The Benefits of Beer and Breastfeeding

Who would have thought that beer actually has some health benefits? Not I said the blogger, until I did some deep diving. I was watching Good Morning America and actress and mother Brooke Shields noted that her nanny told her to drink a beer a day to increase milk production and every woman on the panel nodded their heads in agreement without questioning something that seemed so bizarre to me. Being that I do not take hearsay and conventional wisdom as fact, I researched several credible health sites such as the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health as well as several home remedy books and found an overwhelming consensus that in fact beer does increase the production of milk.

How Does It Work?

According to a study done by Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital of the University of Munich, Germany:

"There are clear indications that beer can stimulate prolactin secretion which may enhance lactogenesis both in non-lactating humans and in experimental animals. The component in beer responsible for the effect on prolactin secretion is not the alcohol content but apparently a polysaccharide from barley, which explains that the effect on prolactin can also be induced by non-alcoholic beer."

In summation,  a chemical found in barley helps stimulate breast milk production. Now I know the studies show that this can be achieved through alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer, however before you start sending me hate mail listen closely, I only recommend nursing women have one glass of non-alcoholic beer one to two hours before nursing a day to increase breast milk production. Remember to check with your doctor if you would like to experiment with alcoholic beer. I know that all things are good in moderation, but some people are very loose with their interpretation of moderation, so check with your doctor to see how much alcoholic beer is good for you if that is the route you would like to go. 

 

 http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-true-that-drinking-beer-increases-a-breastfeeding-moms_10303158.bc

DISCLAIMER

On Granny's Cures we strive to provide information from credible sources but we are no substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.