5 Nutrients You Should Focus on After Having a Baby (Part 2)

Our self-paced course Nutrition and Healthy Habits for New Moms: A Simple Guide to Fuel your Recovery has officially gone live!  To celebrate, we are giving you a taste of our course by sharing 10 nutrients that your body needs to recover successfully after having a baby.  If you missed the first 5 nutrients, click here to check them out, otherwise let’s dive into those last 5 nutrients mama!

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

What does it do? 

You might have heard about vitamin B6 being used to help with morning sickness and being necessary for brain development during pregnancy, but it also is involved in immune function and related to the breakdown of carbohydrates, protein and fats within the body. 

Where do you get it? 

Some foods you can include in your diet that are high in vitamin B6 are: chickpeas, beef liver, tuna, salmon and chicken breast. 

Vitamin A 

What does it do? 

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin involved in immune function.  This vitamin is necessary for cellular communication, growth and development, and male and female reproduction. It also plays a critical role in the formation and maintenance of the heart, lung, eyes and other organs. 

Where do you get it? 

There are actually 2 types of vitamin A.  Performed vitamin A is found in fish, organs meats, dairy and eggs.  Provitamin A carotenoids are turned into vitamin A in our bodies and are found in fruits and vegetables, especially those that are orange.  Think pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and carrots. 

Iodine

What does it do? 

Iodine is a trace mineral.  It is an essential component of the thyroid hormones for metabolism and required for skeletal and central nervous system development in fetuses and infants.  

Where do you get it? 

You simply can get it from table salt!  Now this does not mean you have to buy any special salt like pink Himalayan or black volcanic.  In many countries iodine has been added to table salt.  In the United States this has been the case since the 1920’s.   

Choline 

What does it do? 

Choline is used for many steps in metabolism and plays a necessary role to produce a neurotransmitter for memory, mood, muscle control and other brain/nervous system functions.  It also plays a role in cell membrane signaling, fat transport and metabolism, and early brain development.  

Where do you get it? 

A whole egg can actually provide over 25% of your daily value being a powerhouse in getting in your choline.  You also can gain choline by eating beef liver, beef (top round), soybean and chicken breast. 

Magnesium

What does it do? 

Magnesium is a mineral used in making protein and is necessary for muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control and blood pressure regulation.  Magnesium also contributes to bone development and the production of DNA and RNA.  

Where do you get it? 

Try adding pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almonds, spinach, cashews and peanuts into your diet 

If you like what you see and want to learn more, go explore our course, “Nutrition and Healthy Habits for New Moms: A Simple Guide to Fuel your Recovery.”  Not only can you learn even more about these 10 nutrients, but we cover so much more!  Remember this course also comes in many different formats to make it easy for you to learn.  Not a mom?  No problem! This course is designed for those who support moms or can be gifted to a mom.  

Click the link to learn even more and feel free to share with family and friends, 

This blog was written by Amanda J. Stahl, RD, LDN, co-founder of Simple Start Nutrition.  For more blog posts and nutrition information follow @simplestartnutrition on Instagram and Facebook.  Also feel free to contact us, by visiting our website (simplestartnutrition.com) to schedule an appointment to discuss your nutrition related needs.  

Reference: 

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-all/