Can I eat chocolate during breastfeeding?

Aug 30, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Lu

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, women who are breastfeeding can consume chocolate in moderation, but they should strictly control the amount and make careful choices to avoid adverse effects on themselves and their babies. When consuming chocolate during breastfeeding, women should prioritize dark chocolate with high cocoa content and low sugar levels, to reduce intake of added sugars and additives. They should avoid eating chocolate on an empty stomach to prevent gastrointestinal irritation.

Generally, women who are breastfeeding can consume chocolate in moderation, but they should strictly control the amount and make careful choices to avoid adverse effects on themselves and their babies. The specific analysis is as follows:

Chocolate contains ingredients such as cocoa butter, theobromine, and sugar. Consuming small amounts may help breastfeeding women relieve fatigue and improve mood. However, theobromine has a certain stimulating effect, and excessive intake may affect the baby through breast milk, potentially causing symptoms such as excitement, irritability, and sleep disturbances in the infant. Additionally, chocolate contains a high amount of sugar, and excessive consumption may lead to blood sugar fluctuations in breastfeeding women, increase gastrointestinal burden, cause discomfort such as bloating and acid reflux, and potentially contribute to excessive calorie intake, which may hinder postpartum body shape recovery. Therefore, chocolate consumption during lactation should be controlled. It is recommended not to exceed 10–20 grams per serving and to consume it no more than 2–3 times per week.

When consuming chocolate during lactation, women should prioritize dark chocolate with higher cocoa content and lower sugar levels to reduce intake of added sugars and additives. Chocolate should not be eaten on an empty stomach to avoid gastrointestinal irritation.

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