The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) stated in a recent set of dietary guidelines that even home-cooked meals can be unhealthy if they are made with a lot of fat, sugar, or salt.
Foods heavy in fats, sugars, or salt (HFSS) are generally high in calories, low in micronutrients, and low in fibre, according to medical authorities, who have issued a warning about their harmful effects on health.
In the guidelines, experts emphasised how foods heavy in fat and sugar are high in calories and can contribute to illnesses like obesity.
“It additionally deprives one of the healthful foods that supply essential macronutrients (fats and amino acids), fibre, and micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and bioactive substances,” state the guidelines.
“High-fat or high-sugar foods cause inflammation and affect the gut microbiota, which changes quickly with diet. This increases the risk of NCDs. Foods with high salt increase the risk of hypertension and tax the kidneys. Hence, high salt intake is unhealthy,” it stated.
Additionally, according to ICMR, a diet lacking in vital fatty acids, amino acids, and micronutrients can lead to illnesses like anaemia and have an impact on learning capacity and cognitive function.
Dietary supplements
In addition to limiting salt intake, cutting back on sweets and highly processed foods, the medical profession has advised against using protein supplements to gain muscle mass.
Additionally, it advised consumers to read food labels in order to make knowledgeable and healthful dietary selections.
The leading health research organisation, the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Hyderabad, announced updated “Dietary Guidelines for Indians (DGIs)” on Wednesday in an effort to achieve key nutrient requirements and avoid non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Additionally, it was mentioned that less than 5% of calories should come from sugar and that, in a healthy diet, up to 15% of calories should come from pulses, beans, and meat and no more than 45% should come from cereals and millets.
The remaining calories were to be obtained from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and milk, according to the instructions. The total amount of fat consumed should not exceed thirty percent of energy.
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