Have it your way!!, Hungry kya?, I’m lovin’ it, Conquer your hunger!! Sounds familiar. These are the taglines of some of the fast-food chains operating in India. Food that looks more convenient and suits the pace of our daily life, doesn’t offer much nutrition. We are in an era of fast life and fast food. Lack of time, inadequate nutrition knowledge, easy availability of fast foods, lack of availability & accessibility of healthy food, a sedentary lifestyle leads to increased consumption of processed and high-fat sugar salt (HFSS) foods. Various food fads have also contributed to the incorrect nutrition knowledge acquired from random sources that seem to inspire a food culture that goes on to compromise our health. In fact, many so-called health-conscious people fail to follow the basic guidelines of nutrition proposed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). There is a challenge in eating a balanced diet and the gap that is there between the daily nutrient requirement of the body and the actual intake of the food is becoming deeper.
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) has published Dietary Guidelines for Indians which has emphasized on the economic transition in the country that is now leading to change in the lifestyle of the people and their eating behaviors and there is a need to implement basic healthy eating habits along with the regular physical activity. The same was affirmed by a recent health survey conducted by the National Family Health Survey. NFHS-4 reported that overweight/obesity has affected 31.3 % of women and 26.6% of men, which is most common in urban areas, in wealthier households, and among older adults. It is evident from the latest report and current findings of NFHS that the urban Indian population is facing an additional twin burden of under and over nutrition. This may not immediately lead to mortality, but definitely the progression towards the morbidity is alarming.
For living a healthy life we need a wide range of nutrients, macronutrients, and micronutrients. Macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fats, are required in large amounts in our body as compared to micronutrients like vitamins and minerals which play an important role in the regulation of metabolic activity in the body. Nutrients that do not provide energy to the body like water, fiber, and antioxidants also form an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. A thoughtfully planned well-balanced diet comprising of all the above-mentioned nutrients should be consumed daily by everyone which is a challenge in today’s life.
Though factors like age, gender, body weight, and physiological condition change the nutrition requirement. But on a day to day basis every individual doesn't consume the right nutrients required by the body as per ICMR. The concept of daily supplementation apart from the regular diet is yet to be absorbed across the population. Considering the various causes of malnutrition there is a need to supplement the missing nutrients in our diet. Thus, complementing it with nutraceuticals has become essential. Nutraceutical, a portmanteau of the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical”, is any substance that may be considered as a food and provides medical & health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease, which includes functional foods, dietary supplements, and functional beverages. Talking about dietary supplements, there is an increased number of supplements available in the open Indian market and health shops like Apollo Pharmacy, Wellness Forever to name a few. Many bioactive constituents of food have been commercialized in the form of products that incorporate food extract to which some beneficial functions have been directly or indirectly attributed.
It should be a habit rather than a choice for individuals who take their health seriously and understand the importance of health and the implication of illness. With advancements done in the fields of nutraceuticals and their easy availability, now at your disposal, staying healthy shouldn’t really be your worry. What you need to worry however is about how possibly you could make an informed choice about supplementing your diet to stay healthy forever. Have a Happy & Healthy Life….
