Rashmi Kulkarni – Aahaar Kranti (“Nutrition Revolution”)
by Abha Gupta, PhD , YSN Editor-in-Chief
(YSN Vol. 9, No. 1 – Sept. 2021)
Dr. Rashmi Pradyumna Kulkarni has a PhD in Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University and a Master’s degree in Microbiology from The Institute of Science, Mumbai. Her post-doctoral research focused on Evolutionary Genetics at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, followed by research targeted at elucidating the mechanisms of breast cancer and lung cancer at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.
Rashmi is an entrepreneur in hydroponics as Managing Partner at Integrated Group, Qatar. She is also an educator, conducting outreach programs for students, parents, and teachers to familiarize everyone with the gut microbiome and how it relates to nutrition and long-term health.
Rashmi is a volunteer for the Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats Forum for the Aahaar Kranti Nutritional Education module.
Here, YSN Editor Abha Gupta interviews Dr. Kulkarni on her role with the much-needed “Nutrition Revolution” in India.
Abha Gupta (AG): On International Yoga Day this year, you gave a talk on “Microbiome, Nutrition and Long-term Health,” (available for viewing at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klArebcGe_A). That was quite an eye opener about the influence of our gut microbes on our overall health. How did you get interested in this area?
Rashmi Kulkarni (RK): The field of the human microbiome has long heald my interest. However, one of my findings in my research on cancer led me to the field of the gut microbiome. The mice I was working on were obese, and had symptoms of diabetes, and kidney disease, along with cancer. This piqued my interest in what was actually happening in the gut, and could any of these be alleviated by introducing beneficial microbes. That was the beginning of my foray into introducing others to the importance of what these microbes do to our long-term health.
AG: You are an active volunteer for the Aahar Kranti (“Nutrition Revolution”) movement in India. Our readers would be interested in learning about this initiative — how and when did it start, what are its aims, how does it intend to achieve its goals, who are the sponsors and what is your role in this initiative?
RK: The idea that India really needs a Nutrition Revolution was developed after brainstorming by the leaders in GIST and Vijnana Bharati, given the significant increase in the deaths due to dietary risks not only in India, but globally. Aahar Kranti was officially launched on the day of Varshpratipada (April 13, 2021) and inaugurated by Hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. The aims of the initiative are simple; we aim to increase awareness about balanced nutrition in the general population. We have the education, all we need to do is to make people aware that they are not using the education they receive. It is a mass exercise trying to train trainers who will go on to spread awareness and initiate activities to promote better nutrition in India. We do not have any sponsors currently, however we have collaborations with several universities and Institutes in this regard.
My role is in leading the preparation and updating of the Nutritional Education Modules for different age groups and to train the trainers in this program.
AG: Given that people often have to work for 8-10 hours a day, how does one maintain a healthy life style and manage the responsibilities of home, family, and social life? In particular, what does one need to be mindful of regarding one’s food intake and nutrition?
RK: Whether we work at home or in an office, it is important to take care of our own health. We cannot lose focus of why we are working in the first place. Managing our working hours by carrying home-made food is the best if one can do it. Otherwise, many workplaces have healthy options one can choose from. Also, it is important that children can get something healthy and homemade for their school lunches too. Meals don’t necessarily have to be made in the morning, but can be managed by cooking even once a day. The family can do the meal prep and packing lunches together. It is essential to teach this early on that eating healthy is not something to be taken lightly and we must adjust our lifestyle to include healthy eating as a necessity. A few meals with the family during the week are important for bonding. Exercise is equally important. We can take a few minutes off every hour, even during work to stretch, take a short walk, do some mindfulness activities to be much more productive and focused at work.
AG: Since you are one of the leading figures in the ‘aahar kranti’ movement and talk proactively about nutrition, we would like to know what is your typical food routine?
RK: My typical routine while working from home would be to start my day with a glass of water. I sit down and have traditional healthy breakfast with ginger tea every morning at 8:30 am. This is followed by a serving of seasonal fruit at 11:00 am. At 12:30-1:00 pm, I usually have a lunch that is high in seasonal, optimally-cooked vegetables, lentils, high-fibre, high-protein rotis and salad, with rare servings of brown rice. 5:00 pm is usually tea time again, or another serving of a different seasonal fruit. I finish my meals for the day with dinner around 6:30-7:00 pm. Dinner is similar to lunch, usually. The cuisines may vary each day, but the theme remains the same, more vegetables, good amount of protein and some complex carbohydrates, rich in fibre.
AG: What message would you like to convey to our readers regarding yoga and nutrition, or anything else that you would like to add for our readers?
RK: Although I am not a regular practitioner of yoga, I have benefited from it several times. Yoga, along with balanced nutrition can really help one achieve the fitness levels they dream of and can ward off chronic diseases. Balanced nutrition where our body gets all the nutrients it needs is essential for proper functioning of our body just like a well-oiled machine.
AG: Where can our readers find more published information about Aahar Kranti and how can interested readers participate more actively in this movement?
RK: Information about Aahaar Kranti can be found on our website: www.aahaarkranti.org (or https://gistusa.org/aahaarkranti/). We have events and initiatives every month where we bring in prominent personalities to promote the cause for better nutrition with the slogan “Uttam Aahaar, Uttam Vichaar”.
Interested readers can participate by joining as a volunteer (Aahaar Mitr) by registering on our website by clicking on the link “Be a part of Aahaar Kranti:” at the bottom of the page and sending out your details. Our Sampark team will get in touch with you regarding the next steps.