NEW DELHI:
A study conducted by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revealed that diabetes is on the rise among those in villages and low income group.
The report says that comsumption of barn removed rice and wheat distributed through the Public Distribution System increases the risk of diabetes. The study report contradicts the earlier assumption that diabetes is a lifestyle disease of urbans and financially rich people.
As those in low income group are not getting treatment at the early stage, diabetes is on the rise in these section of people. The study was conducted in 15 State and it was revealed in Chandigarh 12.9 % of high income group have diabetes and 26.9 % in the poor category.
The poor are depending mainly on rice and wheat distributed from the Public Distribution System. The report also says fruits, vegetables and other grains should be distributed to the poor at a reasonable price from the Public Distribution System.
Improving the carbohydrate quality of the diet by replacing the common cereal staple white rice (WR) with brown rice (BR) could have beneficial effects on reducing the risk for diabetes and related complications. Cereals such as rice and wheat are staple foods in developing countries, including India.
Although rice has been a staple food for thousands of years in India, advancements in milling technologies to improve yield and shelf life4 have led to highly polished, starchy white rice (WR). Unlike unpolished brown rice (BR), WR lacks phytochemicals such as polyphenols, oryzanol, phytosterols, tocotrienols, tocopherols, and carotenoids, as well as vitamins and minerals that confer protection against heart disease and cancer.
Indian diets are high in carbohydrates, and cereals continue to be the staple food, contributing to two-thirds of the total carbohydrates consumed. Traditionally, cereals were processed for consumption by labor-intensive hand-pounding.
