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The protein deficiency in the Indian diet is a topic of debate, following comments by health educator Prashant Desai. He told Raj Shamani that 100g of wheat flour (equivalent to 9 rotis) contains merely 10g of protein, and 100g of cooked rice or dal has too little.

Desai described a typical Indian thali as being rich in carbohydrates and fat but grossly deficient in protein, which results in hunger and cravings, muscle wastage, and slow metabolism. He emphasized the problem of this "silent deficiency" in millions of people who assume home-cooked food is healthy.

Rather than fixating on fat loss, Desai recommends incorporating enough protein from paneer, soy, eggs, and dals. This advice is consistent with his previous advice: don't worry about fat loss; worry about muscle creation for optimal health.

The video has made the rounds and has many people refilling their thali.