The underrated superfood

Eggs are a powerhouse of nutrients - substituting carbs with even 5% of these protein sources can retard the rising incidence of obesity & diabetes in India. Yet, their consumption remains low

- SREYA DEB

A RECENT SURVEY led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that Indian diets were dominated by low-quality carbohydrates, chiefly white rice, milled grains and added sugars, and replacing even just 5% of them with plant, dairy, egg or fish protein can retard the rising incidence of cardiometabolic diseases in India.

Incidentally, the national ICMR-India Diabetes (INDIAB) study noted that the consumption of eggs, of all the animal proteins, was relatively low across the country even in the northeast Indian states of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, which were found to have the highest intake of animal proteins but tended to prefer fish, poultry and red meat.

The study, 'Dietary Profiles and Associated Metabolic Risk Factors in India', specifically says that these sources of protein are associated with a lower likelihood of Type 2 diabetes. This serves as an important medical advice for India that is currently regarded as the 'diabetes capital of the world'.

Essential, underestimated

Think of breakfast, and one of the first things that probably comes to your mind are eggs. Boiled (soft or hard), scrambled, poached, baked, or simply fried (whether sunny-side up or over easy), they are easily one of the most affordable and versatile food items available in the market. However, they remain highly underestimated in India, sometimes easily dismissed or removed from the diet, even when they ought to be a crucial part of any well-balanced meal, and not just for breakfast.