The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has just released new guidelines that might make you think twice about what goes into your home-cooked meals. Here’s a simpler breakdown of what they said:

Home-Cooked Can Still Be Unhealthy: Even if you make meals at home, using too much fat, sugar, or salt can be bad for your health.

Calorie-Rich, Nutrient-Poor: Foods high in fat and sugar may fill you up but don’t offer much in the way of important nutrients like vitamins and fiber.

Risks of High-Fat and High-Sugar Diets: These foods can cause inflammation in your body and mess up your gut health, increasing the risk of diseases like obesity.

Salt Watch: Too much salt isn’t just bad for your taste buds—it can raise your blood pressure and strain your kidneys.

New Diet Recommendations: The guidelines suggest:

1) Keep sugar less than 5% of your total energy intake.

2) Fats should be less than 30% of your daily calorie intake.

3) Balance your diet with cereals and millets (45% of calories), and include pulses, beans, and meat (15% of calories).

4) Don’t forget nuts, vegetables, fruits, and milk to make up the rest.

Say No to Supplements: Opt for natural foods over protein supplements to build muscle mass.

Read Food Labels: Knowing what’s in your food can help you make healthier choices and avoid overly processed foods.

The message from ICMR is clear: Not all home-cooked meals are automatically good for you. It's all about what you put into them. So, keep an eye on ingredients and choose wisely to keep you and your family healthy!