Postpartum Diet: Seasonings & Sauces

Previously, we covered on which nuts and seeds that you need to consume and avoid during confinement. Now, let's take a look at seasonings and sauces! Seasonings and sauces are the main keys in making tasty Malaysian dishes. Our cooking might taste bland without them. But the question is, can postpartum mums eat all seasonings and sauces? Well, not all seasonings and sauces are great for your postpartum body—some might hinder your recovery process. Let’s explore which seasonings and sauces are safe to eat during your postpartum period and otherwise, shall we? Safe Seasonings and Sauces to Consume After Childbirth Ketchup New mummies can consume ketchup after giving birth. Just remember do not go overboard with it as it contains high sodium content. Chicken stock cube Chicken stock cube is completely safe for new mummies who just delivered their babies. It also has nutritional value. So, you can eat chicken stock cube without any worries. Oyster sauce Postpartum mums need to eat oyster sauce in small amounts. You can use this sauce to enhance the flavour of a dish. Oyster sauce has some high-quality nutrients like iron and zinc but you should be aware of its high salt content. Please avoid it if you have any allergies to shellfish. Pesto Yes, it is absolutely safe to eat pesto during your postpartum period. Pesto has healthy fats and antioxidants which helps to improve your immune system and recovery process. It is also delicious! Salsa New mummies can enjoy salsa after giving birth. The tomatoes and lime in salsa provide you antioxidants which helps to accelerate your immune system. You should try making homemade salsa rather than consuming the shop-bought ones. This is because they might contain high levels of salt. The shop-bought ones are not good for your health. Sesame Go ahead and eat sesame during your confinement period. Sesame can help you to quicken your healing process with its beneficial nutrient content. It is rich in iron which helps with your red blood formation. This is great for postpartum mums as you lose a lot of blood during childbirth. Cinnamon Cinnamon is one of the most popular seasonings in Malaysia. This spice is safe for postpartum mummies! It helps to delay your menstruation after giving birth. Additionally, it also prevents early conception. Clove It is fine to use cloves in your confinement dish. They have anti-inflammatory substances which help to speed up your recovery process and protect you from infections. Cloves also relieve certain pain like toothaches. Consume in Moderation Garam masala I know garam masala is delicious! You can surely utilise garam masala in your postpartum meal. But, you need to consume them in moderation. You can add a moderate amount of them into your curry to add some flavour to your dish, just don't go overboard. Soy sauce You can have some soy sauce in your postpartum period but you need to watch over your consumption. This is because consuming too much soy sauce can cause you to swell. Vinegar After giving birth, you can have some vinegar in your postpartum diet. However, you need to consume it in small amounts. Vinegar can help you to bring down your swelling but too much vinegar might lead to heartburn. So, please be careful with it. White sugar New mummies can have some white sugar during their postpartum period. However, you need to consume them in moderate amounts. This is because excessive amounts of white sugar might cause unnecessary weight gain. This might open up the risk of tooth decay and diabetes. Brown sugar Postpartum mums can have brown sugar in moderation. They are more refined compared to white sugar. But, you need to watch over your intake as they might hinder your recovery process after childbirth. Salt New mums can eat salt after having their babies. But, you need to limit your intake of it. You can consume them within 6 grams (a teaspoon) or less. Remember not to exceed it as consuming too much sodium can interrupt your healing process. Curry You can surely have curry in your confinement period. Curry has many beneficial nutrients. It helps to replenish your energy and improve your healing process. But, you need to consume it in moderate amounts as it might lead to indigestion and heartburn. MSG MSG is one of the most known seasonings in Malaysian meals. You can use them in your confinement meal if you need to, just remember to consume MSG in limited quantities only. This is because it has limited nutritional value and it is in fact unhealthy. Sambal New mums can use sambal in their confinement meals. But, you need to consume them in moderate amounts as sambal has a high level of salt and spice. Hence, you might be prone to heartburn. Seasonings and Sauces to Avoid During the Postpartum Period Tahini New mummies cannot consume tahini after giving birth as it might cause food poisoning. This is not good as you might get infections and have low immunity. So, it is best to avoid it during the confinement period. Kudzu powder You should avoid having kudzu powder during your postpartum period. Kudzu powder might interrupt your hormone balance which might be dangerous for your postpartum body. Eat safe seasonings and sauces during your postpartum period! Postpartum mums should now know which seasonings and sauces that they should to eat and which to avoid during this period. It is okay to satisfy your craving after giving birth. But, please be mindful of the upcoming side effects. Remember, you need all the essential nutrients to heal! Sources: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/nutrition-guide-new-moms https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/breast-feeding-diet Here are some foods that you must try during your confinement period. Check out which beverages are safe to consume during the postpartum period and which should be avoided here. For more insightful stories and healthy recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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