Many pregnant and postpartum women struggle with maintaining good iron and hemoglobin levels, especially African American women it seems. I am speaking from experience. I was prescribed iron pills with my first pregnancy and I was miserable because they are so constipating. There are many great whole food options that work just as well, if not better. Today I am going to focus on Blackstrap Molasses :)
Blackstrap molasses (BSM) is the "byproduct of the process of refining sugar cane into table sugar. It is made
from the third boiling of the sugar syrup and is therefore the concentrated
byproduct left over after the sugar's sucrose has been crystallized" ~ Whole Foods Our bodies need iron inorder to obtain and transport oxygen from the lungs throughout the body; thereby, providing daily energy to grow a baby, placenta, birth, breastfeed, and prevent hemorrhaging. BSM is also a great source of calcium and many other minerals. Calcium is not just important for healthy bones and teeth, it is also necessary for "the heart and other muscles to contract, blood
clotting, the conduction of nerve impulses to and from the brain, regulation of
enzyme activity, and cell membrane function".
You can see the relevance of these vitamins and minerals and how deficiency can cause many problems in pregnancy and birth: hypertension, postpartum hemorrhage, etc. Take matters into your own hands and get some BSM today. Here is a yummy "coffee" alternative using it:
1tbsp BSM
Hot water
Milk of your choice (I use soy)
Sweetner of choice (honey or raw sugar to taste)
Fill a tea cup with BSM and half cup hot water and mix well. Add milk and sweetner. You can add ice for an "iced latte" affect too.
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