Do we need to change age-old staple diets?

ICMR study gives food for thought; Indians should replace at least 5% of carbs with proteins; move will help reduce risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes

- Amit Srivastava

Should Indians stop eating rice and chapati which form their staple diet and which they have been consuming since centuries? Experts contacted by the FPJ said that is not necessary.

But Indians should replace at least five per cent of carbohydrates with proteins if they are to reduce the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The FPJ spoke to the experts in the background of a recent study by ICMR-INDIAB which revealed that Indians are heavy consumers of carbohydrates, with nearly 62% of daily calories coming from carbs. Experts warn that this carb-heavy diet can negatively affect metabolic health, contributing to obesity and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and strokes.

What is particularly concerning is that most of these carbohydrates come from low-quality sources such as white rice, milled whole grains, and added sugar. Geographically, white rice dominates the South, East, and Northeast, while wheat is the staple in North and Central India. The study also found that at least 21 states exceed the recommended sugar intake, raising further health concerns.