“Jitna kam khaoge na, utna zyada power hota hai” (The much less you eat, the extra power you may have), mentioned actor Ram Kapoor on Bharti Singh’s podcast, the place he appeared alongside Mona Singh.
The dialog turned revealing when Kapoor mentioned, “Should you eat just one meal a day — major nahi karta hoon… (I don’t do this),” prompting Mona so as to add, “I eat one meal a day.” Kapoor continued, “I eat two. However one meal a day is meant to be the healthiest. Jo aapki power stage double ho jaati hai (Your power stage doubles).”
Citing non secular chief Sadhguru, he mentioned, “Sadhguru ko jaante ho? One meal a day khaate hain, unhone khud bataya hai—YouTube mein hai. (Are you aware Sadhguru? He eats one meal a day, he’s mentioned it himself, it’s on YouTube.)” Kapoor then claimed, “Should you eat two meals a day, technically you’re overeating.”
He went a step additional, questioning the very basis of recent meal norms: “Jo pichhle 20 saal mein sikhaya gaya hai –— teen meal khaao, cereal khaao… sab galat hai. Yeh sab meals business ko promote karne ke liye kiya gaya tha. (Every little thing we’ve been taught within the final 20 years… that we should always eat three meals a day, eat cereal… is all improper. It was promoted to profit the meals business).”
When Bharti joked about having 4 meals a day, Kapoor mentioned, “Arey major toh 10 khaata tha. Beech-beech mein saans lene ke liye rukna padta tha mujhe.” (I used to eat 10 instances a day—I needed to pause simply to breathe.)
This candid change shines mild on the rising recognition of intermittent fasting tendencies like OMAD (One Meal A Day) and the Two-Meal method. However in a rustic as socio-economically various as India, with lengthy working hours and assorted dietary wants, is this type of celebrity-endorsed life-style change really possible or advisable?
The colonial affect on Indian consuming patterns
Meals historical past professional Alok Singh of Diga Organics defined that earlier than colonial affect, Indian consuming patterns had been removed from standardised. “Meal timings had been extra intuitive, formed by local weather, agricultural work, non secular customs, and regional meals availability,” he advised indianexpress.com.
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Agrarian and pastoral communities usually ate two major meals — one after the morning’s work and one other after sundown. In areas like Rajasthan or Ladakh, heavier meals had been taken earlier within the day to match the tough local weather. Amongst tribal and nomadic teams, meals had been usually dictated by availability quite than mounted schedules.
The three-meal construction, Singh says, was institutionalised throughout colonial rule, particularly in cities and amongst these in authorities or navy employment. “The British imposed the rhythm of breakfast-lunch-dinner primarily based on Victorian norms, which was replicated in colleges, workplaces, and hospitals.”
It additionally grew to become aspirational. “Consuming three meals a day got here to symbolise modernity, order, and class, according to British beliefs,” Singh mentioned.
The forgotten knowledge of cyclical consuming
Singh additionally identified that historic Indian consuming was primarily based extra on cycles of fasting and feasting than inflexible meal timings. “Weekly fasts, seasonal detoxes, and fasting on non secular days had been frequent throughout communities. These weren’t simply non secular practices; they mirrored a cyclical understanding of digestion and well being,” he mentioned.
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He additionally famous that dishes like idli, poha, and upma existed lengthy earlier than the idea of “breakfast” was formalised. They had been merely sensible, early-morning meals— mild, simple to digest, and sometimes created from fermented or leftover grains. Their transformation into “breakfast meals” had extra to do with urbanisation, college timings, and nuclear households than any cultural shift.
Superstar routines can elevate consciousness, however they usually lack scientific context. (Supply: Freepik)
The truth verify
In the present day, as celebrities champion OMAD and intermittent fasting, some persons are experimenting with OMAD or two-meal routines –– with blended outcomes.
