Indian diet consists of 50 per cent inadequate protein pattern

As the government continues to initiate various programmes to meet nutrition deficiency-related issues, the Indian Dietician Association (IDA) on Tuesday revealed that Indian diet has 50 per cent inadequate protein pattern.

The fact, also supported by the Protein Foods Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI), makes it necessary for people to have extra intake of protein-related food since vegetarian diets alone would not fulfill the protein requirement of the body.

According to experts, the issue is a matter of concern as pregnant women would not be able to achieve optimal protein intake with exclusively vegetarian diets until they add milk to the diet.

“Proteins from different sources complement each other. Even with a ratio of 5:1 cereals and pulses combination, the protein quality in terms of digestibility and bio-availability is only around 65 per cent when compared to milk protein,” said B. Sesikeran, a pathologist.

He was speaking at the launch of “The Protein Week”, an initiative aiming to educate people against the myths and realities of proteins. According to experts, Indians lack awareness about good quality sources of protein.

Protein requirement in the second growth spurt during pregnancy is twice of a toddler’s and this requirement is heightened by almost 20 gm per day in the third trimester compared to an adult woman.

Neelanjana Singh, President of IDA, Delhi Chapter, 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 initiative, the IDA and the PFNDAI aim to hold educational seminars engaging key opinion leaders across the country to spread awareness and discuss the protein-related issues.