Smriti Irani’s ‘dal ka soup’ helped Mira Kapoor with anaemia: ‘Saw a difference in my blood reports’

Mira Kapoor, during a flight, had a mid-air conversation with ex-Union Cabinet Minister Smriti Irani, who shared a soup recipe that helped her manage her anaemia. Mira Kapoor mentioned that she had this soup for three months and noticed a significant improvement in her blood reports. In an Instagram post, Kapoor shared the recipe for the soup and emphasized that half a cup daily could help.

The soup is made with common Indian ingredients such as drumstick, masoor dal (red lentils), onion, ginger, tomato, and spices. Edwina Raj, a head of clinical nutrition and dietetics at Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, stated that the soup can be a healthy addition to a diet for those looking to improve their iron intake. Raj explained that the soup's ingredients help the body absorb iron from plant foods and that onion and ginger add flavor and nutrients.

However, she emphasized that the soup is not a treatment for diagnosed anaemia and that people with confirmed iron-deficiency anaemia may require iron supplements or treatment for the underlying cause under medical guidance. Anaemia is common in women due to iron loss during menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, and heavy periods, frequent pregnancies, poor dietary intake, and conditions affecting iron absorption can increase the risk.

Raj suggested including iron-rich foods like lentils, chickpeas, tofu, leafy greens, and fortified cereals in one's diet and combining them with vitamin-C-rich foods to enhance iron absorption. She warned against drinking tea or coffee with iron-rich meals, as compounds in these drinks can reduce iron absorption. Persistent or severe anaemia should be medically evaluated to determine the cause, whether it is a dietary deficiency, blood loss, or another health condition.