There is a silent epidemic spreading fast among urban Indians, and most of us don’t even realise how dangerous it is. Leading market research firm IMRB recently presented a report based on a survey titled ‘Protein Consumption in the Diet of adult Indians (PRODIGY).
The PRODIGY survey report shows almost 73 per cent of diets in urban India are protein deficient. What’s even scarier is that 93 per cent are unaware of the ideal protein requirement. Only about one-third of the people in India realise that lack of protein can cause fatigue or weakness.
Unlike calcium or iron deficiency, protein deficiency isn’t taken seriously. Protein is the building block of our body. It is a vital macronutrient needed to cope with the wear and tear of the body. Vital organs, muscles, tissues, digestive enzymes and even some hormones of the body are made from proteins. Additionally, proteins create haemoglobin and important antibodies needed for the immune system. Proteins are involved in just about every body function from controlling blood sugar levels to healing wounds and fighting off bacteria. Simply put, without protein life would not exist.
The deficiency of protein can manifest itself in many ways—sluggishness, slow recovery from injuries, weight gain, and lack of focus.
Any such dietary deficiencies are usually associated with people in the lower socioeconomic strata of society. However, the PRODIGY survey included men and women aged between 30 and 55, belonging to socioeconomic classes A and B, with 59% non-vegetarians and 41% vegetarians.
The main reason for protein deficiency among urban Indians and especially the working population is the increasing consumption of fast foods, which provide little nutritional value.
The protein requirement of an average adult per day is 1 gm per kg of the body weight. The most popular food items, considered best sources of protein for vegetarians are milk, green leafy vegetables, soy, and pulses, while non-vegetarians can get their protein from eggs, chicken and fish.
The survey reported that most of the respondents failed to understand the importance of protein supplements in their daily diet. Many tended to associate protein supplements as being ideal for body builders or malnourished people only.
QNet’s Nutriplus Protein Power is an excellent source of protein that can be easily incorporated into our daily diet. It is a 100% vegetarian source of protein derived from soy and formulated with a combination of essential vitamins and minerals. Each serving of the Nutriplus Protein Power provides 5.8 gms of protein from the kids range and 13.7 gms from the adult version.
The most popular method of consuming Nutriplus Protein Power is by adding it to shakes and smoothies. However, you can also enjoy a healthy dose of protein in these great tasting desserts.
Do you have a delicious recipe that uses Nutriplus Protein Power? Share it with us in comments.
