Can Regular Consumption of Margarine Contribute to Lactation Problems?

According to the Weston A Price Foundation, for Wise Traditions’ brochure, “Why Butter Is Better”, this is a possibility.

TRANS FATS: These unnatural fats in margarine, shortenings and spreads are formed during the process of partial hydrogenation, which turns liquid vegetable oil into a solid fat. Trans fats contribute to heart disease, cancer, bone problems, hormonal imbalance and skin diseases; infertility, difficulties in pregnancy and problems with lactation; and low birth weight, growth problems and learning disabilities in children. Recently a US government panel of scientists determined that man-made trans fats are unsafe at any level. (Small
amounts of natural trans fats occur in butter and other animal fats but these are not harmful.)

And why would it not? With many moms facing difficulty with breast feeding, there are numerous factors that contribute to lactation problems, namely, labor drugs and cesareans, both widely and regularly utilized in our mainstream birthing system. Please visit my post Set Up To Fail At The Breast for references.

How much more can consuming hydrogenated and processed foods contribute to lactation issues? Especially when substances like Hexane and Bleach are used in the process?

HEXANE AND OTHER SOLVENTS: used in the extraction process, these industrial chemicals are highly carcinogenic.

BLEACH: The natural color of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is grey so manufacturers bleach it to make it white. Yellow coloring is then added to margarine and spreads.

I wrote Set Up to Fail At The Breast because I believe a lot of lactation difficulties are are based on contributing “outside” factors. Is is possible that a lot of moms simply cannot breast feed? Yes, however, these contributing factors are not widely addressed or acknowledged by the same medical community that promotes breast feeding at birth. Nor is a mom warned of potential “side effects” of labor drugs and cesareans. Add to this conundrum…processed and hydrogenated fats (and food), it becomes a battle to breast feed.

What do you think? Are you surprised to hear that Margarine may contribute to lactation difficulties?

 

References:

Why Butter Is Better – Brochure PDF

Weston A. Price Foundation – Know Your Fats

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