What are the best superfoods post-birth?
Superfoods after birth: What is best?
Eating healthily shouldn’t stop after you give birth. Just as you’ve spent the past nine months eating well to pass on those vital nutrients to the little one, you should continue to do so.
Your new arrival needs you healthy and well, and eating a well balanced diet with plenty of superfoods gives you the best chance of that.
So what are superfoods and how can they help?
There is no set criteria for what makes up a ‘superfood’. While dismissed sometimes as a marketing gimmick, generally they are foods that are mostly plant-based — but also some fish and dairy — that are thought to be nutritionally dense and are therefore good for health.
Though many foods could be described as super, there is no single food that holds the key to good health or disease prevention. But there are foods that are good for us, physically and mentally.
1. Wholegrains: Keep you fuller for longer, and full of B vitamins, minerals, fibre and iron. Start the day with a healthy wholegrain cereal and it should sustain you until lunch and stop you snacking mid-morning.
2. Salmon and/or sardines: Oily fish is a great source of protein. Salmon is rich in vitamin B12 and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as a rare source of natural vitamin D (and, let’s face it, there’s rarely enough sun!). B12 and omega 3 are also believed to help fight postnatal depression.
3. Beef: Not always considered a superfood, but beef is high in protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins - all good for energy. Try a quick and tasty beef stir fry, and add loads of vegetables.
4. Eggs-cellent choice: Not only are eggs cheap and easy to prepare, they are a great source of protein, choline, vitamins b12 and D, riboflavin and folate.
5. Greens, greens and more greens: Okay, so not as tasty as chocolate but leafy greens are full of vitamins A, C, E and K as well as high in fibre, iron and antioxidants. And so low calorie that you can eat as many as you like.
6. Go nuts: Nuts and seeds are great as a snack, and so much better than reaching for crisps. Almonds are a great source of calcium and sesame seeds contain magnesium. Great for your skin, nails and overall health.
7. Go fruity: All fruit is great, but oranges are a brilliant source of vitamin C and blueberries contain vitamins and antioxidants.
8. Milking it: Often avoided post-birth because of calorie concerns, milk is a good source of calcium, protein and gut bacteria. Also, include vitamin D fortified milk for better bone health. The calcium in these milk products enhances breaking down of fat cells in the body that helps in weight loss.