Xi’an’s local specialty snack – Liangpi, mainly consumed as a cold dish, with a variety of flavors, is deeply loved by the public. However, for women who are currently in their postpartum confinement period, despite having many dietary restrictions during pregnancy and an eagerness to try various delicacies, Liangpi is not an ideal choice.
During the postpartum confinement period, it is advisable to avoid consuming Liangpi. The reason being that Liangpi has low nutritional value and belongs to the category of cold and spicy foods, which are particularly detrimental to the health of postpartum women. They may lead to issues such as diarrhea, internal heat, hindering the postpartum recovery process, especially for mothers who have undergone C-sections, it may also affect the healing of surgical incisions. Additionally, the hygiene of Liangpi is sometimes difficult to guarantee, potentially harboring health risks.
Specifically, as a cold food, Liangpi can cause harm to women who are weak in postpartum energy and blood deficiency, especially those with poor spleen and stomach function, consuming excessively cold food may further damage the spleen and stomach, interfere with the digestive system, hinder lochia discharge, and blood stasis dissipation. Furthermore, its spicy nature easily depletes energy and blood, exacerbating postpartum weakness or causing constipation, if passed on to the baby through breastfeeding, it will also have a negative impact on the baby’s health. In addition, the additive alum (aluminum sulfate) commonly found in Liangpi, if ingested excessively, may impair brain function, affect memory, in the long run, may even lead to Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, and bone problems.
Therefore, during the postpartum confinement period, it is advisable to choose more suitable recipes to promote recovery. For example, peanut and pig trotter soup, rich in protein and nutrients, can effectively replenish blood, promote lactation, and beautify the skin. When preparing, clean the pig trotters, blanch to remove blood clots, and slow-cook with peanuts and ginger slices for several hours until the meat is tender. Another recommendation is red sugar millet porridge, simple to make, can help discharge lochia, supplement nutrients, benefit qi and blood. Simply simmer millet with red dates, red sugar, and other ingredients over low heat until the porridge is thick, fragrant, and tasty.
In conclusion, during the postpartum confinement period, diet should focus on nutrition and warmth, stimulating foods like Liangpi should be temporarily avoided, and instead opt for beneficial nourishing foods such as peanut and pig trotter soup, red sugar millet porridge, which aid in body recovery.
