Experts on Sunday concluded that the ultra-processed foods that are ubiquitous throughout India and have become a mainstay in most homes in recent years—deep-fried, baked, and grilled—are directly to blame for the nation’s steadily rising diabetes rates.

There are an astounding 101 million diabetics living in India. Over ten percent of children aged 5 to 19 have pre-diabetes, according to the most recent ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are produced when ultra-processed meals are deep-fried, baked, or grilled. These AGEs cause inflammation and are linked to a number of disorders, including diabetes, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.

“When we fry or grill foods it leads to oxidative stress which is a promoter of inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer. Ultra-processed foods and those foods which are high in trans fats are harmful to health,” said diabetologist Dr. V Mohan from Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) in Chennai.

Red meat, fried foods, french fries, fried chicken, bacon, biscuits, baked goods, butter, margarine, and sugary foods are all considered to be AGE-rich foods, according to the study. Conversely, low-age foods include fruits and vegetables, broccoli, legumes, oats, dairy, eggs, fish, and tree nuts like cashews, walnuts, and almonds.

Our investigation revealed a connection between type 2 diabetes and inflammation and foods high in dietary ages. Foods low in AGEs were protective against diabetes, according to Mohan.

Glycation is a non-enzymatic process that forms AGEs when sugar molecules attach themselves to lipids or proteins.

Compounds that are damaging to the body, especially inflammation, can be formed as a result of this process.

“Fried food means that we are having excess saturated fat and calories, so it will naturally not be good for us,” Dr. Ambrish Mithal, Chairman & Head – Endocrinology & Diabetes, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, who was not part of the study.

“Much of the food in India that is deep fried, especially street food, is of reheated oil. Reheated oil is very rich in trans fats — a big factor for increasing the risk of heart disease, some types of cancers,” he added.

What about baked or grilled foods, then?

According to Mithal, although it makes sense intuitively, grilled food is not inherently healthful. While acknowledging that baked food is typically heavy in carbohydrates, the doctor added, “Even though it isn’t fried, it exposes food to high temperatures which gives rise to the production of certain toxic aromatic carbons in the food, which can be carcinogenic.”

According to Mohan, who is calling on the government to support healthy eating practices, these foods are one of the main contributors to the nation’s high rate of obesity and diabetes.

According to Mohan, “excess carbohydrate intake in the form of white rice or refined wheat is a direct driver of the diabetes epidemic,” as demonstrated by the MDRF study.

In addition, air pollution, stress, and sleep deprivation are major causes.

The doctor stated, “Government policy should therefore be directed towards encouraging the cultivation and promotion of foods which are low with dietary AGEs, especially green leafy vegetables and low-glycemic index fruits.”