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Economic Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Top health agencies recommend daily sugar, ghee & oil intake limits to fight heart disease, diabetes,& more: Here's how much you need
Synopsis To combat rising lifestyle diseases, the Indian government, in collaboration with ICMR-NIN and FSSAI, will launch a nationwide campaign promoting reduced sugar and oil consumption. Posters in schools, colleges, and government offices will advise limiting daily intake to 25 grams of sugar and 30 grams of oil, ghee, or butter. Soon, posters advising Indians to cut down on sugar and oil intake will be seen across schools, colleges and central government offices. These model posters are designed by Hyderabad-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).According to a TOI report, the daily cap is now 25 grams of sugar (about five teaspoons) and 30 grams of oil, ghee, or butter (roughly six teaspoons), based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet. These changes come as part of the Union health ministry's latest move to fight growing cases of lifestyle-related illnesses like diabetes and heart problems. A senior NIN scientist told TOI that earlier, the limit for sugar was 50 grams per day, but it's now been halved to 25 grams due to rising health concerns. 'One 500 ml soft drink is enough to exceed your daily sugar limit,' he posters will be put up not just in government bodies but also in CBSE and ICSE schools across the country. This is especially important for students, as India has a large adolescent population that is increasingly exposed to high-fat, high-sugar dietician Dr Swetha A, also from Hyderabad, pointed out that sugar and oil are often consumed without us realising it. 'Sugar is added to tea, coffee, and sometimes even to vegetables. Foods like biscuits, honey and processed snacks sneak in more sugar,' she said. She added that oils too are hidden, in nuts, seeds, dairy and even processed items. 'People also add ghee to chapatis, rice, and dough. That adds to the total fat unknowingly,' she said. Swetha recommends using a variety of oils in small amounts for better NIN scientist said that even small changes, like using one-fourth of a teaspoon less oil a day, can help reduce overall intake for a family. He also said it's not just about weight anymore, but about keeping body fat percentage in Avula Laxmaiah, a retired NIN scientist, said that poor eating is only one part of the problem. 'Lack of physical activity is just as bad,' he said. He also pointed out that Asian Indian genes are more likely to store fat, making us more prone to lifestyle central health ministry says the idea behind this awareness drive is to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and certain cancers.A 2025 study published in The Lancet predicts that the number of obese adults in India will jump from 18 crore in 2021 to nearly 45 crore by 2050, making India the second most affected country in the world. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Top health agencies recommend daily sugar, ghee & oil intake limits to fight heart disease, diabetes,& more: Here's how much you need
Soon, posters advising Indians to cut down on sugar and oil intake will be seen across schools, colleges and central government offices. These model posters are designed by Hyderabad-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). According to a TOI report, the daily cap is now 25 grams of sugar (about five teaspoons) and 30 grams of oil, ghee, or butter (roughly six teaspoons), based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet. These changes come as part of the Union health ministry's latest move to fight growing cases of lifestyle-related illnesses like diabetes and heart problems. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category CXO Public Policy Data Science Data Science MCA Healthcare Design Thinking Cybersecurity Others Project Management Degree Technology Product Management Management Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence others Digital Marketing healthcare Operations Management PGDM MBA Finance Leadership Skills you'll gain: Operations Strategy for Business Excellence Organizational Transformation Corporate Communication & Crisis Management Capstone Project Presentation Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow Chief Operations Officer Programme Starts on Jun 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Customer-Centricity & Brand Strategy Product Marketing, Distribution, & Analytics Digital Strategies & Innovation Skills Leadership Insights & AI Integration Expertise Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Chief Marketing and Growth Officer Starts on Apr 7, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Technology Strategy & Innovation Emerging Technologies & Digital Transformation Leadership in Technology Management Cybersecurity & Risk Management Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Chief Technology Officer Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Strategy Development Expertise Emerging Technologies & Digital Trends Data-driven Decision Making Leadership in the Digital Age Duration: 40 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Chief Digital Officer Starts on Jun 30, 2024 Get Details Why Just One Soft Drink Is Too Much A senior NIN scientist told TOI that earlier, the limit for sugar was 50 grams per day, but it's now been halved to 25 grams due to rising health concerns. 'One 500 ml soft drink is enough to exceed your daily sugar limit,' he said. The posters will be put up not just in government bodies but also in CBSE and ICSE schools across the country. This is especially important for students, as India has a large adolescent population that is increasingly exposed to high-fat, high-sugar foods. Hidden Sugars and Fats Are a Big Problem Clinical dietician Dr Swetha A, also from Hyderabad, pointed out that sugar and oil are often consumed without us realising it. 