Mumbai, March 31 Indians are consuming only about 10 per cent of the recommended whole grain intake, a habit that is causing a steep increase in non-communicable diseases across the country, a white paper has revealed.
The white paper, titled 'Opportunities with Whole Grains to Support Metabolic Health among Indians: Evidence Mapping', revealed that despite having over 20 varieties of millets available, the shift toward refined alternatives is stripping essential vitamins and minerals from the diet.
According to the white paper, India's average daily consumption of whole grains stands at approximately 42 gm, just 10 per cent of the total daily grain intake of 432 gm, compared to the 125 gm per day recommended by the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN).
The evidence-mapping exercise, led by experts, was released by the Protein Foods and Nutrition Development Association of India (PFNDAI), in collaboration with ITC.
With over 20 varieties of millets available domestically, India has the agricultural resources to close this gap. However, the country lacks the policy will and public awareness to do so, the report stated.
Non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions are on the rise across India, largely driven by dietary shifts away from fiber-rich, nutrient-dense whole grains toward refined alternatives, the document stated.
The white paper also revealed that the removal of bran and germ during processing strips grains of key nutrients, including vitamins B1 and B6, folate, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin, selenium, and iron, making them calorie-dense but nutritionally poor.
It recommended fortified whole grain flours, digital recipe tools, community-based pilot projects, nutritionist counseling for women and vulnerable populations, and sustained research on the effects of whole grains across different age groups, emphasizing the need for a policy shift that treats nutrition not as a welfare add-on, but as a public health imperative.