Traditionally in Korea, after a woman gives birth; she eats this delicious and nutrious seaweed soup for up to three months. It’s healing properties as well as help with breastmilk production is well touted in the old country . I am very Americanized since I grew up in the U.S. almost all my life, but I still brought a canteen full of the seaweed soup and rice to my birthing suite to have after the delivery. (All the nurses were curious and bemused.) I had that soup in the hospital as well as when I got home. My milk came in the night I got home from the hospital (which was the 2nd day) and I had overabundance of milk for months. It actually became a problem because I was shooting out like the old faithful. This stuff really works!!
Korean Seaweed Soup Recipe
- Seaweed (Can be purchased at an online Korean Store)
- Sesame Oil
- Organic Stewed Beef or Clams (if vegetarian, omit)
- 4-5 Cloves of Garlic, (I always add TONS of Garlic but I am garlic obsessed)
- 4-5 cups of water
- Beef Dashida (or you can use beef stock) or Clam Dashida if using Clams
- Sea Salt
Grab a handful of the Seaweed out of the packet and immerse it in cold water. Let it stand 15 minutes. The seaweed will expand and soften. Drain. Cut the Seaweed. Let stand
In a large vat, swirl the sesame oil twice around the pot.
Heat to Medium and add garlic and seaweed.
Stir it up.
Add water and add the beef.
Bring to a gentle rolling boil.
Season with salt and dashida. Put about teaspoon of dashida and salt first. Add more if you want it seasoned more, but this soup is mildly spiced. The aroma of the sesame oil is intoxicating.
Serve with rice (I like the sushi rice but any rice will do)
Here are other health benefits of Seaweed
Low in Cholesterol and is a good source of vitamin B5: beneficial for reducing cholesterol, Rheumatoid arthritis and Acne.
Dried or roasted seaweed/laver also contains Magnesium, Vitamin 1 and Iron which are essential for preventing diabetes and heart attacks.
Dried or roasted seaweed/laver also contains Riboflavin and Niacin which promote fast tissue repair.
Sources:
KoaMart
Other Postpartum Articles of Interest
Exercising for Two
Breastfeeding Experience from a Green Girl and First Time Mom
[This post was written by Susie Kim.]
This recipe looks so good (if made vegetarian :))I love seaweed in miso soup.
I too ate loads of Seaweed soup after the birth of my baby (at the insistance of my Korean mother) and I was the only one in my parenting group that didn’t have trouble breastfeeding or expressing, I had more milk than I needed and it was very willing to come out.
I am breastfeeding for my baby but I don’t get enough milk to feed, what can I do?
Fenugreek is supposed to help with milk production. Also, it is about the laws of supply and demand. The more your babe suckles, the more milk you will make, so even if nothing is coming out, your production will increase after dry suckling.
Just like Jennifer said, put the baby to your boobs.. I tried feeding my little one every 2-3 hours. They also go through growth spurts where they want to feed all the time. That’s ok.. just let them suckle as long as and as much as they need to.
If you are a vegetarian and don’t want to put Dashida (the beef stock) then just put more salt and extra sesame oil, Maybe you can substitute with mirin or bit of soy sauce. If you eat fish, then clams with clam juice is also a great alternative.
Try to find a La Leche League near you; they are international!
Does anyone know the traditional Korean way of obtaining enough calcium for mom and baby? Is the soup supposed to be merely a supplement or the sole source of nutrition?
I am asking this since my wife is Korean, and her mother insists she eats the soup and only that.
thanks!
MY BABY IS 3MONTHS WITH BREASTFEED AND I WISH TO KNOW WHY HE HAVEN’T POO OVER 2WEEKS???????
Sometimes breastfed babies will go a couple days without a bowel movement, but you should talk to your doctor if it has been 2 weeks.
does seaweed soup only for after birth ? how about during pregnancy? thanks