Food Facts Daily ©

"Ever finish a burger, grab a soda, and wonder why you crash into a fog hours later? You’re not alone. It turns out the same snacks and fast meals we crave for comfort can quietly hijack our mood and memory" . Globally, mental health struggles are on the rise – and India is no exception. WHO reports that about 1 in 7 people worldwide have experienced a mental disorder. In India, surveys found roughly 10.6% of adults (about 11 in 100) have a diagnosable mental health condition, and overall around 15% of adults require treatment for issues like depression or anxiety. At the same time, India’s appetite for ultra-processed foods is skyrocketing. For example, retail sales of processed items nearly doubled between 2012 and 2018 , and packaged snacks now occupy a much larger slice of household food spending (rising from 6.5% of budgets in 2015 to 12% in 2019). [Insert chart of processed food growth in India] 1. The Gut-Brain Team: How Diet Shapes Your Mood Let’s break it dow...

“Just heat and eat.” Sounds like a dream for our busy modern lives — but what’s the real cost of all that convenience? Ready-to-eat (RTE) meals and instant foods have flooded our kitchens, promising quick hunger fixes with a simple zap. But behind those glossy packages and tempting promises lies a much less appetizing reality — one that could be dangerous. The Convenience Boom in India In India, the ready-to-eat (RTE) food market has exploded in recent years. Urbanization, nuclear families, working women and college students living on their own have all driven up demand for instant meal fixes. Almost any dish you crave – from butter chicken and biryani to pasta, khichdi, and even idlis – now comes in a microwaveable packet. One industry report predicts India’s RTE market will top ₹6,500 crore by 2026. Sounds efficient, right? Well, here’s the catch… What’s Actually Inside Microwave Meals? Preservatives: To keep RTE meals shelf-stable for months or even years, manufacture...