Walk into any gym today, and you’ll hear one word everywhere: protein.Protein shakes, protein bars, high-protein diets, and protein-rich breakfasts have become part of everyday conversations. It almost feels as if India has suddenly discovered a nutrient that never existed before.
But if protein is so important, why weren’t previous generations talking about it?
The answer is not as simple as saying they were healthier than us.
India became to be known as the diabetes capital of the world long before protein became a trend. Lifestyle disorders did not suddenly appear with today’s generation. Many unhealthy habits were already present and gradually passed down through families.Our parents may not have consumed packaged foods at the scale we do today, but tea with biscuits, white bread, samosas, kachoris, namkeen, and fried snacks were often a regular part of daily life. Over time, these habits became normalized.
However, if we look further back, our grandparents’ generation had one major advantage: movement was built into their lifestyle.They walked more, performed physically demanding household chores, consumed mostly home-cooked meals, and followed seasonal eating patterns. Millets, traditional foods, and even fasting practices were closely linked to the changing seasons.
Interestingly, protein intake was not necessarily much higher back then.The difference was that people were physically active enough to utilize the energy they consumed.
Today, many of us continue eating carbohydrate-heavy diets while spending long hours sitting, working on screens, and moving less than ever before. At the same time, our meals , our meals often lack sufficient high-quality protein to support muscle health and metabolism.
The real issue is not that protein suddenly became important. It always was.The problem is that we have moved away from balanced lifestyles while holding on to eating habits that no longer suit the way we live.
Perhaps the protein conversation is reminding us of something bigger: we don’t just need more protein, we need to reconnect with the fundamentals of healthy living.
(The Writer of this article is Dimple Arora)