Find Your Mummy Mojo!

Emma Sutherland shares her top ten tips for Mums trying to find their Mojo!

At my clinic, I get lots of questions from Mums about how they can boost their energy levels and find their Mojo again after giving birth. While you sometimes feel that it’s a full time job just looking after your family, my best piece of advice is to make sure you take some time to nurture yourself. Here are some of the things I recommend you look at in your own lifestyle so that you feel healthy and fabulous once again.

1. Full fat dairy contains many vital fat soluble nutrients such as Vitamin A, D, E and K and you can’t obtain these vitamins in such concentrations elsewhere. The mistake most women make is going for “low-fat” options. In doing this, you are missing out on essential vitamins and low fat products are usually high in sugar or salt. The aim is to eat a small amount of organic full fat dairy each week.

2. Antioxidants – these wonderful nutrients are our weapon against aging and are found in cherries, blueberries, salmon, carrots, pumpkin, cranberries, pomegranates and artichokes.

3. Superfoods are called ‘super’ because of the incredibly high level of nutrients found in them. You may have heard of some of them – raw cacao, Goji berries, Açaí berries, Maca, spirulina, chlorella, chlorophyll, bee pollen. I ensure that I have one Superfood every day and each week I try a different one!

4. Probiotics are the ‘good’ bacteria that reside inside our digestive systems and are the seat of our immune systems. Lots of probiotics equates to a healthy, resilient immune system but these delicate organisms are depleted by the oral contraceptive pill, medications such as antibiotics and inadequate dietary fibre. If you have ever had eczema, a urinary tract infection or thrush then you have felt the effects of a lack of probiotics.

As around 70 per cent of the immune system is located in the gut, having a functioning digestive system plays a fundamental role in supporting our wellbeing. If your digestion is out of whack, chances are you’ll be experiencing other health problems and reduced immune function – creating a cycle of bad health!

While traces of probiotics are found in foods such as yoghurt, milk, miso and some soy beverages, they are more effectively administered via dietary supplements. 

As such, it’s important to nourish your gut with good food and eating habits along with a probiotic supplement which will help support digestive and immune function by controlling the levels of harmful bacteria in the gut. Look for a good quality, shelf-stable option (no annoying refrigeration!) like Wagner’s Probiotica P3 – this contains a blend of three acid-resistant strains of good bacteria that are guaranteed to be alive on consumption and can help alleviate gas and bloating, reduce toxins and carcinogens formed in the gastrointestinal tract, prevent and treat Candida, and speed up recovery from diarrhoea or constipation.

Probiotics can also decrease the risk of allergies, asthma and food intolerances and help reduce the severity of colds and flu, so make taking a P3 capsule a daily habit.

5. Magnesium rich foods are wonderful to ease stress levels, smooth out fine lines and reduce your

risk factor for insulin resistance. These foods include quinoa, oats, almonds, Brazil nuts, pumpkin

seeds, sunflower seeds, spinach and navy beans.

6. Eating 5 small meals per day will speed up your metabolism and ease the strain on your digestive

system. Women often suffer from a sluggish thyroid gland and this slows down your basal metabolic

rate or how fast you can burn calories. This results in fatigue, a tyre around the tummy and low

libido.

Eat a good size breakfast that contains some starchy carbohydrates and as the day progresses

eat more protein. Dinner should consist of 50% protein and 50% complex carbohydrates in the form

of salad or vegetables. Always avoid the starchy carbs after breakfast.

7. You must assess and then address nutritional deficiencies. Women are often low on vitamin D

(keeps our bones strong), iodine (essential for a healthy thyroid), zinc (vital for optimal hormone

balance), iron (needed for energy) and vitamin B12 (is required to absorb iron from your diet). Ask

your naturopath to check these essential nutrients as a deficiency will leave you feeling less than

your sexy best.

8. Avoid anti nutrients such as white sugar, white flour, caffeine and alcohol as these actually strip

essential vitamins and minerals from your body as they are processed. The Japanese culture believe

that white sugar is the most aging substance that you can put in your body so think again the next

time you reach for your sugar hit at 3pm!

9. Mindful eating is the practice of being in the moment with your food. Before each meal or snack,

take a moment to sit calmly and take five deep breathes. This has the effect of turning your digestive

processes on. Simply notice the food and consider its colour, texture, aroma and then how it makes

you feel afterwards. Are you bloated and feeling heavy or are you energetic and light? Tune in and

connect with your body and it will soon be telling you what it needs instead of your head telling your

body!

10. Laughter and sex are vital to longevity, feeling like the goddess within and attaining optimal vitality.

Emma Sutherland is a Sydney-based Naturopath and Health Writer and a spokesperson for Wagner’s Probiotica P3. For more on Emma, visit www.emmasutherland.com.au and for more information on health supplements, visit www.wagnerproducts.com.au