Indians need a vegan diet

Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in the US has drawn up an ideal vegan diet for Indian palates to tackle diabetes and obesity

India is in the grip of a diabetes and obesity epidemic. More than 75 million Indians could suffer from diabetes by 2030. One out of four urban Indians is overweight. A large portion of the blame goes to the dramatic change in eating habits in recent years. India’s traditional vegetarian cuisine, packed with nutrient-dense, disease-fighting legumes and vegetables is being thrust aside in favour of processed and junk foods, high on dairy products.

Say no to dairy products:
Indian diets are also typically rich in dairy products, milk, yogurt, and ghee. These products were thought to be safe and healthful, but research has shown they can adversely affect health by contributing to cholesterol and saturated fat. Such fat increases heart disease risk and diabetes. Milk and milk products have been linked to insulin-dependent (type 1 or childhood-onset) diabetes, and can increase risk for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in children.

Go vegan:
The Washington-based PCRM, has spent years scrutinising links between food and disease. Research shows the best way to prevent and even reverse diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer, is a low-fat vegan diet free of animal products, including dairy products. A vegan diet excludes all animal products, including eggs, dairy, and honey.

PCRM’s 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, debuts in India and distills their research findings into a three-week online program where participants eat a healthy, low-fat, vegan diet without counting calories. In the US, where it has been running for two years, the Kickstart has helped 150,000 Americans try out a healthful vegan diet. Participants experienced dramatic weight loss, improved cholesterol and BP.

The Indian Kickstart is designed specially for Indian diets, with low-fat versions of traditional recipes. The program includes support from well-known doctors Caldwell Esselstyn and Dean Ornish. Also joining the Kickstart online are celebrity coaches drawn from the world of glamour and politics.

Anyone can join the online program, free of cost, and get access to 21 days of meal plans, recipes, and nutrition tips from doctors and nutritionists. You can also post your questions for nutritionists.