Soy sauce when breastfeeding: benefits and harms

Soy sauce is a very tasty and nutritious product. Without it, almost no Asian dish can do. Today's young people also fell in love with this sauce with an amazing, slightly spicy taste. Therefore, many young mothers wonder how justified and safe it is for the baby to use the popular spice during breastfeeding. After all, breastfeeding women are required to be especially attentive to their diet.

Each product of the daily diet should be viewed literally under a microscope. But for women who are far from the rules of dieting, it is very difficult to correctly assess the advantages and disadvantages of a food product. We will try to help them in this case. We will tell about the features of soy sauce and useful properties for nursing mothers, advise how to properly prepare and use the dressing during lactation.

Can I Use Soy Sauce While Breastfeeding?

We would like to start the description of this popular sauce with a little historical information. The Japanese invented this spice between the 17th and 19th centuries, when the national cuisine of the Land of the Rising Sun was being formed. Originally, this culinary masterpiece was intended to improve the taste of hot appetizers, but later it began to be added to soups and fish delicacies. Our compatriots liked the spicy sauce after Japanese cuisine became widely popularized in the former Soviet Union. Many members of the younger generation are sincerely convinced, for example, that rolls and sushi were eaten with pleasure by our ancestors a couple of hundred years ago. Fish delicacies in combination with soy sauce is ideal for a quick snack. The dressing is now added to meat and salads. Hence the universal love for this popular delicacy.

But when it comes to nutrition for breastfeeding mothers, first of all we should evaluate the safety, and then the taste characteristics of any food product. The modern market is literally flooded with counterfeit products of popular brands. Especially inventive masters of underground business in the technique of preparing exotic sauces and spices. Therefore, a small bottle of soy sauce of dubious quality can lead not only to allergies, but even to the worst food poisoning. Although pediatricians and nutritionists do not deny the benefits of dressing for the health of a nursing mother and a growing baby. But this is only possible if the product is of high quality. Several other important factors also matter:

• The timing of the introduction of soy sauce into a nursing woman's dietary program;
• the quantity of the product;
• The type of seasoning used;
• The baby's reaction to the dressing.

With a rational approach to the use of soy sauce side effects are usually not observed, but the body of the mother and baby receive a huge amount of nutrients. After all, soy, which is considered the main component of the spicy composition, is in the list of leaders in protein content. It is known that protein is the main building material for any living organism.

In the first month

After the birth of a child in his body for a few months more processes continue the formation of organs and systems. The biggest burden falls on the digestive system. The process of producing gastric juice and other important enzymes that are needed to break down complex foods, are still in their infancy. Therefore, the infant's digestive system is physiologically unable to process a product such as soy sauce. Even a small portion of spice can cause the baby a severe allergic reaction or disorder of intestinal function. Therefore, in the first month of life of the baby's mother should follow a strict diet.

In the second month

In the second month of life, the baby is still adapting to the conditions of existence outside the mother's womb. This is confirmed by the way in which it receives nutrients: before birth, the fetus received them from the mother through the placenta, and after birth - with the mother's milk. Therefore, at this stage it is too early for a nursing woman to experiment with changing her diet, and especially to include products containing legumes. After all, soy sauce is based on a cereal that contains dozens of complex organic compounds that can harm the developing baby's body. So even if a woman can't imagine life without soy sauce, she will have to be patient until the baby is at least four months old.

Note: Although reputable pediatricians do not deny the benefits of soy sauce, they do not consider this product mandatory for inclusion in the diet of a nursing woman. If you want, you can easily find a decent, but safer replacement for the famous dressing.

How to consume soy sauce correctly

Even in the allowed time, a breastfeeding mommy can afford to only occasionally add a small portion of soy dressing to her food. And in this critical period on her table can only appear products of excellent quality. With a favorable set of circumstances, that is, if the baby's body takes a positive perception of the first gastronomic taste, you can gradually increase the portion of sauce. It should be understood that condiments during breastfeeding are not foods that are allowed to be consumed regularly. Their role in the menu is more occasional than even secondary. Now about what place soy dressing should have in a woman's diet during lactation.

Variety
It is known that natural soy sauce can be dark and light. The first kind of dressing has a thick consistency and bright flavor. The dark sauce has very little salt. Such a product is more suitable for marinades, which is forbidden to moms at the stage of breastfeeding. Light sauce is lighter, but it has a high percentage of sodium chloride. The dressing can be added to salads.

What does it go with?
From the above, it is clear that no one will eat soy sauce in its pure form. Dressing from the legume culture perfectly combines with any meat, fish, mushrooms, vegetables and especially cabbage. First courses will benefit from the addition of a little soy sauce.

How and when to add the dressing
Vegetable stews and meat dishes should be topped with soy sauce at the end of cooking. Salads and porridges with side dishes can be dressed with a portion of the dressing before serving. For example, a breastfeeding woman can include noodles with steamed fish cutlets with the addition of white soy sauce twice a week in the menu.

