A Chef and Nutrition Specialist in Northern Ghana with a special interest in food and food products, Chef Abiro, has recommended breastfeeding moms to include millet in their diets.
Millet, a gluten-free grain, has long been a staple food in many parts of the world, including Africa and Asia. It has gained popularity in recent years as a healthy and nutritious food, especially for breastfeeding mothers. Millet is a good source of various vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, and magnesium, which are important for a mother’s postpartum health and lactation.
When Chef Abiro spoke to Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show, he reminded breastfeeding mothers highlighted the nutritional value of millet and explained why health workers and nutritionists always recommended the consumption of millet in cases where breast milk for lactating mothers are difficult to come by.
“One super food I would say contains a lot of the nutrients is the millet. Millet is an amazing food supplement. You can check, in local settings, when women have problems with breastfeeding, they encourage them to take a lot of zonkuom. Once they take the zonkuom, it helps with the breast milk production. Most of these dishes are the ones we should be paying close attention to.”
Additionally, Chef Abiro encouraged pregnant women and lactating mothers to include in their meals, green leafy vegetables that are found in the local communities to boost their health and the lives of their babies.
He said this when he spoke to A1 Radio’s Mark Smith today, Thursday, May 4, 2023.
“You can find the nutrients in the vegetables like the bitor, the ayoyo and alefu. These are the simple things you can find the micronutrients in. It is very important that as you are pregnant, you pay key attention to eating a lot of greens,” he said.
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To fulfil the increased demands of milk production, breastfeeding women have to consume more calories and nutrients than usual. Millet is an excellent food for breastfeeding moms since it is high in carbohydrates and fibre, which can give sustained energy and help prevent constipation, which is a typical problem for new mothers. Furthermore, millet is low in fat and has a low glycemic index, making it an excellent choice for mothers who want to maintain a healthy weight while providing adequate nutrition for themselves and their children.
Millet can be easily incorporated into a breastfeeding mother’s diet in various ways. It can be used to make porridge, soups, salads, or as a substitute for rice in many dishes. It is also a great gluten-free alternative to wheat flour and can be used to make various baked goods. Consuming millet regularly can help breastfeeding mothers meet their daily nutritional needs, improve milk production and quality, and promote overall health and well-being.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
