Importance of Smoothies….Preconception, Pregnancy and Beyond

Sep 09, 2015 : Nutrition & Health : health, healthy meals, healthy snacks, kids health, nutrition, postpartum health, preconception health, pregnancy health, whole foods

The health of your body depends on your digestion (70-80% of your immune system resides in digestive system, every cell of the body communicates with digestive system, there is a hormonal connection, digestion removes toxins from body, 90% of serotonin is created in the gut, and much more). When you blend your foods, you are supporting the digestion process. Your body does not have to work so hard to break down the nutrients as they are in a pre-digestible state. Did you know that 80% of your energy is spent digesting and assimilating your nutrients?  When our food is pre-digested, nutrients can quickly and more easily absorb into our bloodstream and nourish our body and mind. So why not support your body to do less work?

Preconception health is so essential to pregnancy health and the baby’s health. Smoothies packed full of a lot of fruits, vegetables and wholefoods support detoxification in the body and kick start health for pregnancy. A good amount of nutritional stores, detoxification, along with increasing whole foods sets up future moms and dads with a possible easier conception and healthier pregnancy.

During pregnancy, digestion naturally slows down. Therefore, consuming smoothies supports the digestive tract, expectant mom’s health and baby’s health.

From Birth to beyond, smoothies do everything stated above and below; in addition, they help with nutritional stores for moms to successfully breastfeed, have energy, and fuel their body. Ultimately, if we do not take care of ourselves physically and emotionally, we cannot sustain taking care of others.

Smoothies are…

• Chock full of vitamins, enzymes and minerals (depending upon what you place in your smoothie)
• Easy to digest, which means optimal assimilation of your nutrients
• Great for stabilizing blood sugar as long as a healthy fat and protein is included in the smoothie (protein and fats are key for blood sugar stabilization)
• A fabulous way to consume a lot and a variety of different fruits or vegetables at one time
• Terrific for cleansing the body of toxicity
• An easy way to add more fiber to your diet for optimal bowel function
• Great way to boost energy

Making the ultimate smoothie: 

The Basics

1. Choose the liquid – water, coconut water, aloe juice, or a dairy-free milk
2. Choose your greens – kale, spinach, parsley, Swiss chard, collards or romaine
3. Choose your fruit – banana, apple, berries, mango and more
4. Choose your fat/protein – hemp seeds, hemp protein, nut butters, avocado, coconut oil, plant based protein, flax or chia seeds
5. Superfoods – maca, raw cacao, bee pollen, shredded coconut, goji berries and more
6. Supplements – if you are tired of taking a lot of pills, you can easily open up your capsules and add them to the smoothie

Melanie is the Wellness Coordinator for Willowsong Midwifery Care, a Certified Health Coach (through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and AADP), and more importantly a mom of 3 small children. She is very passionate about empowering moms and children in attaining overall health and wellness and loves supporting Willowsong Families with health classes, free initial prenatal consults, information via blogging and much more! Melanie approaches health from a holistic perspective, meaning that she believes each component of our lives creates our overall health and wellness. You are welcome to connect with Melanie anytime via email (Melanie@Food4Thoughtdm.com).

Please don’t just take Melanie’s experience…as always consult with your medical professional and your own self understanding when making health decision; Melanie is not a medical professional, a nutritionist or dietician. She does not hold a degree in medicine, dietetics, or nutrition. Melanie makes no claim to any specialized medical training, nor does she dispense medical advice or prescriptions. This content is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease, preconception or pregnancy health. It is intended to be provided for informational, educational, and self-empowerment purposes ONLY. Please consult with your doctor or wellness team if you have questions and then make your own well-informed decisions based upon what is best for your unique genetics, culture, conditions, and stage of life.