Because exercise increases the body’s “mobilization and utilization of fatty acids,” the researchers asked whether “maternal activity may also influence the amount of long-chain PUFA in breast milk.”
In a study of diet and exercise habits of 53 new mothers, they found no reduction in fatty acids in breast milk of women who exercised at least 30 minutes per day, three days per week. The researchers conclude that moderate exercise “is not only safe during lactation, but also provides many other health benefits.”
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition (see related ebook on nutrition) and dietetics. With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being.