Dhoni provided valuable insights on fitness and health for everyone.
Cricket icon MS Dhoni has advised the majority of India's population—particularly the younger generation—to increase physical activity, participate in sports, and improve their eating habits to ensure a healthier midlife.
Speaking at an event, Dhoni highlighted that India’s traditional diet remains highly carbohydrate-rich, which made sense in the past when daily life demanded intense physical hard work.
He further pointed out that people nowadays maintain the same high-carb diet but lead largely sedentary lives as daily routines now involve minimal movement due to elevators, cabs and desk jobs.
"I will give them one piece of advice. I think it is about their health. If you look at India's food culture, depending on where you come from, it is still carbohydrate-rich. There was a reason behind this. Earlier, our daily lives involved a lot more physical hard work. Now, the same food habits have been transferred to the newer generation, but physical activity has gone down drastically. For example, the moment you come down from your flat, you take an auto or a cab. So you are basically sitting in a vehicle going to work and then sitting at a desk. Physical activity has gone down drastically," Dhoni said.
"Secondly, when we were growing up, the culture of fast food was just starting in India. Now, it is at its peak. Sugary and fried foods are not good for health, especially if you are not very active. A very small segment of the country has become fitness-oriented, but we are not talking about that small segment. We are talking about the majority. I would advise them to participate in every sport in school. Sometimes you are gifted with talent, explore it. When you are 30 or 35, you will realise that you will have a better midlife," he added.
The former Indian captain emphasized that while financial stability and caring for family are crucial life stages, maintaining your health is what truly allows you to enjoy those moments.
He recommended two straightforward habits to achieve this: devoting just one hour every day to physical fitness and following clean, uncomplicated food habits.
"Yes, we are all worried about our parents. We have to earn money and look after them. Then comes the stage when we have to earn money to take care of our children. But the whole point is whether you can play with your sons and daughters. For that, you need physical fitness. If I am physically fit, I can be happy in life. So the most important thing for the newer generation is to invest in themselves. If one can devote one hour to fitness and supplement it with simple food habits, it will be great," Dhoni remarked.