Does eating sea cucumber reduce or increase breast milk production?

Jun 19, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Sea cucumbers are rich in high-quality protein, amino acids, and various trace elements. They can provide essential nutrients for women during lactation and promote milk secretion. Women have high nutritional demands during the lactation period; the nutrients in sea cucumbers can help improve physical weakness, enhance constitution, and supply raw materials for milk production. They are suitable for consumption in moderation by women with insufficient milk supply, provided they are not allergic to sea cucumbers.

    Eating sea cucumber generally promotes lactation rather than inhibits it. Detailed analysis is as follows:

    Sea cucumbers are rich in high-quality protein, amino acids, and various trace elements, which can provide essential nutrients for lactating women and help promote milk secretion. Lactating women have increased nutritional needs, and the nutrients in sea cucumbers can improve physical weakness, enhance constitution, and provide the necessary building blocks for milk production. It is suitable for women with insufficient milk supply (who are not allergic to sea cucumbers) to consume in moderation.

    If a lactating woman is allergic to sea cucumbers or experiences discomfort such as indigestion after consumption, she should stop eating them immediately. In such cases, sea cucumbers will not help promote lactation. Allergic reactions may affect health, while indigestion may hinder nutrient absorption, potentially affecting milk production due to physical discomfort. At this point, alternative lactation-promoting foods should be considered.

    To promote milk production and maintain good health, lactating women are advised to maintain a balanced diet and consume more foods rich in vitamins and protein, such as apples, kiwifruit, and milk.