The diet for a woman during her postpartum confinement (the first month after childbirth) should not only be nutritious but also well-balanced. Many people choose to give the new mother brown sugar water, but is it suitable to drink after childbirth? Although brown sugar is a condiment, it is believed in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to have effects such as replenishing Qi, alleviating central tension, and nourishing the blood. This shows that drinking brown sugar water after childbirth can be beneficial. Today, we recommend 7 nutritious brown sugar recipes for the postpartum period for mothers who want to boost their blood levels.
While drinking brown sugar water is good for new mothers, it must be consumed in moderation. If consumed for too long, the blood-activating properties of brown sugar can increase the amount of lochia, leading to continued blood loss. Therefore, the recommended duration for drinking brown sugar water postpartum is generally 7 to 10 days.
Brown sugar is also known as "confinement sugar," as the name implies, a type of sugar suitable for women during their postpartum confinement. It is a fact that brown sugar contains a relatively high amount of iron, making it very suitable for women in the puerperium, but it must be part of a balanced diet.
7 Nutritious Brown Sugar Recipes for Postpartum Confinement:
1. Red Date and Goji Berry Black Fungus Soup
30g black fungus, 15g goji berries, 5 red dates, and 50g brown sugar are decocted and taken twice daily. Regular consumption can help reduce dark circles under the eyes.
2. Red Date and Chrysanthemum Porridge
5-10 red dates, 100g black rice, and 15g chrysanthemums are placed in a pot with an appropriate amount of water to cook into a porridge. When the porridge becomes thick, add an appropriate amount of brown sugar. This recipe has the effects of strengthening the spleen to nourish blood, clearing the liver to improve vision. Regular consumption can make facial complexion ruddy and has the effects of health care, disease prevention, and beauty preservation.
Nourishing Chicken Soup
3. Ginger and Brown Sugar Tea
15g of ginger and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Steep with boiling water and drink as tea. It can treat colds caused by wind-cold and effectively relieve menstrual pain for women with cold and blood stasis.
4. Codonopsis, Red Bean, and Brown Sugar Soup
30g Codonopsis root, 30g red beans, 15g red sage root, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar are decocted to extract the juice, then brown sugar is added. Regular use can moisturize the skin tone.
5. Bird's Nest and Jujube Soup
15g bird's nest, 15g jujubes, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Soak the bird's nest in clear water to remove impurities, then cook it with the pitted jujubes in an appropriate amount of water until the jujubes are soft. Add brown sugar before serving. This recipe has the effects of nourishing the complexion and reducing wrinkles, making the skin look glossy and moisturized.
Related Reading: Complete Collection of Postpartum Confinement Recipes
6. Motherwort, Ginger, Date, and Brown Sugar Water
20g motherwort, 15g dried ginger, 3 red dates, and 30g brown sugar are decocted. It has the effect of warming the meridians to dispel cold. It is suitable for cold-type menstrual cramps and chloasma.
7. Hawthorn and Cinnamon Brown Sugar Soup
15g hawthorn flesh, 5g cinnamon, and 30-50g brown sugar. Place the hawthorn and cinnamon in a clay pot, add 2 bowls of water, and simmer over low heat until it reduces to 1 bowl. Add brown sugar, mix well, and bring to a boil. It has the effects of warming the meridians, promoting blood circulation, resolving stasis, and relieving pain. It is suitable for women with cold-type menstrual cramps and a dull complexion.
Precautions for Drinking Brown Sugar Water:
1. Drinking a moderate amount of brown sugar water is beneficial to the body as it can promote the division of red blood cells and ensure the quality of the blood.
However, it is not advisable to drink it before bed, as it may lead to excessive sugar storage in the body. Long-term consumption could potentially lead to diabetes, as well as other issues such as weight gain and cavities.
You can drink an appropriate amount of plain water before bed, which can help the body's metabolism during the night. With morning urination, a large amount of waste accumulated in the body from the previous day can be expelled, which is beneficial to health.
2. When taking medication, it is not advisable to take it with brown sugar water. The medicine we take when we are sick has relatively strong effects, and generally, different medications should not be taken together. From a certain perspective, brown sugar water can also be considered a medicinal substance. If mixed with other medications, problems may arise.
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