Research has found that Western food is a lesser evil than the Indian bhatura or parathas. Digest this — while the trans-fatty acids (hydrogenated oils and fats) in French fries (per 100 gm) is 4.2%-6.1%, it is 9.5% in Samosa 7.8% in aloo paratha and 7.6% each in puri, tikkis and Masala Dosa.
While we blame Western food as junk, Indian food is worse. The presence of trans-fatty acids in our food is much higher posing a risk for development of diabetes and coronary heart disease in early 20s and 30s.
The South Indian snacks of idli-dosa have won hands down in the 'fat-battle'. High in protein and carbohydrates, while a morning breakfast of idli-sambar-chiku and coffee had 9.3% protein content in it, the dosa(Plain)-chutney-papaya-tea had 6.7% proteins .
French fries and dishes made of hydrogenated fat (upto 45% of fat), baked items (biscuits, rusks upto 30% and margarine (upto 15%) are rich in industrial sources of trans-fats. But health experts were unanimous on one count. Ban the vanaspati which has high TFA content.
Sample this: A puri cooked only in vanaspati has 8.6 TFA content while it comes down to 5.5 when cooked in a combination of vanaspati and refined vegetable oil.
Ditto with bhatura whose TFA content came down from 9.5 to three, when vanaspati was not used. With the US making it mandatory for declaration of trans-fat in labels, in India, major food producers are doing away with trans-fat and using only natural vegetable refined oil, which do not have trans-fatty acids
While we blame Western food as junk, Indian food is worse. The presence of trans-fatty acids in our food is much higher posing a risk for development of diabetes and coronary heart disease in early 20s and 30s.
The South Indian snacks of idli-dosa have won hands down in the 'fat-battle'. High in protein and carbohydrates, while a morning breakfast of idli-sambar-chiku and coffee had 9.3% protein content in it, the dosa(Plain)-chutney-papaya-tea had 6.7% proteins .
French fries and dishes made of hydrogenated fat (upto 45% of fat), baked items (biscuits, rusks upto 30% and margarine (upto 15%) are rich in industrial sources of trans-fats. But health experts were unanimous on one count. Ban the vanaspati which has high TFA content.
Sample this: A puri cooked only in vanaspati has 8.6 TFA content while it comes down to 5.5 when cooked in a combination of vanaspati and refined vegetable oil.
Ditto with bhatura whose TFA content came down from 9.5 to three, when vanaspati was not used. With the US making it mandatory for declaration of trans-fat in labels, in India, major food producers are doing away with trans-fat and using only natural vegetable refined oil, which do not have trans-fatty acids
2 comments:
Yesindian food laws are very lax in terms of implementation;The laws do not have limits for Trans fatty acids.
not true...indian food has many ingrediants which western food does not have...and which nullify the so called 'junk food'...overall, indian food is more healthy than western
Post a Comment