Options for combinations
In principle, soy sauce is a mono condiment. But combinations of uses are not excluded. For example, a dish of boiled chicken breast seasoned with soy sauce and honey would be very tasty.

Warning: Regardless of the chosen dish, you need to remember that there is a lot of salt in the composition of soy sauce. Therefore, it is not recommended to salt the food additionally.

How much can be eaten per day

Breastfeeding mothers should strictly adhere to the allowable norms of food consumption. After all, even the safest types of food can become a dangerous toxin if eaten uncontrollably. If your child responds well to the new product, you can include dishes with soy dressing once or twice a week, but no more. A single dose of the product, 30-50 mg, is acceptable. The first time you can change the menu when the baby is 4 months old. But pediatricians strongly advise to postpone this event for two months, that is, when the baby reaches six months. Some experts believe that the optimal time for the introduction of soy bean sauce into a woman's diet is 8 months from the baby's birth.

Can it be consumed at night and on an empty stomach

Since soy sauce refers to dressings, it is always used in combination with other foods. Therefore, its consumption on an empty stomach is excluded. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on when to eat dishes flavored with bean dressing. But it is still undesirable for a nursing mother to eat such a complex food just before bedtime. It is better to put dishes with soy sauce in the daily menu for lunch. For example, season it with soup or a second course of vegetables and meat.

Useful tip: Soy sauce is considered a universal product, because it can simultaneously replace three components: butter, salt, mayonnaise.

The benefits of soy sauce during breastfeeding

The useful properties of any food product determine its chemical composition. Soy sauce, in addition to processed beans, contains the following three other components:

• salt;
• water;
• wheat.

Of course, we are talking about a natural product, prepared according to all the rules of generally accepted standards. But this is the product composition of the dressing. As for the chemical formula, it includes several dozens of individual elements and complex organic compounds. We can distinguish the main groups:

1. Vitamins: the B-group is present almost in its entirety, there is tocopherol (vitamin E).
2. Mineral elements: magnesium, potassium, iron.
3. Starchs.
4. Choline.
5. Organic acids, but of particular importance is glutamic acid, which saturates the taste of the product.
6. Plant proteins.
7. Lecithin.
8. Fatty oils.

But, as already noted, the main value of soy dressing is a high protein content. In the beans of this culture they make up 30-50% of the entire composition, which corresponds to the protein content of meat products. Combined with minerals and vitamin supplements, the proteins form a perfect combination, which is why soybeans are included in the list of dietary foods.

When consumed in moderation, the popular sauce will be useful for both mother and child, because it has the following effects on the body:

• balances blood cholesterol levels;
• prevents calcium leaching from bone tissues;
• normalizes hormonal background;
• Inhibits aging processes;
• accelerates the course of metabolic processes;
• Has a pronounced anticarcinogenic activity;
• prevents the appearance of osteoporosis;
• Improves the condition of hair and nails;
• Lowers glucose levels, which is good for diabetes in breastfeeding mothers.

The caloric value of soy sauce is about 70 units if you take 100 grams of the pure product. But such an amount of dressing is unlikely to be eaten in one sitting, even a person in love with this product. Therefore, 2-3 tbsp of tasty additive will not harm the figure of a young mother.

This is interesting: The victorious march around the world soy sauce began in China, where it was brought from neighboring Japan. In European countries, the product was introduced in the 17th century, but became widely spread only by the end of the last century. In the CIS market, soy sauce appeared in the 90s. Today, the dressing is included in the diet of vegetarians.

What are the dangers of soy sauce during lactation?

Despite the impressive list of health benefits for the woman herself and the growing baby, soy sauce can be detrimental to health. It is especially dangerous to eat a low-quality product. You should know that the cooking technology is very complicated and time-consuming. First, the wheat is roasted, then together with the beans are ground. The resulting mixture is combined with salted water, and then distributed in bags and put in the sun to activate the natural fermentation process. The future sauce ferments under the sun for about a year, only then a liquid substrate is released from the bags, which is the soy sauce. There are no preservatives, dyes or other chemical additives in the natural cooking process.

But because this process takes a long time, some producers shorten it by using artificial starter with live bacteria. Sometimes hydrochloric acid is added to the sauce, which activates the fermentation of the beans. It is clear that a product of this quality during breastfeeding is very dangerous, because it can provoke the following negative reactions:

• Allergic manifestations in the baby and the mother herself;
• problems with lactation;
• food poisoning;
• digestive and stool disorders;
• thyroid disorders;
• mental retardation in the infant.

These consequences can cause a high quality product when consumed in excess. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers with soy sauce should be very careful. It is best to postpone its introduction to the diet at a later date, when the baby is already familiar with his first complementary foods.

