India Food Stats

Watermelon contains more than 91 percent water. It’s therefore also low in calories — a one-cup serving has just 46. Older people, in particular, may find it easier and more enjoyable to get some of their fluids through fruit. Watermelon is naturally free of fat and sodium, making it great for heart health. L-citrulline, an amino acid, and lycopene, a micronutrient, both found in abundance in watermelon, may contribute to better heart health. From Video settings, choose preferred language

In this hilarious two-part series, Amit narrates his attempts to outsmart “waistline politics” — from suspicious almond milk and superfoods that become super-fails, to yoga classes hotter than Mumbai summers and gym trainers who double as drill sergeants. Whether it’s his wife’s relentless quest to make him the Indian Milind Soman, or the avalanche of unsolicited advice from friends who Google more than they gym, Amit’s take on getting fit is painfully relatable and laugh-out-loud funny.

First introduced in 1907 in Old Delhi by herbalist Hakim Abdul Majeed , Rooh Afza is a traditional concentrated syrup (sharbat) that remains a dominant player in the South Asian beverage segment.  Developed originally as a herbal remedy to combat the effects of extreme summer heat—such as heat stroke and dehydration—the formulation is based on Unani medicine principles . Image source: OpenFoodFacts.org Produced by Hamdard Laboratories , Rooh Afza is sold primarily in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, each operated independently by local Hamdard trusts established after the 1947 partition and 1971 formation of Bangladesh.  Minor changes have been made to ingredients over time due to regional availability, but the core formulation remains largely intact. Originally packaged in glass bottles, Rooh Afza is now available in plastic packaging and has expanded its product line to include fruit juice blends, yogurt drinks, and a sugar-free version targeted at higher-income consumers...

Central and state government free food schemes have transformed food security and helped millions avoid hunger.  Central Government Schemes like Public Distribution System (PDS) and National Food Security Act (NFSA) ensure access to food grains at subsidized prices for low-income families. It has over 800 million beneficiaries, including Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH). Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) launched in  March 2020, as a COVID-19 relief measure, 5kg of free rice or wheat per person per month was provided in addition to existing entitlements. As of 2023, merged into the regular NFSA, making 5kg grain entitlement free for all NFSA beneficiaries. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM Poshan) provides nutritious cooked meals to school children, improve enrollment and attendance. Children in government and government-aided schools (classes I–VIII) get daily hot meals meeting minimum nutrition standards. The scheme also provides nutri...

Did you know,  82% of what you pay for Amul milk, reaches the milk producer members ! The Anand Milk Union Limited commonly known as  Amul is a $11 billion national brand owned by a cooperative society, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) , based in Anand, Gujarat, with over 3.6 million milk producers. Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel founded the organisation in 1946 to stop the exploitation by middlemen.  In 1949, he hired Verghese Kurien , who later spearheaded efforts that massively boosted milk production in India, known as the White Revolution. This achievement turned India into the world's largest producer of milk and milk products, with its reach now extending to international markets. A breakthrough in making skim milk powder from buffalo milk helped Amul, a major dairy cooperative, successfully compete against cow milk suppliers like Nestle.  Today, Amul offers more than 1,000 dairy and non-dairy products under the following categories ...

Protein plays a crucial role in our bodies. Composed of long chains of amino acids, it is vital for repairing cells and maintaining muscles. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has updated the recommended daily allowance (RDA) to 0.83 grams per kilogram of body weight  for an average person above 19 years of age. Protein contains 4 calories per gram. For a 70kg individual, 56 grams of protein per day and 46gms for a 58kg woman.  Older adults (above 60) should aim for 1 to 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily to maintain muscle mass. At least 10% and no more than 35% of your daily calories should come from protein. For a 2,000-calorie diet, that means 200 to 700 calories should be protein. The body can only absorb and use a limited amount of protein, around 25 to 35 grams, at a time. It's better to spread your protein intake throughout the day in smaller portions instead of consuming a large amount in one meal. Eggs, dairy, legumes, grains,  n...

Obesity is a medical condition , considered by multiple organizations to be a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it can potentially have negative effects on health. It has also been called a chronic disease . The debate on whether obesity should be classified as a disease continues in the U.K. and many other countries worldwide.  People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's weight divided by the square of the person's height—is over 30 kg/m2; the range 25–30 kg/m2 is defined as overweight. Some East Asian countries use lower values to calculate obesity. In India, a person is considered overweight if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is between 23.0 and 24.9 kg/m², and obese if their BMI is 25 kg/m² or higher. India has the third largest obese population in the world after USA and China, as per WHO estimates. Morbid obesity affects 5% of the country's population . Source - Lancet A BMI of ≥ 35 kg/m2 and experien...

Erythritol is a food additive, also known by its European food additive code, E968 . It is a type of sugar alcohol or polyol that's used as a low-calorie sweetener in many foods and drinks. Some countries, such as Japan and the United States, label it as  zero-calorie . It has been approved for use as a food additive in the United States and throughout much of the world.  It was discovered in 1848 by Scottish chemist John Stenhouse.  It occurs naturally in some fruit and fermented foods.  At the industrial level, it is produced from glucose by fermentation with a yeast, Moniliella pollinis.  Erythritol is 60–70% as sweet as sucrose or table sugar, yet it is almost non-caloric. It does not affect blood sugar or cause tooth decay It is partially absorbed by the body, excreted in urine and feces.  According to the GundryMD website, Dr. Steven Gundry is a heart surgeon.

Since pineapples don't ripen post-harvest , selecting a ripe one at the store is crucial. Here are some tips to help you pick the perfect pineapple: Color : Look for a pineapple with a consistent golden-yellow color. While some green is acceptable, a mostly green pineapple was likely picked too early and will be less sweet. Smell : A ripe pineapple should have a sweet and fragrant aroma at its base. If it has no smell, it's likely not ripe. An alcoholic or vinegary smell indicates it is overripe. Feel : The pineapple should feel heavy for its size, indicating it's full of juice. It should have a slight give when gently squeezed, but avoid pineapples that are soft or mushy. Leaves : While some people swear by the ease of pulling a leaf from the crown, this is not a reliable indicator of ripeness. If you find yourself with an underripe pineapple, don't despair. While you can't make it sweeter, you can make it more palatable: Soften it : Leaving the pineapple at room t...

Here are some key facts about calorie counting: What is a Calorie : A calorie (with a capital 'C', technically a kilocalorie) is a unit of energy. It represents the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a specific amount of water by one degree. This energy is stored in the bonds between atoms and molecules within the macronutrients in food. Traditional Measurement : A bomb calorimeter can measure the total energy stored in a food sample by burning it in oxygen, surrounding it with water, and measuring the water's temperature increase. Label Calories vs. Total Energy : The calorie number on a nutrition facts label is not the total amount of energy in the food. Instead, it's intended to show the amount of energy that our bodies can actually get from the food, accounting for energy that is not used or is excreted. This involves considering things like "poop and pee". How Food Companies Calculate Calories : Food companies typically do...