There are many doubts about the benefits of beer in breastfeeding. A study developed by the Doctor Peset Hospital and the University of Valencia confirms that in its "without" variant it is a recommended drink for nursing mothers. Ensures that non-alcoholic beer increases breast milk's antioxidant capacity by 30 percent.
The study, started in 2008, involved 80 healthy women, with different origins and dietary habits, whose babies were born with the appropriate weight for their gestational age. Half of these women were supplemented with their usual diet during the study period with 660 milliliters of non-alcoholic beer daily.
The researchers found that the contribution of a product rich in antioxidants such as non-alcoholic beer could "modify the antioxidant capacity of human milk", and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in children.
Any alcoholic beverage should be discouraged from the breastfeeding mother because alcohol is a toxic that is concentrated in breast milk, and can inhibit breastfeeding and impair the brain development of the newborn.
However, the occasional and moderate drinking of a low-grade drink (a glass of wine, a beer) can be allowed since the concentrations should be very high to affect the baby and always warning the mother not to breastfeed in both hours following intake.
Anyway, it is always better to resort to non-alcoholic beers, but beware that non-alcoholic beers and 0.0 also contain alcohol. The concentration is minimal, but when conventional beers have a concentration of 4.5 and 5% vol, so-called "without" can have a concentration that varies between 0.6% vol. and 0.9% vol., according to the brand.
On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that the study has been carried out thanks to a collaboration agreement between the Research Foundation of the Valencian hospital and the Beer and Health Information Center, a scientific entity that encourages research on the nutritional properties of beer and its relation to health.
In this case they have tried beer, but following the rule of three it is assumed that other products also rich in antioxidants regularly incorporated into the mother's diet would also increase the antioxidant capacity of breast milk.
