Foods To Avoid After A Miscarriage

Miscarriage – the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy – can prove damaging to both your body and your mental status. You can consume many foods after a miscarriage to nourish your body and brain, but there are also foods to avoid during this time. Consult your health care provider to determine your best dietary choices after a miscarriage.

Junk Food

Avoid consuming a great deal of junk food after you have a miscarriage. Your body needs vitamin A, vitamin C and protein to heal adequately, so it's best to consume foods high in these nutrients. Junk food – potato chips, pretzels and candy -- are often high in calories and fat but deficient in the types of nutrients that nourish your body and support its ability to heal. Returning your body to a healthy state is critical after a miscarriage.

Soy

While soy is a healthy food that supplies many vitamins and minerals, it might not be the smartest choice for your diet after a miscarriage. The high phytate levels associated with soybeans interferes with your ability to absorb heme and non-heme iron, according to a June 2003 report from the American Dietetic Association. You need extra iron after a miscarriage since you lose blood; iron helps make up several components of blood, so it is critical for making more.

Fast Food

Depression is common after a miscarriage. A study published in the March 2011 issue of the "British Journal of Psychiatry" indicates that 13 to 19 percent of women who had a miscarriage displayed symptoms of depression up to 33 months – even after the birth of a healthy child. It is important to eat the right foods after a miscarriage to help prevent depression, so avoid fast foods. Research featured in the August 2011 issue of "Public Health Nutrition" notes that consumption of fast food such as hamburgers, pizza and sausage correlates to a higher risk of depression.

High Carbohydrate Foods

Your body needs protein to heal properly after a miscarriage, so avoid eating a high carbohydrate, low protein diet in the period following the event. While you still require carbs to generate energy and maintain brain and kidney function, upping protein – particularly protein derived from lean meats that provide the amino acids your body cannot manufacture – might prove beneficial during healing as amino acids influence cellular repair.