Nearly half of all protein consumed in Indian diets now originates from grains such as rice, wheat, semolina, and refined flour. This finding comes from a new independent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), based on the 2023-24 NSSO Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES).

Although Indians consume an average of 55.6 grams of protein per day, just enough, the quality is poor, as almost 50 per cent of this protein comes from grains that contain lower-grade amino acids and are harder to digest. This share is far above the National Institute of Nutrition’s (NIN) recommendation of 32 per cent.

Meanwhile, nutrient-rich sources such as pulses, dairy, eggs, fish, and meat are gradually disappearing from meals.

The CEEW study highlights insufficient consumption

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