In the hustle of modern Indian life, with its reliance on quick meals and instant deliveries, packaged foods have secured a permanent place in our pantries. While celebrated for convenience, a leading wellness expert warns that these factory-made items are silently harming our health from within. The revelation comes amidst stricter regulations from India's food safety watchdog, highlighting a growing concern.
FSSAI Steps In: A Push for Transparency
Recognising the potential health risks, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) took a significant step in July 2024. It mandated that all packaged food manufacturers must prominently display the levels of saturated fat, salt, and sugar on their labels using bold letters and large fonts. The authority stated this move aims to empower consumers to make informed nutritional choices. However, according to experts, the issues with packaged foods run deeper than just label declarations.
Three Bitter Truths Unveiled by an Expert
Wellness and nutrition coach Dimple Jangda recently took to Instagram to share a stark warning. In a detailed reel, she outlined three fundamental and often overlooked truths about the packaged foods filling supermarket shelves across India.
Truth 1: Shelf Life Equals Gut Survival Time
Dimple Jangda presents a simple yet alarming equation: If a product can survive on a shelf for six months, it can persist in your gut for a similar duration. She explains that this longevity is achieved through emulsifiers, additives, and synthetic chemical ingredients. "These are not natural. They exist to help the food survive logistics and shelf storage until you consume it," she states.
The consequence, she warns, is a direct assault on your gut microbiota. This can lead to sugar spikes, contribute to fatty liver disease, and overburden detoxifying organs like the liver and kidneys. Drawing from Ayurvedic principles, she adds that these preservatives can block the body's channels, or strotas, weaken digestive fire (agni), compromise immunity, and elevate disease risk.
Truth 2: Engineered for Addiction, Not Nourishment
The second truth shifts focus from preservation to psychology. Jangda asserts that many packaged foods are designed for addiction, not health. "They are for the profit and health of the companies, not yours," she clarifies. She reveals that corporations invest heavily in research to make foods addictive using specific chemical additives.
These ingredients are crafted to hijack the brain's reward system, tricking you into consuming more and driving repeat purchases. The expert's advice is straightforward: replace these engineered items with natural foods that do not create dependency.
Truth 3: Feeding Disease, Not Health
The third and perhaps most poignant truth is a reminder of our origins. "Remember, you were born in the lap of mother nature, not in a factory," Jangda says. She cautions that with every bite of packaged food, you may be inadvertently nourishing future diseases rather than your well-being. Her solution is a conscious shift away from factory-produced items.
The Healthy Alternative: Farm to Table
So, what is the way forward? Dimple Jangda strongly advocates adopting a farm-to-table approach. This means prioritising foods grown by nature and farmers: fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, legumes, lentils, nuts, and seeds. For those who consume dairy, she suggests opting for cruelty-free or plant-based alternatives.
These natural foods, she explains, truly nourish your tissues and cells. They help boost immunity, strengthen digestive fire, and prevent the accumulation of undigested matter, toxins (ama), and harmful preservatives that can trigger chronic illnesses. In a world of convenient packages, returning to nature's bounty might be the key to long-term health.
