A little paneer can go a long way for pregnant and breastfeeding women

Whether you are an expectant mother or breastfeeding your baby, eating healthy is your highest priority. You want to ensure that you and your baby are getting the necessary nutrients but none of the bad stuff. What you eat is what your baby eats. In a vegetarian diet, paneer is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to add protein to you diet. But can you and should you eat paneer when expecting or breastfeeding?

Here are six reasons why you should add some paneer to your diet.

1. Source of protein

For both pregnant and breastfeeding women, ensuring sufficient intake of protein is critical. Protein is essential for the development and growth of the baby. And, with 20g of protein per 100g, paneer is one of the best sources of proteins.

2. Energy source

Pregnancy is energy-intensive. 100g of paneer is packed with 265 kcal of energy. Furthermore, it helps with certain symptoms during pregnancy, especially fatigue and morning sickness in the first trimester.

3. Good for teeth and bones

Rich in calcium and phosphorus, paneer helps with the formation and development of your baby’s teeth and bones, the proper functioning of the nervous system, and helps ward off demineralisation of bones during pregnancy.

4. Helps with weight management

A healthy alternative to sugary or oily snacks, paneer is one of the best things to eat when craving for snacks during the odd hours of the day. It can help feel satiated for longer, helping keep hunger pangs at bay and managing unhealthy weight gain.

5. Lowers risk of birth defects

Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, paneer can help reduce the risk of preterm delivery defects.

6. Helps with pain management

Paneer has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce pregnancy-related pains and swellings.

Whether you are breastfeeding or an expectant mother, it is important to note that just like any other food, paneer should be consumed with care. Ensure that the paneer is made from pasteurized milk. Paneer made from unpasteurized milk may cause indigestion among other problems. Raw paneer should also not be consumed because it could be a breeding ground for bacteria that can harm the expectant mother as well as the baby. The paneer should also be consumed within days of it being made because it is highly perishable and ensure the quality of the paneer consumed to reap the rewards mentioned earlier.

Made from our own 100% organic milk and malai curd, Akshayakalpa’s paneer is handcrafted to perfection that retains the authentic flavour and freshness in each bite. We maintain stringent hygiene measures at our farms as well as our plant to ensure that our milk is untouched by human hands, free from antibiotics, induced growth hormones and pesticides.