The researchers from the University of Copenhagen conducted the study on 18 lactating mothers. The nursing mums were given capsules containing a variety of flavours, including banana, liquorice, caraway seed and menthol and were asked to provide samples of breast milk before and after eating capsules.
The Danish study found that the taste appeared in the breast milk within an hour but had disappeared from the milk within 8 hours. Banana flavour peaked within the first hour after they had been eaten, while licorice flavor peaked strongly in breast milk after two hours. Menthol remained in the milk for up to eight hours.
Such breast-feed babies are more adventures to try new food when they start eating solids, the scientists says.
Lead author of the study, Dr Helene Hausner, of Copenhagen University told New Scientist magazine: “It's not like if the mother eats apple pie the baby thinks, ‘Mmm, apple pie', but it may make them more accepting of the flavour of other foods.”
"Breastfeeding may prepare the infant for flavour changes and new experiences when they start to eat solid foods,” she added.
The initial results of the study revealed that variety of flavours in breast milk could make the baby more accepting of new flavours.
The author revealed that while non-citrus fruit flavours only fleetingly changed the flavour of breast milk, other chemicals, such as those in carrots might be able to produce more change. Children of women who drank carrot juice while pregnant or while they were lactating went on to like carrot flavoured cereal, research showed.
Previous research suggests a breastfeeding mums diet affect the taste preferences of her child. By including a variety of foods in diet, breastfeeding mothers are providing an opportunity to their babies to taste a variety of food.
This study will help breastfeeding women to understand why sometimes their babies are reluctant to eat, Gill Rapley, a nurse with more than 20 years' experience of post-natal care said.
Gill added,” Mothers often talk about whether something in their milk may have upset their baby, but within eight hours most flavours will be gone."
The preliminary results from The Danish study also suggest that breastfed babies may be more receptive to new flavours than babies fed on formula from a bottle.
The findings appear in the New Scientist.
Another study found that women who eat junk food while pregnant or nursing their baby may cause long lasting health damage to the child.
A pregnant women must take care that her diet supplies the essential nutrients needed during breast-feeding, such as protein, calcium, iron and vitamins. Nursing women must eat a healthy diet regularly, including a wide variety of healthy foods.
Nursing mums must strive to eat a well-balanced, varied diet as the breast milk will retain the flavor of the food they eat, so avoid eating food with lots of spice.
Include quality fats (fish and vegetable oils) in your diet while breastfeeding as fatty acids are important in the development of the baby’s brain. Hence, it should be a part of a breastfeeding mother’s diet.
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