Why it is time to rethink India's carb-loaded meals

A recent study finds that Indians are among the highest consumers of carbs in the world. It's time the thali got a reset

- Shrenik Avlani

Ruchira Priyanka Hoon, 45, the New Delhi-based chef and founder of Draavin Kitchen, finishes off her rice-heavy vegetarian lunches with a protein shake. She hasn't joined the pro-protein brigade but says she needs it as she doesn't get enough from her predominantly Indian diet. This is just one example to prove that the "so-called balanced" Indian diet that is carbohydrate-dominated and lacking in protein and healthy fats is, in fact, highly imbalanced.

This observation isn't some influencer-propagated "truth bomb" or unpopular opinion but a scientific fact that has emerged from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-India Diabetes study published in the journal Nature Medicine in late September. The national cross-sectional population-based survey covered 18,090 adults (both vegetarians and non-vegetarians) with a median age of 40 years and was conducted from November 2008 to December 2020. The study states that various surveys conducted by Indian government agencies indicated that Indian adults currently consume about 65-75% of calories from carbohydrates, which is among the highest in the world. Protein makes up only 9-11% and fats constitute 14-23% of the Indian diet.