Greetings to all on the occasion of Dietetics Day …. Every year, January 10 is celebrated as ‘Dietetics Day’ with a different theme. This year, the theme is ‘Anaemia Mukt Bharat’ in line with the government initiative of tackling the problem of anaemia.
Globally, over 25% of the population is affected by anaemia. In developing countries like India, the figures are alarmingly high with more than 50% of the vulnerable population of children, adolescents and women being affected by it.
Iron deficiency anaemia is diagnosed by the level of haemoglobin in the blood. This condition manifests itself in the form of lethargy and weakness but can have more serious implications if not treated.
Since the condition is caused by the deficiency of iron, the best and sustainable solution is to incorporate foods into your diet that are rich in iron. These include green leafy vegetables, dates, raisins, sesame seeds (til), garden cress seeds (aadiv), bajra, ragi (nachni), rajgeera etc.
Addition of coriander leaves, curry leaves and mint leaves in the meal not only enhances the taste but also increases the iron content of the diet. Since vegetarians are more at risk of anaemia than non-vegetarians, foods to increase iron absorption should be included in the diet of vegetarians. These include Vitamin C rich foods like amla, lemon, guava etc. and protein sources like beans and lentils. Also, avoid tea, coffee and calcium supplements with meals.
