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Food after delivery and weight loss are concerns that every new mother has.
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Check out these 5 foods that will help you to lose weight after pregnancy and be the healthiest and strongest you for your Baby.
Along with the miracle and joy of becoming a mother comes many changes in a woman’s body. Your body was designed to carry life, to nourish your baby and protect it as it grew in your womb and once your baby is out in the world. That extra fat is there to provide you with energy so that you can feed your baby. These changes can be very overwhelming.
Losing weight after pregnancy and worry about eating the right food after delivery can cause a lot of stress. You may be very busy and your focus is all on your new baby and family, but there are foods that you can eat that provide you with energy, nourishment for you and baby and help you to lose weight at the same time without too much extra effort.
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Foods for Weight Loss After Delivery
You do not need to obsess over food and calories and go on a diet after delivery. When you eat healthy foods that your body needs and is designed to eat, you will be able to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight easily. Here are 5 foods that will help you with weight loss after delivery.
1. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like spinach and chard contain vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, and magnesium which are in high demand during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you do not have trouble eating broccoli, this is also a great vegetable to eat for the health of your liver.
These leafy green vegetables along with a variety of other seasonal vegetables will provide nutrients to your body and help with fiber intake which is important as many women struggle with constipation after giving birth. They go well in smoothies and juices which are convenient and hydrating especially when you are very busy.
Recipe:
Yummy Leafy Greens with eggs
In a pan, lightly sauté some tomatoes and spinach.
After a few minutes, add eggs but be sure to leave the yolk runny.
The flavors from the other ingredients will coat the eggs.
You can then put it on a plate and add a pinch of salt and a little bit of pepper.
This breakfast is full of protein and healthy fats for energy and to keep you fuller for longer, and vitamins and minerals to nourish you and baby.
Can’t eat eggs, see chia seed pudding below or try palak paneer. Worried about saturated fat? Don’t be. Saturated fat has been proven to be healthy.
On the top of your leafy greens or salads, sprinkle some Apple Cider Vinegar on it. You can also drink ACV with water. Apple cider vinegar helps in digestion and speeds up your metabolism.
2. Dhal (Pulses)
Pulses seem small, but they are full of protein and when soaked before preparation, good sources of iron. If you are vegetarian, pulses are a good source of plant-based protein. They also provide some much-needed fiber. They can be hard to digest, so make sure that they are soaked and even sprouted for 24 hours before cooking them. Cook them fully.
If you do not usually eat them, do not eat too much at once, this will make your tummy uncomfortable.
Recipe:
Dhal Soup
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons of coconut oil or ghee
1 onion
2 cloves of crushed garlic
5-6 tomatoes, chopped
1 cup of soaked red lentils
2.5 cups of vegetable stock
1.25 cups of coconut milk
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of dry ground turmeric (or 3 teaspoons of fresh ground or grated turmeric)
1 teaspoon of garam masala
1 teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoons of pepper
½ teaspoon of chopped chili or ¼ teaspoon of chili powder (optional)
Method:
- Use the oil to sauté the garlic and onions for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the spices.
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer the soup for 25-30 minutes.
- If the lentils need to go for longer, that is fine, make sure that the lentils are fully cooked.
- You can then eat the soup.
3. Fish
Rawas (Indian salmon) and Bangda (Indian mackerel) are two good sources of omega 3 which is important for balancing your hormones and lowering any inflammation in your body. The only problem with fish is that it contains mercury. For this reason, limit your fish intake to twice a week.
Recipe:
Delicious Rawas
You can either steam the rawas or bake it in the oven covered and at a low temperature. Cooking your food the correct way will preserve the healthy fats and nutrients.
Flavor the rawas with some fresh lemon juice, butter, fenugreek, salt, and pepper.
You may also like garlic, basil, cumin, or turmeric on your fish.
4. Yogurt, Curd, Kefir
These foods contain probiotics (beneficial gut bacteria). Good bacteria helps your digestive system to digest food better, fight off bad bacteria, and can get rid of issues like excessive gas, diarrhea, and constipation. Bloating can make you look bigger than you actually are and you will find that if you struggle with bloating due to digestive issues, this should become a thing of the past.
Probiotics also have many benefits for your overall health as a healthy gut ensures a strong immune system. That means you can stay strong and healthy for your little one. They also contain protein and calcium too. Curd and coconut kefir are a great alternative to dairy for those who are lactose intolerant as they contain very little lactose.
Recipe:
Tasty Breakfast Bowl
You can eat this as a snack or as a breakfast:
Spoon some plain yogurt or curd into a bowl.
Add a handful of berries and some soaked nuts. You can also add some soaked seeds if you would like.
Drizzle a little bit of raw honey on top.
With regards to honey, just note that you should not give honey to your baby until he or she is older than a year as it can make them very sick. But you can eat it without worrying that it will affect your child through your breast milk.
5. Herbs and Spices
Many say not to eat spices if you are breastfeeding. While you should not eat too much, it does not mean that all you can eat is boring bland food. Herbs and spices have numerous benefits in the body including raising your metabolism, keep your blood sugar levels stable, calming your digestive system, and helping your digestive to digest the food effectively.
Research shows that your child experiences the flavor of your foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding and helps them to accept those foods more willingly once they are introduced to solids. Eating herbs and spices in your food will be fine. If you are taking them medicinally, this may be too much for your little one.
Try:
Ginger
Turmeric
Garlic
Basil (tulsi)
Rosemary
Cilantro
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Cumin
Fenugreek
This is my top recipe, absolutely tasty. It has Fats, proteins, Fibre, antioxidants. Which will help you lose weight? As a sweetener, you can add fruits, honey anything natural will do.
Recipe:
Chia Seed Pudding
This recipe can easily be adapted for vegans and lactose intolerant mothers too. It will also depend on whether your baby is lactose intolerant or has a nut allergy or not.
Ingredients:
1 cup of your choice of milk (raw cows milk or coconut milk works very well)
3 tablespoons of chia seeds
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8-1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Honey to taste
Method:
Soak 3 tablespoons of chia seeds in the milk. This can be done overnight or for a few hours.
Add in the cinnamon and vanilla.
Add honey to taste.
These herbs and spices also go very well in curries and chai tea. You can make your own caffeine chai tea by excluding the tea and just brewing the tea with the spices. Golden milk is also a great way of incorporating turmeric into your diet. When your baby is off the breast you can also start eating hot spices like chili. This will boost your metabolism too.
When it comes to eating for weight loss, you also need to bear in mind that toxins can hamper the process. Try to eat organic foods as much as possible to avoid pesticides which are not good for you or your family.
If you would like more tips on how to lose weight after pregnancy, you can check out this article here and see which exercises are the best to do to get your pre-pregnancy body back. You can try this 10-minute home workout for a flat belly after delivery.
The post 5 Homemade Indian Food After Delivery For Quick Weight Loss appeared first on PN.
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