Exploring India's Diverse And Healthy Dietary Traditions

The average Indian diet is high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat and low in protein, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of wellness, deals with a holistic approach to wellness, and it includes food, dhyana (meditation) and yoga. Early diet in India mainly consisted of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products and honey.

Ayurveda and early Indian diet

The average Indian diet is high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat and low in protein, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. However, there is wide variation in the total and saturated fat intake with the affluent consuming 3 times more fat than the rural poor in India. These nutritional imbalances are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride and low HDL) leading to CVD in South Asians.

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of wellness, deals with a holistic approach to wellness, and it includes food, dhyana (meditation) and yoga. Early diet in India mainly consisted of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products and honey.

South Asians (adults, children, and even pregnant women) consume less fruits, vegetables and fiber than Europid populations, although more than half of Indians are vegetarians. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables promotes heart health, whereas low intake of fruits contribute to the development of diabetes and heart disease.

Asian Indians and South Asians are prone to develop insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome at a young age. Higher intakes of unhealthy saturated fat and trans fat have been reported in South Asians. Such a diet can lead to dangerous dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipids).

Unlike western vegetarians who consume liberal amounts of fish and chicken, Indian vegetarians do not consume these foods. Indian vegetarians are more likely to be vegetarians and use high saturated fat dairy products and high trans fat fried foods.

High intake of unhealthy saturated fat

The average Indian diet is high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat and low in protein, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat (MUFA), polyunsaturated fat (n-3 PUFA) and fiber. The high intake of unhealthy saturated fat is dangerous because it can lead to dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipids).

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of wellness, deals with a holistic approach to wellness, and it includes food, dhyana (meditation) and yoga. Early diet in India mainly consisted of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, and honey.

Unlike western vegetarians who consume liberal amounts of fish and chicken, Indian vegetarians do not consume these foods. Higher intakes of unhealthy saturated fat and trans fat have been reported in South Asians. Such a diet can lead to dangerous dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipids).

South Asians (adults, children, and even pregnant women) consume less fruits, vegetables, and fiber than Europeans. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables promotes heart health, whereas low intake of fruits contributes to the development of diabetes and heart disease.

There is wide variation in the total and saturated fat intake with the affluent consuming 3 times more fat than the rural poor in India. These nutritional imbalances are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride and low HDL) leading to CVD in South Asians. Asian Indians and South Asians are prone to develop insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome at a young age.

Low intake of protein, cholesterol and fibre

The average Indian diet tends to be high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat (mostly related to the widespread use of vanaspati), and low in protein, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat (MUFA), polyunsaturated fat (n-3 PUFA), and fiber.

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of wellness, deals with a holistic approach to wellness, and it includes food, dhyana (meditation), and yoga. Early diet in India mainly consisted of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, and honey.

Unlike western vegetarians who consume liberal amounts of fish and chicken, Indian vegetarians do not consume these foods. South Asians (adults, children, and even pregnant women) consume less fruits, vegetables, and fiber than Europid populations. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables promotes heart health, whereas low intake of fruits contribute to the development of diabetes and heart disease.

Higher intakes of unhealthy saturated fat and trans fat have been reported in South Asians. Such a diet can lead to dangerous dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipids). Although 50% or more of Indians are vegetarian, fiber intake is low in this population.

Asian Indians and South Asians are prone to develop insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome at a young age. These nutritional imbalances are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride and low HDL) leading to CVD in South Asians.

Low consumption of n-3 PUFA and MUFA

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of wellness, deals with a holistic approach to wellness, and it includes food, dhyana (meditation) and yoga. Early diet in India mainly consisted of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, and honey.

The average Indian diet tends to be high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat (mostly related to the widespread use of vanaspati), and low in protein, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fat (n-3 PUFA), and fiber. There is wide variation in the total and saturated fat intake with the affluent consuming 3 times more fat than the rural poor in India. These nutritional imbalances are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride and low HDL) leading to CVD in South Asians.

South Asians (adults, children, and even pregnant women) consume less fruits, vegetables, and fiber than Europids although more than half of Indians are vegetarians. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables promotes heart health, whereas low intake of fruits contribute to the development of diabetes and heart disease.

Higher intakes of unhealthy saturated fat, trans fat have been reported in South Asians. Such a diet can lead to dangerous dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipids). Although 50% or more of Indians are vegetarian, fiber intake is low in this population.

Indians have a low consumption of the highly beneficial n-3 PUFA and MUFA compared to Europids.

Diet of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains and dairy

The average Indian diet tends to be high in carbohydrates, saturated fat, trans fat (mostly related to the widespread use of vanaspati), and low in protein, cholesterol, monounsaturated fat (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fat (n-3 PUFA), and fiber. However, there is wide variation in the total and saturated fat intake with the affluent consuming 3 times more fat than the rural poor in India. These nutritional imbalances are associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and dyslipidemia (high triglyceride and low HDL) leading to CVD in South Asians.

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of wellness, deals with a holistic approach to wellness, and it includes food, dhyana (meditation) and yoga. Early diet in India mainly consisted of legumes, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, and honey.

Higher intakes of unhealthy saturated fat, trans fat have been reported in South Asians. Such a diet can lead to dangerous dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipids). Although 50% or more of Indians are vegetarian, fiber intake is low in this population. Indians have a low consumption of the highly beneficial n-3 PUFA and MUFA compared to Europids.

South Asians (adults, children, and even pregnant women) consume less fruits, vegetables, and fiber than Europids although more than half of Indians are vegetarians. Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables promotes heart health, whereas low intake of fruits contribute to the development of diabetes and heart disease.

Asian Indians and South Asians are prone to develop insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome at a young age. Unlike western vegetarians who consume liberal amounts of fish and chicken, Indian vegetarians do not consume these foods.

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