Journalist Madhulika Sprint started a versatile method combining OMAD, two meals, and intermittent fasting after being identified with Grade 4 fatty liver. Informed to lose 10 kg and put together for surgical procedure, she as a substitute selected to heal by life-style change. Her expertise highlighted each the transformative potential and the challenges: “You are feeling lighter, extra centered, your pores and skin improves, interval pains cut back, and your joints develop into extra versatile. You additionally get extra attuned to your physique’s alerts.” Nevertheless, she warned, “You want dietary supplements, as a result of it’s simple to cling to 1 fashion of consuming simply due to how good it makes you’re feeling.”
For Niyti Chetan Maru, 25, OMAD linked her to Jain non secular fasting (Varsitap), the place she alternated full fasts with easy meals. “In the future I might fully quick with simply boiled water, after which the next day I might have two plain Jain meals,” she mentioned, including, “I felt lighter, digestion was higher, and I craved much less. Mentally, I used to be extra relaxed, clearer-headed, and fewer reactive.” However, on some days, she additionally skilled “exhaustion, minor complications, or lagging power.”
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Deep Mitra Roy, 33, supplied a distinct perspective: “Everybody’s romanticising OMAD due to superstar podcasts. However celebs have cooks, wellness groups, and PR. Attempt doing it with a 9-to-5 job and social meals –– it doesn’t work.” He additionally confronted bodily unwanted side effects: “My fitness center stamina dropped. I received irritable. My relationship with meals grew to become obsessive. I began dreading meals as a substitute of having fun with them.”
Lubna Ifrah, 25, tried a two-meal-a-day sample after weight acquire. “It began throughout Ramadan and I stored going as a result of it labored. However convincing my dad and mom to let me skip breakfast was arduous.” Over time, she observed extra power and fewer senseless consuming. “It really works when you’ve got a naturally small urge for food and may energy by the preliminary starvation,” she mentioned.
What specialists say
Nutritionist Aditi Prabhu, founding father of NutroDynamix, mentioned fasting shouldn’t be new to Indian tradition, however wants context: “Whether or not fewer meals will work is determined by age, medical points, local weather, urge for food, and life-style. Doing it unsupervised may be dangerous.”
She famous that Indian diets are closely carbohydrate-based, with average to low protein and micronutrients. “Proscribing frequency with out balanced consumption might result in fatigue and deficiencies,” she mentioned.
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Dietician Pranjal Kumat echoed this: “Whereas it could enhance insulin sensitivity or assist weight reduction in some, it’s not sustainable for many Indians—particularly these with erratic schedules or excessive power calls for.”
Crimson flags embody fatigue, temper swings, intestine points, hormonal imbalances, and nutrient loss. “Folks might expertise muscle loss, poor focus, and irregular intervals with out correct planning,” Kumat warned.
Ought to celebrities be extra accountable?
Specialists warned in opposition to blindly following superstar well being tendencies. “Celebrities reside very totally different lives. Whereas they work arduous to keep up their look, additionally they have entry to private trainers, dietitians, and medical specialists,” mentioned Prabhu, including, “They’re not healthcare professionals, and will not realise that well being and diet have to be tailor-made to every particular person.”
Kumat echoed the priority: “Superstar routines can elevate consciousness, however they usually lack scientific context. These diets are normally carried out underneath professional supervision ,one thing most individuals don’t have, and that may result in unrealistic expectations and potential well being dangers.”
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Whereas it could enhance insulin sensitivity or assist weight reduction in some, it’s not sustainable for many Indians (Supply: Freepik)
Discovering a stability is crucial
Kapoor could also be proper in regards to the three-meal construction being traditionally current and colonial in origin. However that doesn’t imply OMAD or two-meal diets are universally higher.
The core lesson, as per each specialists and practitioners, is that this: consuming patterns needs to be versatile, private, and aligned along with your physique’s wants, life-style, well being circumstances, and cultural context. It shouldn’t be a blanket rule borrowed from influencers or historic customs.
The true lesson isn’t in regards to the variety of meals, however about reconnecting with our physique’s pure rhythms whereas being conscious of our fashionable realities. “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all relating to diet,” Prabhu mentioned.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on info from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to. At all times seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.