Thursday was World Food Day. This day is celebrated all over the world to demand food security. According to a nationwide survey by an IT company, 84 percent of people now prefer healthy food.
Indians nowadays have shown distaste for hot luchi in the morning with white potato curry, oil-fried meat or fish in the afternoon, fish fry in the afternoon tiffin, and biryani for dinner. Studies show that the country is looking for food that is full of nutrients and free from adulteration. Four days of the puja or Kali Puja-Bhai drop, Telebhaja, Biryani can continue, but Indians have focused on light and home-made healthy food in their daily diet.
But where are the people of the country getting information about which food is healthy, how much to eat, and what food to eat when?
According to the survey, experts say the food they are having that's not 'healthy' at all. Because 80 percent of the participants in the survey say that they are finding healthy food either from a healthcare app or AI (artificial intelligence) platforms like ChatGPT or Gemini.
More than 21,000 people participated in the survey in 28 countries around the world. According to the survey, the attraction of Indians towards healthy food is the highest in the world. In India, Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X took part in the survey from big cities to small villages, including Kolkata. There were 55 percent men and 45 percent women. According to the study, Indians frequently change their food brands in search of healthier food. They prefer pesticide-free, organic food. They blame food manufacturers for food poisoning or unhygienic products.
When asked in a recent interview, “How do you control your food cravings? What food do you say no to?”, actor Prosenjit Chatterjee replied, “Before saying no, you must first know what to say yes to…!”
However, surveys show that most Indians aren’t consulting experts to decide which foods they should actually say yes to. Instead, they’re relying on advice from AI tools or healthcare apps. As a result, instead of improving their health, many are unknowingly making it worse by following misleading diet information.
Dietitian Shampa Bandyopadhyay says, "Every person's body and physical condition is different. If you do not understand the diet through AI or an app, the danger can increase. It can even be death. Suppose someone with stomach upset prepared a diet by asking the AI. But stomach is not a disease. Symptoms of major diseases.”
However, many doctors are pleased to see Indians’ growing inclination toward healthy food. According to Dr Arindam Biswas, the rise in obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and strokes is the main reason behind this shift. He said, “Instead of blindly trusting AI or health apps, it’s always better to follow the diet prescribed by a doctor.”
