Juicing. Is it just a fad? Something that phases through every few years only to be replaced by the next latest and greatest health kick?

Sort of. Home juicing has been around forever, spiking in popularity here and there. Lately, it’s bigger than ever, for a variety of reasons. For one, the technology has improved. Juicing systems have become both more powerful and more convenient.

Is juicing safe for the new mom?

It’s probably not a great idea to go on a strict juice cleanse just after giving birth, for many reasons. First off, a cleanse is often a modified form of fasting. You need more calories than that to breastfeed, recover from the exertion of labor, heal from a C-section, rebuild nutrients given to the baby during pregnancy and to maintain the energy needed to withstand the sleep deprivation experienced during Baby’s first few months of life.

As a supplement, on the other hand, juicing can be very beneficial to the new mama — especially when it contains the pulp and fiber, a la one of the new bullet systems. Furthermore, there are certain ingredients that are of particular use to the postpartum woman.

Best postpartum juicing ingredients:

• Strawberries – for vitamin C and antioxidants.
• Lemon – vitamin C, anti-inflammatory, breast health, anti-nausea.
• Ginger – digestive health, eases muscle pain. lowers blood pressure.
• Kale – rich in nearly every vitamin and mineral, especially iron.
• Kiwi – vitamin C, wound and cut healing.
• Raspberries – antioxidants and natural immune boosting.
• Spinach – mental health, iron, vegetable source of protein.
• Watermelon – hydration, potassium, vitamin A.
• Pineapple – improved digestion, anti-inflammatory, vitamin C.
• Cucumbers – cooling, hydration, energy boost.
• Celery – strengthens joints and connective tissues, blood pressure health.
• Cherries – building blood, blood health, anti-inflammatory, vitamins A and C.

As you’re nursing and burping and washing bottles and attempting to “sleep when Baby sleeps,” you often have time for little more than a handful of trail mix as you cruise through the kitchen in a blur. Particularly when you use the easy-to-clean bullet style systems which retain ALL of the nutrients, a juice can be an easy boost to your depleted postpartum body.