A common medical procedure that many women undergo at a point in their lives is abortion. The unfortunate situation along with the taboos surrounding it, leaves women feeling alone and afraid during and after an abortion. This may interfere with healing and regaining strength physically and emotionally from an abortion. Eating healthy foods after an abortion is necessary for the body to restore essential nutrients that help in better and faster recovery after the abortion.

Why eat the right foods after abortion?

A light, comforting and bland diet would be best suitable immediately after an abortion to control feelings of nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. General advice is to eat more fresh, wholesome foods that have high amounts of nutrients. Food can be as powerful to heal mental well-being as physical health. Eating good meals can boost energy levels and mood while the body recovers physically and mentally. At this point, it is essential for the woman to know the kind of foods to eat and to avoid.

Eat foods to replenish iron levels after abortion

Intake of foods high in Iron can help the body recover the loss of blood during an abortion. Excessive loss of blood during an abortion can lead to anemia, where the hemoglobin levels drop low. Foods that provide better bioavailability of iron in the body can restore hemoglobin levels faster.

Bioavailable iron can be categorized into two types as heme and non-heme iron.  Animal sources of food such as red meats, poultry, and seafood like salmon and sardine contain high levels of heme iron. Non-heme iron is found in plant sources, such as green leafy vegetables, lentils, beans, brussels sprouts, nuts, dry fruits, and seeds. While vegetarians should consume iron-rich plant-based foods, non-vegetarians can consume iron-rich foods from both plant and animal sources. Foods with meat sources of iron have to be thoroughly cooked so as to avoid indigestion or infections. Some specific sources of food that can provide absorbable iron in the body include:

• Lean meat
• Eggs
• Dried apricots and figs
• Leafy greens
• Black beans
• Lentils
• Beets
• Brussel sprouts
• Brown rice
• Molasses
• Sesame seeds

Vitamin to support iron absorption

Eating foods that will help in the absorption of iron is as important as eating iron-rich foods. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that helps in the absorption of Iron in the body. Fruits that contain good amounts of vitamin C include lemons, oranges, papayas, grapes, and strawberries. To discuss with the doctor or a nutritionist, the right fruits to eat after a miscarriage would be helpful.

Crucial to eat calcium-rich foods after an abortion

The formation of a fetus requires calcium to be absorbed from the mother for the proper development of its vital body organs such as the heart, bones, muscles, nerves, and other organs. With an abortion, all this calcium is lost from the woman’s body, causing calcium deficiency.

To compensate for this reason, it is crucial to consume a lot of calcium-rich foods after an abortion. Some of the calcium-rich foods include:

• Dairy products
• Green leafy vegetables
• Millets
• Nuts
• Dried figs and dates
• Fish such as salmon and sardines
• Soy products

Protein foods needed for cell repair after an abortion

Building blocks of our body, the amino acids present in protein are essential for cell repair. Consuming major amounts of protein helps the body to heal after an abortion. Foods like eggs, lean meats, seafood, poultry, and dairy such as whey protein form the direct sources of proteins for the body. Plant sources of protein include lentils, pulses, mushrooms, soya, and grains like quinoa and buckwheat. A variety of protein-rich dishes can make the diet healing and enjoyable.

Foods to feel good after an abortion

Emotions associated with the termination of pregnancy, the trauma of the procedure, and the hormonal imbalance can make it hard for women to get back to normalcy. Feelings after an abortion vary from one woman to another. Research has indicated that consuming magnesium-rich foods reduces anxiety and uplifts mood in women feeling low after an abortion. Magnesium is found in foods such as dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and avocado. Most legumes like peas, lentils, or chickpeas and whole grains like brown rice and whole wheat also contain favorable amounts of magnesium.

Carbohydrates to rebuild energy after an abortion

After an abortion, the woman often experiences tiredness as a lot of energy is lost during the process. Though many women may not feel like eating much, it is important to ensure that the body is getting enough energy to recover. Even with sufficient rest, the body needs more calories than usual when it is working hard to heal.

Carbohydrates that will replenish energy levels are an important part of the diet for recovery. Foods with carbohydrates form the major source of energy in the body. Healthy energy-giving foods with high fiber content include brown rice, millets, whole wheat bread, pasta, and oatmeal.

Foods with omega 3 to fight inflammation

An abortion procedure can cause mild inflammation leading to swelling or bloating. This swelling is normal and may last for 3 to 5 days. Omega-3 is known to help fight inflammation in the body. Omega 3 is also essential to keep the healthy circulation of blood in the body by balancing the density of bad cholesterol to that of good cholesterol. Foods that provide Omega-3 include nuts, seeds, and fish varieties such as salmon, tuna, herring, and sardine.

Eat folates to restore reproductive health

Women who wish to conceive again should eat foods that are rich in folate. Folic acid promotes a healthy pregnancy and prevents birth defects in the fetus. Ingredients rich in folate include lady’s finger, chickpeas, and spinach. Other sources include dark green vegetables, broccoli, squash, lentils, peas, citrus fruits, and avocado.

Some tips on following food habits can go a long way in healing the body and mind especially after an abortion:

• Drink plenty of water
• Eat the right nutrients
• Keep it simple and easy
• Enjoy some favorite comfort foods occasionally
• Be alert on digestive side effects
• Avoid alcohol