Dry Fruits Soup (Chuvani/Harari) for New Moms: Benefits in Postpartum Recovery

Ayurveda has a natural solution for every aspect of human life. Supporting mothers, from the day of conception to postpartum recovery, a herbal solution is always there. But, with time and modern lifestyle, women have started relying on doctor’s advice for artificial support therapies, more than adapting to natural ways of recovery. One such wonder recipe in Ayurveda is the Dry Fruits Soup. Here, we will discuss the benefits of dry fruits soup for new moms. It is also known as “Chuvani” or “Harari” in different parts of India.

Dry Fruits Soup (Chuvani/Harari), in its traditional form, consists of various dry and dried fruits. The combination of dry & dried fruits can vary from person to person, but essentially few dry fruits are essential to the recipe. Traditionally, the soup’s ingredients are Cashews, Almonds, Dried Figs (Anjeer), Dried Dates (Khajoor), Makhana (Fox Nuts or Lotus Seeds), Musk Melon Seeds, Dried Raisins (Khismish), Edible Gum (Gondh), Butter/Oil, Jeera (Cumin), and/or Ajwain (Carom Seeds).

Additionally, to cater personal tastes, black pepper and flax seeds (alsi) are also a good option to add.

The dry fruits soup although not studied scientifically as a whole for benefits in moms, the individual ingredients have been extensively studied with many scientific communities still studying them.

The Dry fruits soup Chuvani/Harari is a nutritious diet, and its collective benefits are attributable to the individual benefits clubbed together of its ingredients.

Following benefits are attributed to the dry fruits soup in Ayurveda and traditional Indian households for new moms:

1. Nutrient-Rich
   • Dry fruits like almonds, cashews, walnuts, and raisins have vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and vitamin E. These nutrients are vital for replenishing the mother’s body after childbirth​. (1)
2. Recovery and Strength
   • The high-calorie content from nuts and dried fruits provides the necessary energy boost for new mothers, helping them cope with the physical demands of breastfeeding and caring for a newborn.(2)
3. Iron Replenishment:
   • Dried fruits like raisins are rich in iron, which can help prevent anemia, a common concern after childbirth due to blood loss. (3)
4. Improved Digestion:
   • Ingredients like gond (edible gum) and anjeer (figs) can aid digestion and prevent constipation, a common issue post-delivery. Figs, in particular, are high in fiber, which supports digestive health​ (4)
5. Lactation Support:
   • Some components of dry fruits soup, such as almonds and poppy seeds, are traditionally believed to support lactation. Almonds are rich in essential fatty acids that are important for the production of breast milk
6. Calcium Replenishment:
   • Pregnancy leads to calcium loss, and lactation increases calcium requirements. Consuming calcium-rich foods replenishes losses and supports lactation
7. Anti-Inflammatory Properties:
   • Nuts and seeds have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce postpartum inflammation and promote quicker recovery. For instance, walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory effects​.
8. Mental Health:
   • The high magnesium content in nuts can help reduce stress and promote relaxation, which is beneficial for new mothers who may experience postpartum mood swings or anxiety​.

The following recipe is based on traditional mixture of the following ingredients:

• Cashews
• Almonds
• Muskmelon Seeds
• Makhane (Lotus Seeds)
• Edible Gum ( Gondh)
• Butter/Oil (personal choice)
• Dried Figs (Anjeer)
• Dried Dates (Khajoor)
• Dried Raisins
• Cumin (Jeera) and/or Ajwain (Carom Seeds) for seasoning

Step 1:

Roast 100gm cashews, 100gm almonds, 50gm muskmelon seeds, 250 gm Makhana(Lotus Seeds), 20 gm Edible Gum (Gondh) separately in small amount of butter or olive oil or any other oil of your choice.

Step 2:

Grind each of the following ingredients in a mixer grinder to make a coarse powder- Cashews, Almonds, Muskmelon Seeds, Makahane (Lotus Seeds), Edible Gum (Gond), 100 gm Dried Figs, and 100 gm Dried Dates. Cut Dried raisins by knife in very small pieces.

Step 3:

Mix each of the above ground items to form a homogenous mixture.

Step 4:

Take a frying pan. Add a small amount of butter/oil of personal choice. Add Cumin or Ajwain seeds and roast briefly. Cumin is generally if you are living in hot climatic conditions. Ajwain has a heating essence and should be used in cold climatic conditions or if the soup is intended to increase body heat and increase healing.

Step 5:

Add 100ml of water after cumin or ajwain has roasted. Let the water to near-boil.

Step 6:

Add 4-5 spoons of dried fruits mixture prepared in Step 3. The ratio of 4-5 spoons of dried fruits powder per 100ml of water is personal choice but increasing more that 5 tablespoons of dried fruits may create uneasiness in mothers. It is advised to start this soup with small amount of dried fruits powder and gradually increase the intake based on body’s response.

Step 7:

Boil the mixture at medium heat till a semi thick consistency is achieved. Consume the soup while it is still warm.

Note:

The dried fruits soup (chuvani/harari) is a traditionally used herbal mixture used in India. There are different versions of the soup available. Although, much direct scientific information is not available, the soup is still widely used for recovery of new moms.

The soup can be customized as per personal likings by adding black pepper, sugar, honey or any other sweetener. This soup should not be taken if you are suffering from post-partum fatty liver or any other digestive disorders.

Disclaimer-

The dry fruits soup above is considered safe for general consumption post-partum by new moms. However, due to heating nature of the soup, some mothers may experience uneasiness if ingested in large quantities. Readers are advised to discuss with their physicians before trying this soup.