Postnatal Super Foods For A New Mother

My article published in oneindia.com 

http://www.boldsky.com/pregnancy-parenting/postnatal/2013/postnatal-superfoods-new-mother-032763.html

After an exciting pregnancy period, you are a mother now. A mother who has to take care of all the needs of your little one.  Recovering from labour and getting into a new life will put more pressure to your mind and body. You have to bring your body to a normal condition after a series of hormonal changes and mind swings.  This will take some time and the best thing you can do for yourself and for your baby is to keep an eye on your diet.  It is very important to consider your postnatal body as a new born mother.

You should keep extra care on your food and food habits as this is for your baby as well. Your body delivers a good part of the nutrients from your diet to your baby through breast milk.  If you are not feeding yourself with enough nutritious foods, it will affect your baby as well.  The nutritional quality of the food you eat is more important than the quantity you take. Simply adding high caloric foods to your diet plan will not give any benefit to you or to your baby.  Here are some good postnatal diet which will enhance the health of both mother and baby.

1. Yogurt: Yogurt is an important food to be added to your postnatal food schedule. It provides necessary calcium and protein to keep you healthy.

2. Banana: Banana is an energy store which will provide you a healthy postnatal body. Banana has high iron content and is a rich source of potassium.

3. Gooseberry: It is an excellent source of iron and vitamin C. Since vitamin C will enhance iron absorption from the intestine, gooseberry is highly recommended to be included in your diet to replace the iron lost from your body during breast feeding.

4. Enough water: Drinking plenty of water is very important to keep yourself hydrated. This will help to overcome postnatal constipation and will keep you healthy. It will keep your skin moisturized and helps to manage dry skin caused by medications in a C-section.

5. Dry fruits: Replace your tea time snacks with a handful of cashew, raisin, walnuts or almonds. This will keep you healthy and active. To increase breast milk, soak four almonds in water for ten minutes and have this daily. 

6. Spinach:  Spinach is a good source of calcium, iron, Vitamin K, A, and folate. Include spinach also in your postnatal diet.

7. Oat meal: It is an easily digestible food and has high fiber content. This is very useful for those mothers who are suffering from postnatal constipation, which is a very common condition.

8. Milk: Milk is one among the most important foods to be included in a postnatal diet plan. It provides protein and calcium in generous amount to your body. Take two glasses of milk every day.

9. Bitter guard: Bitter guard is considered as one of the best foods for postpartum women. It is a rich source of iron which is needed to keep your body healthy. It is highly recommended to those who have low haemoglobin levels.

10.Eggs: Eggs are rich in most of the nutrients needed for a new breastfeeding mother. It will provide you enough strength and stamina to take care of your baby.

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