Indian Diet Lacks In Adequate Protein, Says Top Nutrition Authority

Though the government has been running several nutrition programmes, especially for school children like the mid-day meal across the country, but still it has been found that the Indain diet lacks in adequate protein content.

This statement has been asserted by the Indian Dietician Association (IDA) and the Protein Foods Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI), the top two nutrition authority of the country.

The PFNDAI further stressed that it is necessary for people to increase the intake of protein-related food, since vegetarian diets alone would not suffice the protein requirement.

Experts claimed that protein requirement in the second growth spurt is twice of a toddler's and the requirement is heightened by almost 20 gm per day in the third trimester compared to an adult woman.

IDA Delhi chapter president Neelanjana Singh said, "Quality-based protein is as important as quality of protein taken. For effective utilisation of protein, it is necessary to also include adequate calories in one's diet."

Under the awareness drive during the 'protein week'from July 24-30, the IDA along with the PFNDAI will hold educational seminars engaging key opinion leaders across the country to spread awareness and discuss myths and realities of protein.

"There is a firm need to bring protein discussions to mainstream. Our vegetarian diets are deficient in protein, both in quantity and quality, so we need to supplement with protein which not only fills the gap but has the quality to ensure our cereal and pulse-based protein quality would be elevated," said executive director, PFNDAI, Dr. JS Pai.

• Top 10 Vegetarain Protein Sources.
• What Happens When Your Body Lacks In Protein.