Olive Oil and Breastfeeding

It is a well-known fact that a mother’s diet affects the composition of the breast milk she produces. More and more studies show that breastfeeding women should include extra virgin olive oil in their daily menu. Followers of the Mediterranean diet produce milk with a healthier fatty acid profile. Research has found that key nutrients contained in olive oil also pass into breast milk.

The Mediterranean Diet and Breastfeeding Mothers

A study from June 2022 tracked the role of the Mediterranean diet and how it influences the fatty acid content of human breast milk. A higher content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in the milk and a higher content of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) were found in participants who adhered to the Mediterranean diet. The presence of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is proven to contribute to good results in learning, visual acuity and overall brain development in babies.

Polyphenols for breastfed babies

A study published in July 2022 found the beneficial phenolic compounds of olive oil in breast milk. The research was conducted on animals and compared the consumption of olive oil with the consumption of another oil and water. The results show that the milk of the first group of mammals contains the beneficial polyphenols of olive oil. An interesting fact is that these same compounds are also found in the offspring, i.e. the nutrients are bioavailable and absorbed.

Olive oil and breast health

Besides newborns, breastfeeding mothers also benefit from consuming olive oil. Women who breastfeed often suffer from painful cracking of the nipples. Olive oil can help with this problem too. According to studies, extra virgin olive oil is very effective in treating and preventing nipple cracking without adverse effects.
Scientists recommend applying 3 drops of olive oil to each nipple after every feeding.

Another wonderful piece of news for all women is that, according to the latest research, olive oil may protect against breast cancer. A study from February 2022 found that women who always include at least two tablespoons of unrefined olive oil in their daily diet have a 28% lower risk of breast cancer compared to other representatives of the fair sex who do not always follow this practice. Here, we should note that the study covers the consumption of olive oil both in cooking and in frying – one more proof that you can fry with this wonderful fat, as we wrote here.

Olive oil and weaning

Doctors in Italy recommend feeding the baby olive oil during weaning, by adding a few drops of the oil to solid food. According to the UK Ministry of Health, giving olive oil to a baby after the sixth month is safe. It can be mixed into purees or mashed foods, or into homemade foods. For the attention of all moms, we also offer the olive oil created especially for children by Nobleza del Sur, which has sweet fruity notes and is a favorite product of little ones. Of course, we always advise consulting a pediatrician beforehand.

All articles in the “Health” section are consulted with specialists from Adella Clinic.