How to properly introduce soy sauce to the diet of a nursing mother

If a woman used soy sauce before pregnancy, there is a high probability that the baby will well accept such an addition to the mother's diet. But still introduce into the diet of such a controversial product should be in strict compliance with all the rules:

1. First of all, consult a pediatrician. A specialist will properly assess the condition of the baby, as well as give useful recommendations on the rules of application of the product.
2. Be sure to study the properties of the product and the possible side effects of its use.
3. Start acquaintance with the new product with a portion no larger than a third of a teaspoon. It is only a few drops, but even this amount will affect the composition of breast milk.
4. Expand the diet no earlier than 4 months after giving birth. But it is better to start seasoning food after the baby is six months old.
5. After the first tasting for two days to monitor the condition of the child. At the slightest deviation from the norm, stop using the dressing. If all goes well, you can increase the portion of the sauce a little at a time with each new tasting.
6. After the baby gets used to the sauce, a woman can afford no more than 50 grams of dressing. But such dishes should appear on the menu no more than twice a week.

But these rules are not limited to the regulation of the introduction of sauce in the diet of a nursing woman. The most important thing is the choice of a safe product.

Rules for choosing soy sauce

1. Give preference to sauces in glass containers. The fact is that glass does not react with the components of the product.
2. When studying the composition you should pay attention to the protein content indicator: it should not be less than 7%.
3. The sauce should have a homogeneous texture, without foreign impurities and sediment.
4. It should be taken into account that the dark soy sauce has a richer taste, and the light product has more salt.
5. Natural dressing prepared according to the standard technology can contain garlic, sugar, peanuts and vinegar. But the product should not contain E additives and other chemicals that are dangerous for the baby.
6. Conscientious manufacturers usually indicate on the label how the sauce is made, as well as the shelf life. The latter parameter is very important, since an expired product can cause severe intoxication.
7. The cost is probably the most important indicator of quality. It should be understood that the natural soy sauce simply can't be cheap, considering the complex technological process. Although the budget version may have a similar composition, but it is most likely produced on the basis of sourdough with the use of bacteria. Such an option is not suitable for a nursing mother.

How to store soy sauce

Store the container with soy sauce should be in the refrigerator. If the temperature regime is observed, the product will be fit for use for two years. During storage, it is necessary to protect the sauce from light and high temperatures.

A sensible approach to menu planning and compliance with the norms will help a woman to diversify her diet without fear of harming the growing baby.

How to Make Soy Sauce at Home

On the world market today supplies soy sauce manufacturers not only Asian countries, but also European companies. And some of them prepare the product in strict compliance with the quality standards, while others use artificial starters that accelerate the fermentation process. Since the label does not always show how the soy bean sauce is prepared, there is a risk of buying a low-quality product at a high cost. In such a situation, you can protect yourself and your baby from unpredictable consequences by trying to cook your own soy product in your home kitchen. It is not difficult to do this, especially since there is an incredibly large number of recipes. Although the taste of homemade dressing will be different from the natural product, but there is a reliable guarantee not to get poisoned.

Recipe for "Our Way" Soy Sauce
From the description of the classic technology, it is easy to understand that the main thing in the preparation of soy dressing is to activate fermentation. It is impossible to start this process in the home kitchen, but it is possible to make a product that does not taste different from the natural sauce. This recipe is most suitable for this purpose, but on the condition that all steps are performed in exactly the sequence in which they are described. So, to prepare a homemade sauce will be required:

• soybeans - 100 grams;
• Wheat flour - 1 tbsp;
• butter - 2 tablespoons;
• sea salt - depending on taste;
• vegetable broth - 2 tablespoons.

When this standard set of products is on the table, you can begin the cooking process.

1. First of all, boil the beans. They should become soft. This process takes about 2 hours.
2. Then use a blender to make the beans into mush.
3. Then add all other ingredients from the list and mix the mass thoroughly.
4. This is not the end of the soy sauce making process. The resulting mixture in a saucepan put on low heat.
5. When the sauce begins to boil, turn off the heat. You can consider the homemade dressing ready.

With such a useful additive at her disposal, a nursing woman will be able to decorate her diet with delicious and nutritious dishes. And such culinary delights will not differ from the options that use a natural soy product.

I would like to draw attention to another useful feature, characteristic of a homemade product: you can enter in the sauce exactly the amount of salt that will satisfy the tastes of consumers. In other words, a woman will be able to adjust the salinity of the product herself, which is not possible with a store-bought product.

Homemade soy sauce can replace ketchup and mayonnaise. It perfectly combines with rice side dishes and pasta.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to remind nursing mothers once again that after the birth of the baby, they are responsible not only for their own health, but also for the life of the little man. So no desire can not be justified by the risk of consuming poor-quality food. Especially not be guided by the attractive price, choosing in a store soy sauce. If the product raises any doubts, which often happens when you visit our stores, it's better to refuse to buy it. One last reminder - everything that is consumed in moderation is healthy. Daily consumption of soy sauce, even in small doses, is dangerous to the health and development of the baby.