How food as medicine is transforming senior health in India

Time of India

12 hours ago

'Aging isn't the problem. The assumptions around it are.'
India is often described as a young country. And if you look at the stats, we are. But this narrative has, over time, become a kind of tunnel vision.
It's visible everywhere: in advertising, in health conversations, and in the cultural obsession with youth.
We speak often of energy, ambition, and transformation. But rarely in the context of the one demographic that perhaps needs it the most: our seniors.
As per data from multiple sources, more than 140 million Indians are over the age of 60 today. By 2050, that number will double. And yet, mainstream health conversations continue to overlook them.
At best, it offers generic advice. At worst, it positions aging as a decline to be fought, rather than a stage to be understood.
At the heart of this gap lies a profound opportunity. One we've seen come to life again and again in practice: the power of food.
Rewriting the Aging Script
After working with hundreds of older adults in India, here's what we've seen firsthand: the body continues to respond, often remarkably well, when its changing needs are met with the right kind of support.
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These needs aren't complicated. They're just different. And they begin at the most basic, daily level: the food on our plate.
Contrary to popular belief, aging doesn't automatically mean illness. But it does mean physiological shifts such as slower digestion, reduced muscle mass, changes in blood sugar metabolism, and altered neurotransmitter function. When we understand these shifts, and adapt food accordingly, something powerful happens: discomfort reduces.
Energy improves. Strength returns.
This isn't theory. It's real-life feedback from active seniors (people in their 50s and 60s) who tried small, intentional changes. Like replacing raw salads with warm, well-cooked vegetables tempered with ajwain or hing. Or ensuring protein isn't just an afterthought, but present in every major meal. You can simply have moong dal with curd, almond flour roti with hemp chutney, or egg cheela with a sesame laddoo.
A Closer Look at What Changes—and What Helps
Food isn't just fuel. It's care, especially at this stage of life stage.
Digestion slows, but nutrient needs rise. Stomach acid and enzyme levels decline with age, especially impacting protein absorption. Fermented foods like kanji or chaas, gentle spices, and warm, cooked meals make digestion easier and absorption stronger.
Muscle loss can be avoided, if we eat for it.
Muscle begins to decline in our 40s, but it's only in our 60s that it becomes visibly limiting. Regular movement paired with timely protein (within an hour) can slow or even reverse this trend.
Blood sugar becomes more sensitive. Even without a diabetes diagnosis, seniors may notice post-meal spikes. Solutions? More vegetables, fewer refined carbs, a spoon of flaxseed powder, and not skipping meals.
Brain fog isn't just 'age.'
It's often linked to low neurotransmitter activity and a lack of healthy fats. Foods like sesame, walnuts, ghee, and traditional seeds nourish both brain and body.
Gut health becomes central. With nearly 90% of serotonin produced in the gut, digestion affects not just energy and appetite, but also mood. Prebiotic-rich staples like poha, bajra roti, and fermented drinks help maintain microbial balance.
What
Food as Medicine
Actually Means
This is not about supplements or expensive products.
Nor is it about giving up beloved foods. It's about small, strategic shifts in how we eat. Guided by physiology, not fear. We don't need a separate cuisine for seniors. We need familiar foods, prepared with greater intention.
We at Meru Life are building systems that support, not just advise. The idea is to place this scattered knowledge (through generations, regions, and anecdotal wisdom), into the hands of active seniors.
But beyond Meru, the conversation itself must grow. Public health programmes, caregiving frameworks, and community kitchens need to recognise this pivotal truth: that food is not a soft topic. It's infrastructure. And when it's done well, it reduces illness, improves independence, and adds years of life lived well.
Finally, Five Gentle Rules to Age With Strength
Eat warm, well-cooked meals that are easy to digest.
Prioritise protein at every major meal.
Fill half your plate with cooked vegetables.
Embrace traditional fats like ghee, gond, and sesame.
Support your gut daily with foods like poha, kanji, and chaas.
These aren't diet rules. They're shifts that honour how the body evolves with time. When food meets the body where it is, aging doesn't feel like decline. It feels like rhythm. Like resilience. Like renewal.
Co-authored by:
Khushboo Jain Tibrewala, functional nutritionist & SME at Meru Life.
Mihir Karkare, co-founder & CEO of Meru Life.
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