In honor of National Nutrition Month, b5media’s Science and Health Channel compiled a wealth of information on nutrition. Looking for easy ways to make your favorite foods more healthful? Check out what Healthbolt has to offer. Want to know some great ideas for a variety of breakfast options? See what Kids Health Notes wrote up. It’s all available at the theme day hosted at Eating Fabulous.

What foods should breastfeeding women eat? What foods should breastfeeding women avoid? The good news is there is no set list of foods that are appropriate or inappropriate for breastfeeding mothers.
Breastfeeding women need not feel they have to consume a special diet in order to provide the right nutrients in their breast milk. It’s true though that breastfeeding women need to consume extra calories (and don’t we all celebrate that fact!) But what about water? Shouldn’t you force extra fluids when you’re nursing, especially if you’re having trouble with low milk supply? Drinking extra water can actually hurt milk supply.
Are …read more

In another segment of their free videos on breastfeeding in public, nurses and lactation consultants Corky Harvey and Wendy Haldeman address some fascinating questions:
~ Does seeing a woman breastfeed stimulate people sexually?
~ Is breastfeeding perceived as a sexual act?
~ Are breasts just good for sex?
~ Why do some people feel shame when they see a woman breastfeeding?
~ How can we change people’s minds about the sexualization of breastfeeding?
~ What should we think when we see a breastfeeding mother?
~ Should a mother use a blanket to cover up while breastfeeding?
~ Has shame driven more women to use formula when they’re in …read more

New scientific research reveals that choosing organic dairy and meat products over conventional products improves the fatty acid content in breast milk. A recent study (PDF) published in the British Journal of Nutrition examined the diets of 312 breastfeeding women from the Netherlands and collected breast milk samples at one month postpartum. Women who reported that they chose organic dairy and meat products over conventional products at least 90% of the time showed a measurable increase in beneficial fatty acids in their breast milk. The study specifically examined the conjugated linoleic acid isomers (CLA) and trans-vaccenic acid (TVA). The Free …read more

Registered dietitian Eileen Behan has revised her book Eat Well, Lose Weight, While Breastfeeding: The Complete Nutrition Book for Nursing Mothers. The book is approved by La Leche League International.

When I was out of town for a funeral (nursling in tow), Sinead tagged me for a meme. I’m finally getting around to sharing a picture of my water glass and talking about how much water a breastfeeding mother needs to drink!
Here’s my beautiful glass of water. When we renovated our kitchen recently we treated ourselves to a new set of water glasses from Pottery Barn! I like them because they’re sturdy and weighty — they feel good in your hand! They also come in three different sizes, perfect for a small glass of juice, a healthy serving of milk …read more

When I asked “Should You Boycott Nestle?” that post generated a lot of interesting discussion. The poll results turned out to be revealing as well. The question “Do you boycott Nestle” showed that approximately 1/3 of the respondents already boycott Nestle and another 1/3 have now agreed to do so. Approximately 1/4 of the respondents do not and will not boycott Nestle, and 1/8 actually buy Nestle’s artificial baby milk. This pie chart illustrates the exact breakdown of the response to “Do you boycott Nestle?”:

Please take a moment to vote in the new poll in the sidebar. To see all …read more

Add Gerber baby food to the list of Nestle products to boycott. Today Nestle announced plans to acquire Gerber Products Company. Forbes reports:
The acquisition helps further Nestle’s recent focus on health and nutrition, following its purchases of U.S. weight control company Jenny Craig and [Novartis Medical Nutrition]….
“The acquisition of Gerber is the perfect complementary fit,” said Nestle Chairman and CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathe. “It not only gives Nestle the leadership position in baby food, but it also constitutes a decisive step to establish Nestle Nutrition as the undisputed global leader in the nutrition field.”
And here I thought “Nestle Nutrition” was an …read more

Breastfeeding plays a significant role in protecting children from developing or exacerbating food allergies. In the American Scientist article “Why We Develop Food Allergies,” researcher Per Brandtzaeg outlines the factors that contribute to a food allergy incidence of more than one in 20 young children in the industrialized world. 
With respect to food allergies, what are the main protective effects of breastfeeding?

Breast milk provides key antibodies that keep harmful substances from penetrating the digestive tract. The risk of food allergy is higher when antibody levels are insufficient.
“[H]uman milk also contains immune cells, immune-regulating cytokines and growth factors that exert positive biological effects.”
When solid foods …read more

Breastfeeding helps establish good eating habits right from the start. If a mother listens to her baby and feeds on cue, the child learns to regulate his or her own eating habits (and does not overeat just to finish off the last bit of artificial milk in a baby bottle). The baby gets exposed to a variety of flavors in the breast milk and may be more willing to try new foods when it’s time to introduce solids. All those things combined with a mother’s own good nutrition and eating habits get a child off to the best start possible. …read more