Morning smoothie inspired in Ayurveda to give you a healthy start of a day! A great mix of ingredients to support postpartum recovery, increase milk production, reduce stress and boost energy.
This green smoothie inspired in ayurveda helped me greatly to get my strength back, detox and support milk production after labor.
Naturally supports lactation
The ingredients are put together to support healthy digestion and boost your energy for the day. Moringa Oleifera, a plant native to India, was recommended to me by my lactation consultant to get strong after the labor and support breast milk production. I generally try to avoid synthetic drugs so finding this complex nature’s multivitamin was like finding a true treasure! It supports lactation and also contains iron which is often deficient after labor and pregnancy. It is rich in antioxidants like quercetin and chlorogenic acid and packed with vitamins and minerals – calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and riboflavin and has notable amounts of potassium, vitamin A, vitamin E, and magnesium. Moringa has also been linked to improved thyroid health, which controls hormones related to energy, sleep, and digestion. What a plant!
Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha or Indian ginseng is an adaptogen known to decrease levels of stress hormone cortisol which can block the production of milk if you are stressed and have troubles sleeping after giving birth. I certainly was! It improves the quality of sleep greatly and reduces symptoms of anxiety. By the way, ashwagandha is Sanskrit for smell of the horse, which refers to its ability to increase strength.
The nutritional content of breastmilk may increase thanks to the lauric and capric acids found in coconut and coconut milk. These acids often are responsible for breastmilk’s antimicrobial properties, providing an essential boost to your baby’s immune system. Almonds are also known to boost lactation. Flax seeds are great to improve digestion and contain phytoestrogens that can influence breast milk production. Flax seed oil contains healthy fats to enhance the breast milk and promote a child’s brain development. Psyllium provides a little extra fiber.
Ingredients
1 large banana
2 tsp organic moringa oleifera powder
1-2 tsp organic ashwagandha powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1tsp ground flax seeds
1tsp psyllium
1 cup almond or coconut milk
(alternatively 3 tsp of dried milk and
1 cup of water)
1 handful of shred coconut
1 tbsp date sirup
1 tsp flax seed oil
Preparation
Just throw it all in a blender and enjoy! For a creamier version, try adding a piece of ripe avocado.
Great start of the day
In the first days and weeks postpartum I used to wake up hungry and with no energy after the long nights and the idea of doing my practice first thing in the morning before breakfast was a clear no-no. I however still wanted to keep my morning routine and so I started drinking this smoothie after waking up and around 45 minutes before the practice which was super easy at the time and included mainly exercise to re-align the spine and close the body. I felt it gave me the energy and helped me tune in better. I kept the habit even when I started getting back to my regular dynamic practice. Although yoga is the best on an empty stomach, this worked for me way better in the postpartum period. I also felt that my body absorbed all the nutrition much better in this way.