Why many Indian women don’t meet daily protein requirements: Doctor explains how to fix it naturally
Published on: March 1, 2026, 6 a.m. | Source: Times of India
Across many Indian homes, women cook first, serve others next, and eat last. It sounds ordinary, but it shapes nutrition in deep ways. Protein, the nutrient that builds muscles, repairs tissues, balances hormones, and supports immunity, slips through the cracks. India has one of the highest burdens of malnutrition in the world. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) shows that a large percentage of Indian women are anaemic, and undernutrition remains common, especially in rural areas. While anaemia links directly to iron, low overall dietary quality, including protein intake, plays a major role.So why does this gap exist? And are high-protein diets the solution? The answers are layered, and deeply social.
