Is it safe to eat spicy food when pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes. The Food Standards Agency says that it’s fine to eat spicy or hot food while pregnant or breastfeeding. And although a tiny fraction of what you ingest does go into your milk supply, it’s unlikely that eating spicy food will affect your baby. Eating garlic may even be beneficial to breastfeeding. Two studies have shown that the babies of mums who eat garlic tend to feed for a longer time, and many babies seem to prefer a variety of flavour in breastmilk. Go by trial and error. If you suffer from heartburn after you’ve eaten a fiery curry, or your baby seems upset or irritable, then opt for a milder diet until she’s slightly older. Women from parts of the world where spicy dishes are the cultural norm don’t make big changes to their diet when they become pregnant or are breastfeeding. The key is to stick to a healthy, varied diet, and avoid foods that make you feel uncomfortable.
