating women.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Is It Safe To Eat Cheese While Breastfeeding?

Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team

Cheese is a delicious food, but is it a good probiotic? With this video let’s explore the benefits of cheese and how it can help your gut health.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Mindy CockeramLCCE, CLEC

Mindy Cockeram is a childbirth and breastfeeding educator with 11 years of experience. She currently resides in Southern California, where she teaches at a non-profit hospital. Her career began after the birth of her second child when she changed career direction and trained as an antenatal teacher with the National Childbirth Trust in London, England.

Read full bio of Mindy Cockeram

Jessica AlbertBE

Jessica Albert is a passionate writer who seeks to connect with her readers through wit and charm. Her work aims to invoke curiosity and keep the readers engaged through and through. She has two years of experience working with magazines and e-commerce establishments as a content marketer and editor.

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Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

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Shinta Liz SunnyM.Tech

Shinta is a biotechnologist who is highly intrigued by science and technology. She holds a master's degree in Biotechnology from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences and a PG Diploma in cellular and molecular diagnostics from Manipal University.

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