Protein Paradox in India: Unraveling the Crisis, Debunking Myths, and Evaluation of Protein Content in Indian Foods

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-294-1_13How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Protein deficiency; Dietary protein; Protein intake; Indian diet; Protein quality; Vegetarian diet; Protein sources; DIAAS

Abstract

Protein is a crucial macronutrient required for growth, development, and tissue maintenance in the human body. However, protein deficiency is a prevalent issue in India, the inadequate protein consumption in India has led to various health issues, including poor muscle health and a decline in average height among the population. Misconceptions about protein intake and its effects on kidney function and hair loss further complicate the situation.

With around 60% of protein intake derived from cereals, which are considered inferior to animal proteins due to their low Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score (DIAAS). This score measures amino acid digestibility, absorption, and their ability to meet the body’s amino acid and nitrogen requirements. Corn-based cereals rank the lowest on the DIAAS, while animal protein sources like milk, boiled eggs.

To address this protein deficit in vegetarian diets, a combination of dairy products and pulses can help. However, there has been a decline in pulse and milk consumption in India. Additionally, India’s milk production rate is estimated to be the slowest in 15 years, posing a significant concern as milk and its products are the primary animal protein sources for vegetarians.

Addressing protein deficiency requires promoting awareness about proper protein sources and debunking myths surrounding protein-rich diets. It is essential to prioritize protein-rich foods, both plant-based and animal-based, to ensure adequate protein intake and improve overall nutrition in the Indian population.

Copyright

© 2023 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Om Joshi
AU  - Jaswant Kandikanti
AU  - Ronit Savale
AU  - Himanshu Patil
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/11/17
TI  - Protein Paradox in India: Unraveling the Crisis, Debunking Myths, and Evaluation of Protein Content in Indian Foods
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Advances in Nano-Neuro-Bio-Quantum (ICAN 2023)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 162
EP  - 169
SN  - 2468-5739
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-294-1_13
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-294-1_13
ID  - Joshi2023
ER  -