New Delhi: So what came first - the chicken or the egg? Well, according to a recent study, they both have come first, leaving red meat far behind!

India is eating healthy says a study conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation and this is mainly due to a shift in the choices of food.

For example, the consumption of chicken has increased by three times in the urban areas and about 2.5 times and in rural India, compared to red meat - the demand for which has gone down by six percent.

Similarly the consumption of eggs has gone up by almost 30 per cent in rural areas.

Says Nutritionist Ishi Khosla, "While red meat has more saturated fat compared to poultry, the cholesterol content is of course comparable. Increase in intake of saturated fat has certainly been linked to developing heart diseases and that's undesireable. This is something that certainly makes a huge difference."

And there's improved cooking as well. According to statistics there's been a decrease in the usage of the traditional vanaspati oils from 40 per cent to 21 per cent in the cities.

There has also been an 18 per cent increase in the use of edible oil in kitchens. Indians are also eating more of green vegetables by a good 12 per cent more and a higher protein intake can be seen in the form of dals (pulses).

Experts suggest that all these factors over a period of time could decrease your risk of lifestyle diseases by almost 50 per cent. Add to it the fact that smoking has gone down by 30 per cent. But remember, it's also as important to exercise along with eating right!