Studies have shown that consuming brown rice, which is good for you, is also good for infants that are being breastfed. The functional food has been found to play a significant role in improving digestive function and fighting such diseases as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease and even some types of cancer.

Abbie Yabot, a leader for the La Leche League and a Department of Health-certified lactation counselor, says that eating brown rice has a three-part benefit to women and their breastfeeding babies.

“There are such things as contracting and expanding food. Contracting food are those that are bad for breastfeeding. This includes anything starchy and anything that’s white. So this is where brown rice comes in.”

Expanding foods, on the other hand, are full of nutrients and fiber. These foods, which include brown rice, “help greatly in the expansion of health [and] expand breast milk supply”. What Ms. Yabot means by this is that through the improved regulation of blood sugar, cholesterol levels and weight that brown rice affords, mothers experience a more constant supply of breast milk. This helps prevent many of the complications that can occur during pregnancy.

The World Health Organization states that the breast milk is ideal for newborns and infants, as it contains antibodies that strengthen children’s immunity to childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.