Here's how deep-fried, baked, grilled foods are driving diabetes in India

Deep fried baked grilled ultraprocessed foods found in every nook and corner of India that have become the staple in a majority of homes in recent years are a direct reason for the eversurging cases of diabetes in the country said experts on SundayIndia is home to a staggering 101 million individuals afflicted by diabetes The recent ICMRNIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians reveals that more than 10 per cent of 519 yearolds are prediabeticA new study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition shows that the deep fried baked and grilled ultraprocessed foods are rich in advanced glycation end products AGE which lead to inflammation and contribute to several diseases including diabetesldquoWhen we fry or grill foods it leads to oxidative stress which is a promoter of inflammation Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to diabetes hypertension heart disease and even some forms of cancer Ultraprocessed foods and those foods which are high in trans fats are harmful to healthrdquo diabetologist Dr V Mohan from Madras Diabetes Research Foundation MDRF in Chennai told IANS Mohan and team led the study on AGEs in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research ICMRAccording to the study AGErich foods include red meat fried foods french fries fried chicken bacon biscuits bakery products butter margarine and sugary foods On the other hand fruits and vegetables broccoli legumes oats dairy eggs fish and tree nuts like almonds walnuts cashews etc come under the lowage food categoryldquoOur study showed that foods which are high in dietary ages were linked to type 2 diabetes and inflammation Foods which were low in dietary AGEs were protective against diabetesrdquo Mohan saidAGEs are formed through a nonenzymatic process called glycation where sugar molecules bind to proteins or fatsThis process can lead to the formation of compounds that cause harmful reactions in the body particularly inflammationldquoFried food means that we are having excess saturated fat and calories so it will naturally not be good for usrdquo Dr Ambrish Mithal Chairman ampamp Head Endocrinology ampamp Diabetes Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket who was not part of the study told IANSldquoMuch of the food in India that is deep fried especially street food is of reheated oil Reheated oil is very rich in trans fats a big factor for increasing the risk of heart disease some types of cancersrdquo he addedThen what about grilled or baked foodMithal said intuitively one would think grilled food is healthy but itrsquos actually not ldquoAlthough it isnrsquot fried it exposes food to high temperatures which gives rise to the production of certain toxic aromatic carbons in the food which can be carcinogenicrdquo the doctor said while noting that baked food is also not necessarily healthy because most baked food is carbohydraterichThese foods that are fuelling the obesity rate are one of the major causes of diabetes in the country Mohan told IANS while urging the government to promote healthy eating habitsFurther the MDRF study showed that excess carbohydrate intake in the form of white rice or refined wheat is a direct driver of the diabetes epidemic said MohanApart from this stress lack of sleep and air pollution are other contributing factorsldquoGovernment policy should therefore be directed towards encouraging the cultivation and promotion of foods which are low with dietary AGErsquos especially fruits with low glycemic index and green leafy vegetablesrdquo the doctor saidAlso ReadA guide to festive nutritionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever