Why Korean Seaweed Soup is Good During Postpartum
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High in Iodine
Seaweed is a fantastic source of iodine, an essential mineral crucial for healthy thyroid function. The thyroid plays a significant role in metabolism and in a baby's brain development (when passed through breastmilk).
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Iron-Rich
Seaweed contains good amounts of iron, promoting the restoration of blood lost during childbirth, which helps combat fatigue and anemia.
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Calcium Source
Seaweed is rich in calcium, aiding in maintaining bone health, which may be affected during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
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Nutritious Vitamins and Minerals
It contains other important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, magnesium, and folate, all which support postpartum recovery.
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Promotes Lactation
Some believe that seaweed contributes to increased breast milk production, supporting a stable milk supply for breastfeeding mothers.
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Digestive Aid
Seaweed is full of fiber which can help alleviate postpartum constipation.
Seaweed soup aka “Miyeok-guk” for Post Partum in the press
"The Soup I Ate for More Than 450 Days Straight"
Bonappetit.com
“The warm broth is full of fiber, iron, calcium, and iodine. Basically, it’s an all-in-one to survive the first few weeks of postpartum life. There’s fiber for easier bowel movements, iron to support energy and blood health, calcium for your bones, and iodine for baby’s brain development. “
Everymom.com
“including the requisite miyeok guk, or seaweed soup, a post-birth Korean staple”.
The NewYork Time
Korean traditions
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Honoring Mothers
It is customary to eat Miyeokguk on birthdays in Korea. Since new mothers have, in essence, given birth to another life, they are also celebrated and nourished with this traditional soup.
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Symbolism
The act of offering a new mother seaweed soup embodies respect, appreciation, and support during the sensitive and transformative period of postpartum recovery.
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Practical Nourishment
Before modern medicine, access to nutrient-rich foods was limited. Seaweed was readily accessible along the Korean coast, offering a potent source of essential vitamins and minerals for new mothers.
