ICMR Releases New Dietary Guidelines for Indians

• 09 May 2024

On 8th May 2024, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) unveiled updated dietary guidelines, urging Indians to shun protein supplements, limit salt intake, and steer clear of processed foods.

Key Points

• Dietary Shift: The guidelines advocate consuming natural foods over supplements, emphasizing balanced diets rich in vegetables, fruits, cereals, and proteins from food sources.
• Nutritional Myths: Debunks myths surrounding microwave cooking and various salt types, emphasizing limited salt consumption due to similar sodium content.
• Homemade Complementary Foods: Recommends homemade recipes for children aged 6-12 months, highlighting benefits over commercial preparations.
• Dietary Challenges: Addresses dietary changes in India, citing increased non-communicable diseases and persistent under-nutrition issues.
• Ultra-Processed Foods: Warns against ultra-processed foods high in fat, sugar, and salt, linking them to health risks and disease burden.
• Microwave Cooking: Asserts minimal nutritional differences between microwave and conventional cooking, with microwaves retaining more nutrients.
• Importance of Balanced Diet: Stresses the significance of balanced diets and physical activity in reducing disease burden, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.