Archive · 11 Dec 2025
India's Protein Intake Raises Health Concerns
A recent study found that nearly half of the protein Indians eat at home comes from cereals like rice and wheat.
While Indians eat enough protein on average, cereals are not the best source because they don't have high-quality nutrients.
The study also found that people are not eating enough vegetables, fruits, and pulses, and are using too much cooking oil, salt, and sugar.
People in poorer areas eat much less milk and fruit compared to richer areas.
The study suggests that India should change its food programs to include more nutritious foods like coarse grains, pulses, milk, eggs, fruits, and vegetables.
This will help people eat better and stay healthier.
Nearly half of India's at-home protein intake comes from cereals like rice and wheat.
Indians consume an average of 55.6 g of protein per day at home, but cereals have a low-quality amino acid profile.
The study found under-consumption of vegetables, fruits, and pulses, and overuse of cooking oil, salt, and sugar.
Coarse grains like jowar, bajra, and ragi have seen a 40% drop in per capita consumption in a decade.
The study recommends reforming public food programs to include more nutritious foods and reduce reliance on cereals.
- Who
- Indian population
- What
- India's protein intake and dietary trends
- When
- 2023-24 (NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Survey)
- Where
- India (urban and rural areas)
- Why
- To understand the dietary trends and nutritional imbalance in India
- Protein Intake
- 55.6 g per day at home
- Protein Source
- Nearly 50% from cereals
- Cereal Consumption
- 1.5 times the RDA
- Coarse Grains Consumption
- 40% drop in per capita consumption in a decade
- Fat Intake
- Proportion of households consuming more than 1.5 times the recommended intake has more than doubled in the last decade
- Study Source
- Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)
- Data Source
- 2023-24 NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) dataset
Sources
What Indians eat, and how being unhealthy is easier and cheaper
Indians getting poor quality protein, nearly 50 pc is from cereals: Study
Study Reveals Half Of India's At Home Protein Comes From Cereals Despite Its Low Nutritional Value
Indians Getting Poor Quality Protein, Nearly 50% Is From Cereals: Study