Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 28: Rajiv Gauba on Saturday highlighted the need for India to tap into its rich legacy of fermented foods to counter the growing shift toward ultra-processed diets, which pose risks to gut health and long-term public well-being.

Speaking at a probiotic symposium organised by the Gut Microbiota and Probiotic Science Foundation, Gauba pointed out that modern lifestyle changes, social media-driven food trends, and the rise of quick commerce are distancing people from traditional, nutrient-rich eating habits. According to a statement from NITI Aayog, he warned that such shifts could have serious health consequences, noting that over 56 percent of India’s disease burden is linked to unhealthy or imbalanced diets.

Gauba emphasised that India is uniquely positioned to lead the global probiotic movement, given its long-standing tradition of fermented foods. By combining this traditional knowledge with advances in microbiome research and genomics, he said, the country can develop scientifically validated probiotics with significant public health benefits.

He underscored the role of probiotics in reducing both infectious and chronic diseases, improving nutrition, and strengthening immunity. At the same time, he cautioned against misleading claims in the probiotics and supplements market, urging medical professionals and researchers to promote evidence-based practices.

Highlighting government healthcare initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, and Ayushman Arogya Mandir, Gauba noted that out-of-pocket health expenditure has significantly reduced in recent years, leading to substantial savings for households.

He also stressed that India’s demographic advantage can only be realised with a healthy population, especially as the proportion of elderly citizens increases. Encouraging the use of affordable generic medicines and digital health solutions, he called for greater adoption of telemedicine, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to improve access to specialised care.

Gauba further noted rapid advancements in microbiome science, pointing to emerging areas such as next-generation therapeutics, synthetic biology, and CRISPR-based engineering of probiotic strains for targeted treatments, marking a shift toward precision medicine.