ASICS FrontRunner MEGAN LAGERWEY is a year post the birth of her first child. As a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Coach she has always been very particular about the importance of nutrition in her training and was the same about her postpartum recovery journey back to the trails.
You can apply her nutrition principles to any kind of surgery or recovery process.
"For me, good nutrition is the foundation to healing," says Meg. "Because a C-section is a major abdominal surgery, it’s important to eat vitamin-rich foods and good quality protein to help with tissue recovery. And of course, if you are breastfeeding, you need to make sure you’re eating the right amount of food to keep producing milk," she says.
Some foods to focus on include:
- Proteins like chicken, chickpeas, beans, legumes, eggs
- Vegetables like spinach, broccoli and fenugreek are a good source of vitamin A and C, it also has dietary calcium and iron. Fruits like oranges, watermelon, strawberries and grapefruit are great options
- Fibre-rich foods like bananas, asparagus, nuts and seeds, broccoli, whole grains etc. If you are used to eating lots of plant-based foods, aim for 30 + plants per week, but keep an eye on any foods that might be upsetting your newborn’s tummy.
- Vitamin supplementation may also be beneficial. There is some evidence to show that vitamin C and turmeric can help with wound healing.
"On top of this, it is vital that you’re getting in enough fluid throughout the day. I aim for 3L of liquid, which includes water and “jungle juice” made from Rehydrat, apple juice and Schlehen Blackthorn Berry Elixir," says Meg.
