One of the most comprehensive and authoritative sources of information on the nutritive value of Indian foods is the book Nutritive Value of Indian Foods, published by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 2012. This book covers 600 foods, both familiar and less familiar, with confirmed scientific names. It provides data on the edible portion, moisture, energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, fiber, ash, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, selenium, iodine, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K of each food item. The book also gives information on the amino acid and fatty acid profiles of selected foods. The data are presented in tabular form for easy reference and comparison.
Another useful publication by the ICMR-NIN is the Indian Food Composition Tables, released in 2017. This book contains data on 528 key foods from six regions of India: North-Eastern Region (NER), Eastern Region (ER), Central Region (CR), Western Region (WR), Southern Region (SR) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI). The data include the nutrient composition per 100 g edible portion of raw and cooked foods as well as their retention factors. The book also provides information on the food sources of phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols.
Both these publications are based on extensive laboratory analysis and quality control procedures to ensure accuracy and reliability. They are valuable resources for nutritionists, dietitians, researchers, students, policy makers and general public who want to know more about the nutritive value of Indian foods. They can help in planning balanced diets for different age groups and physiological conditions as well as assessing the nutritional status and adequacy of various population groups.
The PDF versions of these publications can be downloaded from the official website of the ICMR-NIN. Alternatively, they can also be accessed online through the Nutrition Atlas, a web-based tool developed by the ICMR-NIN to disseminate nutrition information to a wider audience. The Nutrition Atlas provides interactive charts and graphs to visualize and compare the nutrient composition of different foods. It also offers various features such as nutrient search engine, nutrient calculator and nutrient converter to facilitate easy retrieval and utilization of nutrition data.
The nutritive value of Indian foods is an important aspect of understanding and promoting healthy eating habits among Indians. By downloading or accessing these publications by the ICMR-NIN, one can gain valuable insights into the nutritional quality and diversity of Indian foods.
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