Breastfeed with brown rice

MANILA, Philippines - It is an age-old saying that mothers know best. That said, whether a new or an experienced mom, she must know the fact that breast milk is still best for babies.

However, there is one thing that they don’t know yet: that brown rice is also good for them and their babies.

Studies have shown that brown rice is a functional food that has a significant role in improving functions of the alimentary system and in fighting diseases such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and even certain types of cancer.

With this in mind, Abbie Yabot, lactation counselor certified by the Department of Health, has decided to include brown rice in her list of food that is recommended to women, especially mothers who are about to or who are currently breastfeeding their babies.

Part of her motivation to recommend the unpolished variety comes from personal experience. She has seen and felt the effects of brown rice to her family after she regularly served Doña Maria Jasponica brown rice at home.

According to Yabot, who is also a local leader for La Leche League, an international group whose mission is to promote breastfeeding, switching to brown rice will have a three-part benefit to women and their babies — from pregnancy stage, after birth, to raising the child.

She said, “There are such things as contracting and expanding food. Contracting food are those that are bad for breastfeeding. This includes anything starchy and anything that’s white. So this is where brown rice comes in — to replace white rice, pasta or flour since it’s the opposite.”

Yabot added: “Expanding food, or those that are packed with nutrients and fiber such as brown rice, help greatly in the expansion of health. These then expand the breast milk supply.”

The importance of this, according to Yabot, is to ensure child health and survival.

The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains that breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants, as it contains antibodies that help protect children from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

“So it is really significant for mothers to have constant breast milk supply and that is with the help of brown rice since it is able to keep their sugar level, cholesterol levels, and weight in check while pregnant, which translates to avoiding many complications linked with pregnancy,” Yabot said.

She added: “Mothers may also start feeding their babies with mashed brown rice after the period of exclusive breastfeeding because this will guarantee their babies to have a good start.”

By good start, Yabot meant, an all-natural, no-preservative first and solid meal encounter for their babies.