Protein it up with Poultry

Ruchi Raina

Recently there has been a lot of hype around the term 'protein' with the government running exclusive programs for the sundry population emphasizing the importance of the nutrient. What exactly is protein and what accounts for the buzz around it?  To put it simply, proteins can be defined as biomolecules comprised of amino acids residues that are joined together by peptide bonds.Biomolecules are essentially molecules produced by living organisms. Protein happens to be one of the major biomolecules that play a crucial role in functioning of the human body. Human body needs protein to help repair and make new cells. Protein is also needed for the growth and development in children, teenagers, and pregnant women.

Despite the importance of these building blocks, protein deficiency is rampant in the country. The reasons can be attributed to the large scale ignorance of protein deficiency repercussions along with the unwillingness to appreciate the importance of the nutrient. To illustrate, the required dietary need of protein intake for an average Indian adult falls between 0.8 to 1gm per kg body weight. However, the average intake in our country is 0.6gm per kg body weight which is far from ideal.

Need to Combat Protein Deficiency

The growth of the middle class in India has led to an enhanced demand for more plentiful and less expensive proteins like chicken meat. Other factors accelerating chicken consumption are: increasing and disposable incomes besides a growing demand for ready-to-eat products. Having said that, India's chicken/ meat consumption is around 3kg/person/year compared to most of the countries at around 10-11 kg/ person/year which somewhere down the line has led to protein deficiency in the country. Of course, the diverse culture of the country in terms of religion, background and family norms also has an impact on the eating habits of the population.

The simplest way to combat protein deficiency is to ensure the intake of adequate protein. Sounds easy, isn't it? Yet, most Indians fail to follow the much needed doctrine in their daily lives. Why? The question seems all the more important keeping in view the fact that over 70% of Indians are non-vegetarians.

Reasons behind Protein Deficiency

What exactly are the reasons that can be attributed to protein deficiency? Why is the country lagging behind the other nations in terms of its protein intake? What exactly is stopping the country from being at par with the rest of the world in terms of protein consumption?

As per the vice-chancellor for the Tamil Nadu veterinary and animal science university, Dr. C. Balachandaran, “Our country's poultry industry grows at an average of seven to eight per cent and we are placed in the fourth place in chicken meat production and in terms of egg, India ranks third place in the world.”

He further adds that despite the above growth, per capita consumption of poultry meat and egg in India is much less than the recommended amount by ICMR. The council advises consuming 10.5 kilos of poultry meat and 180 eggs per annum against the much lower present consumption of 3.5 kilos of meat and 30 eggs. What accounts for this difference?

A survey carried out in a number of Indian cities reveals a yawning gap between the essential knowledge of the intake of protein and the consumption of quality protein in the daily diet. It also means that non-vegetarianism does not necessarily equate with the adequate consumption of quality protein.

For example, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends a daily protein consumption of 48 gms whereas in reality the consumption of the nutrient has been found to be much lower. It also talks of how around 73 per cent of Indians are deficient in protein whereas 90 per cent lack the basic knowledge of the daily intake of protein.On the other hand, on the international front, protein consumption is on the rise, averaging at 68 gm per person per day.

Lack of interest in the subject is another issue that plays the spoilsport here. To add to the woes, there are myths that co-relate the intake of protein with the need to add to the body bulk and consequently ideal only for body building aspirants!

 This propels us towards the urgent need to include protein in our diet in a way that is both healthy and appeals to the taste buds as well. Does that ring a bell? Yes, we are referring to good old poultry meat and eggs! The ultimate protein powerhouses!.

Fighting Protein Deficiency with Poultry Meat and Eggs

The idea is to bridge the essential awareness of the needed poultry protein with the inclusion of the same in the regular diet. In fact; the government of India recently suggested the inclusion of poultry and eggs in regular meals amongst other food products to build immunity.

The importance of poultry meat for masses has already been acknowledged by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), who regards this widely available, relatively inexpensive food to be especially useful in developing countries, where it can contribute towards making up of essential nutrients.

Following are the benefits of consuming poultry meat:

·Sources of protein which play a vital role in body's healing and recovery.

· Source of vitamin B12 which helps gut micro biota, T cell production, immunomodulation, intestinal immune regulation.

· Source of Zinc and Selenium, helps reduce oxidative stress altering host response to vital infections.

Although proteins have been since time immemorial called the building blocks of life, as they play a pivotal role in building muscles besides facilitating many hormonal functions, yet protein deficiency is greatly prevalent in India. One of the underlying reasons is that Indian diet abounds in carbohydrates in contrast to proteins, and secondly, most of us are unaware of the super importance of this essential macronutrient.

Having said that, the sharp rise in average urban income has led to a simultaneous increase in poultry demand and the subsequent consumption of the same. On the graph of global meat demand, poultry meat can be plotted as the fastest growing component.

As per a survey, 15 major cities in the country alone make up for 62% of total poultry meat consumption which is more than inspiring. It falls upon each of us to take it from here and educate ourselves as well as others on the tenets of adequate protein consumption and the crucial role played by poultry meat in realizing the long cherished dream of making our country healthy and free from protein deficiency once for all.

(This story has been published under arrangement from Better Kitchen magazine)