What should I eat during lactation to increase breast milk production and nutrition?
Jun 25, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Lu
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, "naishui" (奶水) refers to breast milk. Lactating women can consume foods such as pig's feet, crucian carp, peanuts, tofu, and black sesame seeds. They may also take medications such as Tongru Granules, Xialu Yongquan Powder, Cuiru Granules, Shenru Tablets, and Tongru Granules (same name appearing twice might indicate a repetition error in the original text) under a doctor's guidance to promote lactation. At the same time, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and a positive mental state is also very important.
Generally speaking, "breast milk" refers to milk produced during lactation. Lactating women can consume foods such as pig's trotters, crucian carp, peanuts, tofu, and black sesame seeds. They may also take medications under a doctor's guidance, such as Tongru Granules, Xialu Yongquan Powder, Cui Ru Granules, Shengru Tablets, and Buxue Shengru Granules, to promote milk secretion. A detailed explanation is as follows:
I. Foods
1. Pig's Trotters
Pig's trotters are rich in collagen, fat, and various minerals. Collagen can be digested and absorbed by the body and converted into multiple amino acids, providing raw materials for breast milk synthesis. Fat helps replenish energy for lactating women and aids in maintaining the energy consumption required for milk production. When stewed, the nutrients dissolve into the broth, making them easier to absorb and promoting milk secretion.
2. Crucian Carp
Crucian carp contains abundant high-quality protein with an amino acid profile close to human requirements, resulting in high utilization. Protein is a key component of breast milk; adequate protein intake promotes milk production. Additionally, nutrients like unsaturated fatty acids in crucian carp can improve breast milk quality, providing more comprehensive nutrition for infants.
3. Peanuts
Peanuts are rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and various minerals. Proteins provide the foundation for milk secretion, while unsaturated fatty acids help promote mammary gland development and enhance milk production. Vitamin E helps regulate hormone levels in the body and plays a positive role in maintaining the normal physiological processes of milk production. Peanuts can be stewed in soup or made into peanut porridge.
4. Tofu
Tofu is made from soybeans and is an excellent source of high-quality plant protein. It has a high protein content and is easily digested and absorbed, providing sufficient nutrition for lactating women and promoting breast milk synthesis. Additionally, soy isoflavones in tofu have estrogen-like effects that help regulate endocrine function and may promote milk secretion.
5. Black Sesame Seeds
Black sesame seeds are rich in oils, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The oils help lubricate the intestines and promote nutrient absorption, providing energy support for milk production. Proteins contribute to the composition of breast milk, while vitamins and minerals help maintain normal metabolism in lactating women, ensuring regular milk secretion. Black sesame seeds can be ground into powder and added to porridge or soup.
II. Medications
1. Tongru Granules
Composed of multiple Chinese herbs including Astragalus (Huangqi), Rehmannia root (Shudihuang), and Tungtiao (Tongcao). Astragalus boosts qi and yang, enhancing the body's transformation function and promoting milk production. Rehmannia root nourishes yin and enriches blood, providing the material basis for milk production. Tungtiao facilitates milk flow, ensuring smooth milk ejection. Together, these herbs regulate qi and blood to promote milk secretion.
2. Xialu Yongquan Powder
Contains Chinese herbs such as Angelica (Danggui), White Peony Root (Baishao), and Ligusticum (Chuanxiong). Angelica nourishes and activates blood circulation, improving blood flow in lactating women and supplying sufficient nutrients for milk production. White Peony nourishes blood and soothes the liver, regulating liver function and harmonizing qi and blood. Ligusticum promotes blood circulation and regulates qi, facilitating milk ejection. This medication promotes lactation by regulating qi and blood.
3. Cui Ru Granules
Main ingredients include Astragalus, Codonopsis (Dangshen), and Atractylodes (Baizhu). Astragalus and Codonopsis strengthen qi and the spleen, enhancing the spleen's transformation and transportation function, promoting nutrient absorption and conversion, and providing sufficient energy and raw materials for milk production. Atractylodes strengthens the spleen and dries dampness, helping improve spleen function and maintain normal metabolism, thereby promoting milk secretion.
4. Shengru Tablets
Main ingredients include Angelica, Rehmannia, and Astragalus. Angelica nourishes and activates blood circulation, Rehmannia nourishes yin and enriches blood, and Astragalus strengthens qi to generate blood. Together, they effectively replenish the qi and blood of lactating women and promote milk secretion. Additionally, other components in the formula regulate endocrine function, enhance mammary gland function, and increase milk production.
5. Buxue Shengru Granules
Composed of multiple Chinese herbs including Astragalus, Angelica, and White Peony. This formula can replenish blood, enhance immunity, promote mammary gland development, and stimulate milk secretion. It is suitable for postpartum hypogalactia caused by qi and blood deficiency.
Lactating women can promote milk secretion and enhance the nutritional value of breast milk by consuming high-protein foods rich in vitamins and minerals. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and a positive mindset is also very important.
