While we Indian think that switching to organic foods and avoiding junk is making us live a healthier lifestyle, the reality is quite contrary Wondering why? Well, because as per the latest report, the root cause for 56 percent of healthy issues in India is because of unhealthy diet practices.
On Wednesday, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) released a report on X (formally Twitter) which mentioned 17 points guidelines related to food habits and practices to curb diabetes, obesity, and other Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
ICMR's Dietary Guidelines for Indians (DGI) has been issued to promote healthy diets and lifestyles, warding off nutrient deficiencies and non-communicable diseases. Take a look at the post, which has garnered 7k views till date.
According to the guidelines, for a 2000 kcal intake a day, people should eat about 250 grams of cereals, 400 grams of vegetables, 100 grams of fruits, 85 grams of pulses/eggs/flesh foods, 35 grams of nuts and seeds, and 27 grams of fat/oils.
ICMR's guideline also talks about the macronutrients and micronutrients. It recommends sourcing macronutrients and micronutrients from a minimum of eight groups of foods. It stated that the intake of cereals should be restricted to 45 percent of the total energy, which is currently as much as 50 to 70 percent.
ICMR has also mentioned that due to the high cost of pulses and meat, Indians rely heavily on cereals, resulting in poor intake of essential micronutrients. It advises eating from a variety of foods as 'there is no single food item with all essential nutrients'.
For vegetarians, the guideline suggests eating n-3 PUFA-rich foods like flax seeds, chia seeds, etc., as there is a challenge for them to get enough B12 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Its 17-point guideline also says that sugar should be less than 5 per cent of total energy intake. ICMR has also called for avoiding protein supplements for building body mass. The report also says that prolonged intake of large amounts of protein powders or consumption of high protein concentrate has been associated with potential dangers, such as bone mineral loss and kidney damage too.
As per experts, these DGIs offer the most logical, sustainable, and long-term solution to all forms of malnutrition and help ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-rich foods while promoting the consumption of diverse foods. Also, these guidelines highlight the significance of regular exercise, reducing the intake of ultra-processed foods, and checking food labels for making informed and healthy choices.
The report said that packaged foods are designed to catch the consumer's attention and convince them that the product is healthy and they should buy it. It is important for consumers to read the label carefully before buying anything.
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