Are you thinking about starting a family and looking for some prenatal diet advice? Or have you recently given birth and want to speed up your recovery, both mentally and physically? Or are you a mum past the ‘baby stage’ but still feeling exhausted and in need of something to build your strength? If it’s a ‘yes’ to one of these, then you, like thousands of others in Australia, may be interested in finding out more about how Chinese Traditional Medicine and Herbal Nutrition can help you.
What is the best way to prepare for Pregnancy with TCM?
These are the ‘prep steps ‘as advised by Nicole Chien, a well-known nutritionist and founder of women’s TCM and herbal nutrition healthcare company Taste for Life in Australia and New Zealand.
- See your doctor and seek their advice on this crucial pre-pregnancy stage.
- Start taking folic acid each day.
- Reach and maintain a healthy weight. … eat optimally and boost your metabolism through diet and exercise.
- Get mentally healthy by exercising, meditating, and avoiding stress where possible.
- Regain your health by making up for all the nutrition lost during your last period.
Nicole advises starting your pregnancy plan by replenishing the loss of nutrients that occurs as a result of your last period. “Among other things, your period robs you of iron and minerals, which in turn can affect your hormones, so it’s really important to replace what you have lost so your body functions optimally. A healthy body is always preferable for pregnancy,” she says. “And adequate nutrition is especially important during this phase because it provides the energy your body needs as it prepares to release an egg.”
Nicole, who is a big supporter of TCM and Chinese herbal supplements to complement Western nutrition, suggests choosing foods that are not only rich in iron and minerals but also in amino acids. She recommends a diet high in beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, soy, quinoa and buckwheat and also nuts, seeds, beans and some grains. Taste for Life specialises in pre-natal ready-made foods for prenatal health. Visit the Taste of Life website to find out more about prenatal supplement teas, soups and drinks.
Post-natal recovery or ‘sitting the moon’. Understanding postpartum recovery in TCM.
In Chinese culture and indeed in many other Asian, Middle Eastern and African cultures, post-natal recovery really is a different world. Unlike in Australia, mum is given as much support as bub by her family and/or outside help and enjoys the benefits of a special recovery diet.
In TCM, postpartum recovery focuses on nourishing the mother’s blood, strengthening her Qi (life force), and warming her body after it is cooled by giving birth. TCM emphasises the importance of rest, balanced nutrition, and the right herbs to aid recovery.
How a Balanced Nutrition Diet Works:
This postpartum TCM diet follows a three-stage recovery Plan using Chinese herbs and special foods. Stage 1 (Days 1-10) restores a mother’s iron and folic acid after any blood loss during birth and builds metabolism. Stage 2 (Days 11-20) is about internal restoration (pregnancy can displace certain bones and joints so this stage of nutrition is based on food rich in calcium and collagen which can also support lactation) and then Stage 3 (Days 21-30) – full of nourishment to allow for optimal recovery and breastfeeding with foods rich in Vitamin E and B and protein to boost immunity and restore energy. Although using Chinese herbs and foods based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is specific to an Asian postpartum diet, they are full of nutrients that would show benefits for new mums based on Western science and thinking too.
Taste for Life offers many postpartum remedies and foods – including a 30-day basic package and a deluxe package. These are offered to help mums with the first crucial month of recovery. Advice is also given via phone or WhatsApp to really guide mums through this time.
How to Build Your Energy Naturally Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Herbal Nutrition.
Let’s face it, raising a family and often balancing a job with that can be exhausting, but TCM can help with that too.
Here are a few key foods and remedies commonly used in TCM and herbal nutrition to build health and vitality.
- Jujube (Red Date).
Jujube dates, also known as Red dates or Chinese dates, are a popular superfood in TCM and often used to make drinks or teas or for cooking soups or desserts. Rich in iron, these dates help prevent anaemia and contain further important minerals such as magnesium and calcium for bone strength. The fruit is also high in dietary fibre, which aids digestion. Furthermore, the dates are a rich source of vitamin C and B. Compounds found in jujube have been shown in studies to increase sleep and reduce anxiety, helping you function better the next day with more energy.
Additionally, red dates are great for heart health, being high in potassium, which helps with blood pressure regulation, as well as rutin (sometimes known as Vitamin P), which strengthens blood vessels and improves circulation. Last but not least, they provide energy thanks to the vitamin B, calcium and phosphorus that also aid recovery. Indeed, they are used in TCM to treat weakness and low energy and are universally acknowledged as an extraordinary health food.
2. Ginseng
Ginseng is an important remedy in TCM, and like red dates, work quickly to build energy. Perhaps this is a reason why it has gained so much mainstream acceptance. It helps build health and stamina and is especially useful in fighting fatigue and stress, enhancing concentration, immunity, body balance and strength and has proved transformative for many, changing the way they feel and operate.
Make sure your Ginseng drinks are also made with herbs such as astragalus, ligusticum and liquorice roots (delicious and potent) and watch out, there is not too much sugar added. Ginseng is naturally sweet, so there is really no need for additional sugar.
3. Snow Fungus Drinks
Apart from Ginseng drinks, there are other health drinks that mums can try, including Snow Fungus Drinks (snow fungus is a prized mushroom type fungus with a sweet taste and crunchy texture), which contains, amongst other things, collagen, dietary fibre and amino acids to support general health, and also to maintain blood sugar health.
4. Special Tonic Soups
TMC and optimal herbal nutrition also rely on Special Tonic soups. There are many tonic soups including ones that increase metabolism, build collagen, improve Qi and energy and help strengthen bones and joints. These soups have huge benefits for those who like to keep fit and keep up with their kids! Pregnancy can strip the mother of a lot of calcium and other nutrients, so it is important for mums to eat to restore these deficits. Any trusted Chinese herbal nutritionist can make up these soups for you and there are companies including Taste for Life that make them ready-made. Chicken Essence, in itself, is a great tonic too and really helps fight tiredness and energy fatigue. It is rich in iron, copper, zinc and vitamins. It is also great for improving metabolism. Tonic soups based on Beef Essence are another great immunity booster.
Reminder:
Always consult your healthcare provider or TCM practitioner before use if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Taking medications
- Experiencing health discomfort
- Using other herbal medicines at the same time.
To find out more about how Taste for Life can help build your energy and health, head to their website.
Nicole Chien is a leading nutritionist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition from Taiwan and a Master’s from Monash University, and a mother of two. For over 20 years, she has worked in pregnancy, maternal, postpartum and baby & childhood nutrition and founded the well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbal nutrition company here in Australia.