South Asians are genetically different from the rest of the world. This makes them more prone to lifestyle related diseases like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Over the years, our diets have also changed from the traditional to the more westernized fast food with more calories and saturated fats and less fibre.
Children and youngsters are especially moving from a desi diet to a predominantly western format diet. These changes coupled with metabolic syndrome lead to the development of early diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
For those of you who are wondering what a desi diet is and how is it different from the traditional western diet; a can be described as a diet of a South Asian origin.
South Asians have very different dietary habits. Their diets are rich in carbohydrates and many of them are vegetarians. A desi diet would therefore include chapattis and rice in every meal and would mostly be eaten with lentils or vegetables; in contrast to a western diet that is predominantly meat based and has lesser emphasis on carbohydrates.
South Asians mostly prefer cooked hot meals and like to prepare their own food. This means that a is not just a set of different ingredients but a different eating pattern altogether. Many westerners cannot have a desi diet because it is extremely spicy and full of pungent and strong flavours.
Most desi diets, if planned well, are healthy because they are high in fibre and provide a healthy mix of carbohydrates and proteins in every meal. Traditionally, desi diets also included a lot of pulses, milk and milk products, and vegetables.
For South Asians who want to have a healthy diet, it is important that they plan their diets basis their dietary habits. A desi diet can be easily modified into a healthy diet. This will not only ensure a balanced intake of nutrients but will also lead to better compliance since it is better to modify your existing diet to suit your needs rather than to try and take up a different dietary pattern altogether.