Anti-inflammatory Foods: The Cornerstone of Healthy Postpartum Recovery.

While society has a long way to go in terms of honoring that precious time of bonding and healing, there is still a lot you can do to protect your health (and sanity) within modern postpartum circumstances.

One of those ways is by having a solid postpartum nutrition plan in place to nourish yourself back to health. And you can start by eating nutrient-dense foods to support your body after giving birth, which is one of the most profoundly useful things you can do in the first six months postpartum (and beyond).

Anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich foods help inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines―molecules that regulate inflammation levels. Since your goals are to heal your body, rebuild your tissues, protect your mental health  produce nutrient-rich breast milk (for those who breastfeed), and restore your nutrient levels, anti-inflammatory foods should be the cornerstone of your diet.

Consider adding these anti-inflammatory foods to your diet.

• A wide variety of fresh, colorful vegetables (especially leafy greens).

• Fruits and berries.

• Iron-rich proteins like grass-fed beef, buffalo, lamb, bison, liver, and bone broths.

• Healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado oil, extra-virgin olive oil, and pasture-raised butter.

• Fatty, low-mercury fish like wild-caught salmon and sardines.

• Moderate amounts of gluten-free, nutrient-rich grains like rice, millet, quinoa, oats, etc.

• Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, kombucha, and sauerkraut help maintain a healthy gut, which helps quell inflammation throughout your body while improving digestion.