Why India Should Approach Zero-Carb/ Fat or Zero-Sugar Strategies with Caution

For years, Western countries have promoted zero-sugar, zero-fat, and zero-carb diets as the ultimate solution to obesity and diabetes. But if these strategies truly worked, why are these health issues still skyrocketing in the West?

Did you know? A major study in The BMJ found that the benefits of low-carb diets for diabetes disappear after just 12 months! That means most people struggle to stick to these restrictive diets, and even when they do, the long-term impact remains questionable.

The Problem? Extreme diets are hard to sustain, often leading to nutrient deficiencies, cravings, and frustration—and most importantly, they fail to address the root cause of metabolic dysfunction.

The Better Approach? Instead of blindly following the West, India should leverage Ayurveda’s wisdom—combining zero-carb and zero-sugar principles with a more balanced, holistic approach to health.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. When I struggled with gut inflammation, it wasn’t extreme diet rules that helped me—it was understanding my body, making small, sustainable changes, and applying the wisdom of Ayurveda. That’s when real healing happened.

What do you think? Should India copy Western trends or forge its own path using its rich health traditions?

Western vs Indians traditions is understood but should we try to fit in this narrative to back everything that lacks evidence? I think India has more scope to grow outside this approach.

We should stop ignoring the placebo effect and villainizing science. (not talking about zero-x diets)

Agreed, India has immense scope to grow beyond this approach—we should rediscover new directions rather than just fitting into existing narratives.

Science shouldn’t be limited to evidence alone; evidence evolves with every new discovery and tool. True science is about principles that can be applied universally, adapting to new insights rather than being constrained by rigid proof