'Sugar is added to tea, coffee, and sometimes even to vegetables. Foods like biscuits, honey and processed snacks sneak in more sugar,' she said. Live Events She added that oils too are hidden, in nuts, seeds, dairy and even processed items. 'People also add ghee to chapatis, rice, and dough. That adds to the total fat unknowingly,' she said. Swetha recommends using a variety of oils in small amounts for better health. Even a Small Cut Makes a Big Difference The NIN scientist said that even small changes, like using one-fourth of a teaspoon less oil a day, can help reduce overall intake for a family. He also said it's not just about weight anymore, but about keeping body fat percentage in check. Genes and Activity Matter Too Dr Avula Laxmaiah, a retired NIN scientist, said that poor eating is only one part of the problem. 'Lack of physical activity is just as bad,' he said. He also pointed out that Asian Indian genes are more likely to store fat, making us more prone to lifestyle diseases. The central health ministry says the idea behind this awareness drive is to reduce non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and certain cancers. A 2025 study published in The Lancet predicts that the number of obese adults in India will jump from 18 crore in 2021 to nearly 45 crore by 2050, making India the second most affected country in the world. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Cap sugar at 25g, oil at 30g per day: Hyderabad-based NIN, FSSAI set daily intake limits to curb lifestyle diseases nationwide
HYDERABAD: Soon, dietary advice by Hyderabad-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), based on the Union health ministry's recent regulation on oil and sugar, will be displayed across central institutions in India. These 'model posters' by NIN were prepared in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Their recommendation: 25 grams of sugar (about five teaspoons) and 30 grams of edible oils, ghee, and butter (six teaspoons) every day. This calculation is based on a healthy calorie intake of 2,000 per day. One soft drink a day can tip scales You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 'For a 2,000 calories diet, the sugar intake should make up for only about 5% — which is 100 grams. However, it's not necessary to eat all 100 grams daily,' said a scientist from NIN associated with making the posters. He added, 'Many people go over this limit by drinking just one ultra-processed item, like a 500 ml soft drink. Earlier, the limit was 50 grams per day, but we have lowered it to 25 grams because lifestyle diseases are on the rise. The boards, keeping with the Centre's orders, will be displayed in all central govt bodies — schools, colleges and other public institutes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Additionally, CBSE and ICSE schools too have been asked to display the oil and sugar awareness boards since India has a large adolescent population vulnerable to health risks. The key purpose of the recent order: To make people aware of their consumption. Experts say monitoring not just weight but body fat percentage has become essential in today's time. 'In the case of oil, a family that now uses two to three teaspoons each day can cut it down by just 10% — to about a quarter of a teaspoon. It may seem small but can greatly reduce the total oil used by the family,' said the NIN scientist, recommending the use of different types of oils rather than just one kind. 'That has more health benefits,' he said. Backing the NIN recommendations, Hyderabad-based clinical dietician Dr Swetha A said that sugar and oil are often over-consumed without realisation, particularly with changing eating habits and easy access to foods high in fat, sugar, salt. 'Added (direct) sugar, which we put in our coffee, tea, is only required in minimal amounts, as it provides empty calories and no nutrition,' said Dr Swetha. 'While often used for taste or as an instant energy boost we tend to consume it far beyond what is needed through honey, biscuits and other food items. In some households, sugar is added in vegetable curries too.' Watch out for hidden fats in food Similarly, people end up consuming both visible fats, which we put in the curries and invisible fats taken from nuts, seeds, dairy, and processed foods. 'Often, invisible fats are overlooked, leading to excessive total fat intake. Oil and ghee are also added to chapatis, rice, and even dough,' the dietician said. According to her, five tablespoons of sugar and six for oil is ideal. 'Though actual requirements can vary based on an individual's activity level and metabolism. The key lies in maintaining a balanced intake to avoid non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Even consumption of excess sugary items converts into fat,' said Dr Swetha. ACTIVITY AND GENES CRITICAL TOO Dr Avula Laxmaiah, a public health nutrition expert and retired ICMR-NIN scientist said that the rise in lifestyle diseases is not only due to unhealthy eating but also due to limited physical activity. 'In the past, lifestyle diseases were thought to mostly affect rich people. But now we see a huge increase among low-income groups as well,' he said. 'Another reason is that Asian Indian genes tend to store fat more easily,' he explained. 1 IN 3 HOMES IN HYD HIT BY NCD The Union ministry's initiative aims to curb the rapidly growing count of NCDs such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart diseases, certain cancers, and other lifestyle-related illnesses. The awareness campaign, experts hope, will encourage people to reduce their intake of HFSS foods, and ultra-processed foods. Citing a 2025 study of the medical journal The Lancet, the central health ministry's directive states that obese adults in India are projected to rise from 18 crore in 2021 to 44.9 crore in 2050. This, alarmingly, will put India in the second spot globally. In Hyderabad, a survey by the city-based Helping Hand Foundation found that one in three households is affected by lifestyle diseases.
