Drinking tea in the postpartum period is a great way to lose weight because it increases the production of breast milk and thus the caloric expenditure of the mother's body that consumes the accumulated fat during the 9 months of pregnancy as an energy source. In addition, drinking a lot of tea in the postpartum period also promotes circulation and helps to deflate, especially after cesarean section.
But not all teas can be used in breastfeeding because they can alter the taste of milk or cause discomfort or cramps in the baby. Find out which ones should not be used by clicking here.
Best teas for a nursing mother
Thus, the teas most suitable for losing weight after childbirth, but that do not harm breastfeeding and neither the baby are:
- Marian thistle:
One of the best teas indicated for weight loss after childbirth because it has a substance called silymarin that enhances the production of breast milk. Milk thistle can also be used as a powder supplement to increase breast milk production, and can be found in pharmacies.
To make tea of thistle just put a teaspoon of seeds of thistle for each cup of boiling water, let stand for 15 minutes, strain and drink 30 minutes before main meals, lunch and dinner.
- Lemongrass:
Great because it improves digestion and fights gases, which can be one of the causes of the swollen belly at this stage. You can take it 2 or 3 times a day, between your main meals or 30 minutes before lunch and dinner, preferably without sweetening.
To prepare, just place a sachet of lemongrass in a cup of hot water and let it stand for 3 minutes, properly covered. Take warm.
- Chamomile:
It will keep you calm and the baby too, ensuring a better recovery in the postpartum period. It can be useful to calm the stomach and make you more serene, and as it is secreted by milk, it also makes the baby more relaxed. It may be useful to take 1 hour before breastfeeding, close to the baby's bedtime.
This tea helps you lose weight because sleeping well, it is easier to rest and make the best food choices, preferring less calorie foods.
Best teas for mom who doesn't breastfeed
To increase the weight loss speed after delivery when the mother does not breastfeed, the following can be used:
- Caffeinated teas, such as black tea, green tea or mate tea, which help speed up metabolism and burn fat. Diuretic teas, such as rosemary, arenaria, horsetail or fennel tea, which help to deflate.
These teas cannot be taken when a woman is breastfeeding because caffeine passes into breast milk and can cause insomnia in the baby and diuretic teas can cause dehydration and decrease milk production.
Watch the video and see other tips to lose weight after giving birth:
Postpartum weight loss diet
The postpartum weight loss diet has to be balanced, rich in natural foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish. In this diet it is also important to avoid fatty and high sugar foods, such as fried foods, sausages, cakes and soft drinks, for example.
However, the changes in the mother's body take place during 9 months of pregnancy and one must wait at least that long to regain weight before becoming pregnant. However, if after 6 months the woman still does not feel well with her weight, she should consult a nutritionist to make an adequate diet without harming milk production.
If you want to know more about how many pounds and how long to lose weight after having the baby read: Weight loss in the postpartum period.
The diet should be well balanced, containing good amounts of iron, protein, zinc and vitamin A to prevent and combat the hair loss that happens after the baby is born. Check out other simple but efficient strategies to keep hair beautiful and silky at: 5 strategies to combat hair loss in the postpartum period.
