Mothers often tend to focus so much on their kids that they forget about themselves. We just tend to keep our minds involved in taking care of our little angels and taking care of ourselves become secondary. Mothers have a reason to live long, healthy and active lives. How else are you going to be there for your little one at all times? Even little changes in your life can go a long way.
Here are simple and do-able ways to live longer and be healthier moms:
1. Antioxidant rich diet
Are you someone who loves eating fruits, nuts, beans and vegetables? You are doing just thing you should be. If you don’t, then you should better start eating these as they contain tons of antioxidants.
Being a mother, you really need that. Why? Because they contain antioxidants which protect your body from the damage caused by free radicals. Research has unveiled the fact that antioxidants have the power to shield you against memory loss, cancer, heart diseases and tons of other health issues. You don’t want any of these when raising your child right?
Some of your favorite food and drinks also contain antioxidants like dark chocolate, ginger, almonds, walnuts, green tea and coffee.
2. Shed some pregnancy pounds
You probably have put on pregnancy pounds. We all know being overweight isn’t good for your health as it can lead to a number of other health issues. Baby fat can be a tough one to melt down. By shedding few pounds, you will not only feel good about yourself but save yourself from many associated health risks like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart diseases.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. You can start by losing little weight. As a matter of fact, reducing 100 calories each day can help you lose 9 to 10 pounds of weight in a year. Don’t worry! 100 calories isn’t much. Even a chocolate bar is more than 200 calories.
3. Save yourself from the blues
Did you know 1 out of every 5 mothers go through postpartum depression? The strange thing is that we all think that we cannot fall a victim of this depression. It happens because of the stress of new responsibilities along with hormonal fluctuations due to nursing and pregnancy.
Depression can creep up on you when you are not even expecting it. Having a baby can put you under a lot of pressure as you have to take care of the baby, the house and your job. It can stress you out and let depression crawl in. never isolate yourself when you feel it is happening. Let your friends and family know.
4. Correct your posture
Only some time passes by as you step into the journey of motherhood, you are bound to say ‘ouch’ or ‘ah! That hurts’ for some reason or the other. It could be because of your second trimester, nursing your baby, holding your baby for too long, lifting a heavy toddler and million other instances which can be just your beginning. You can be hit by pain in the shoulder, arms, wrist, neck and back. Many women even feel a numb or tingling sensation accompanied by pain.
To avoid that, make sure you sit and stand in the right posture. It doesn’t matter how much you sit or stand. It is actually the way you sit or stand that matters. Sitting or standing with the chest open and shoulders pushed back can save you from back pain that nursing moms go through.
5. Cut back on white foods
Show some love to your body by keeping away from white foods. Now, what is meant by white foods? Those foods that have white flour or refined sugar as a major ingredient are white foods. They not only cause inflammation in the body but also produce free radicals that cause different diseases along with speeding up the process of aging.
You should take 100 calories or six teaspoons of added sugar in a day. More than is excessive. Stay away from baked food items and replace it with item made out of whole grains like oats, bran and wheat.
6. Oral Care
Doesn’t it seem really convenient and easy to just brush off dental checkups and cleanings amidst all the responsibilities that come with becoming a parent? Not doing that can weaken your gums and make you lose your tooth or even teeth. Research has proven that gum disease may also increase the risk of heart diseases.
Delaying your dental checkups might only pile up your dental bill even more. For a healthy heart and teeth, make sure you visit your dentist twice a year. After all don’t you want to smile at your kids with dazzling white teeth?
