“Jitna kam khaoge na, utna zyada power hota hai” (The much less you eat, the extra power you’ve), 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 — principal 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 degree double ho jaati hai (Your power degree doubles).”
Citing religious 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 might be overeating.”
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He went a step additional, questioning the very basis of contemporary meal norms: “Jo pichhle 20 saal mein sikhaya gaya hai –— teen meal khaao, cereal khaao… sab galat hai. Yeh sab meals trade ko promote karne ke liye kiya gaya tha. (Every thing we’ve been taught within the final 20 years… that we must always eat three meals a day, eat cereal… is all improper. It was promoted to profit the meals trade).”
When Bharti joked about having 4 meals a day, Kapoor mentioned, “Arey principal toh 10 khaata tha. Beech-beech mein saans lene ke liye rukna padta tha mujhe.” (I used to eat 10 occasions a day—I needed to pause simply to breathe.)
This candid trade shines gentle on the rising reputation of intermittent fasting developments like OMAD (One Meal A Day) and the Two-Meal strategy. However in a rustic as socio-economically numerous as India, with lengthy working hours and assorted dietary wants, is this type of celebrity-endorsed way of life change really possible or advisable?
The colonial affect on Indian consuming patterns
Meals historical past skilled 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, religious customs, and regional meals availability,” he informed indianexpress.com.
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Agrarian and pastoral communities usually ate two principal 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 typically dictated by availability slightly than fastened schedules.
The three-meal construction, Singh says, was institutionalised throughout colonial rule, particularly in cities and amongst these in authorities or army employment. “The British imposed the rhythm of breakfast-lunch-dinner based mostly on Victorian norms, which was replicated in faculties, workplaces, and hospitals.”
It additionally turned aspirational. “Consuming three meals a day got here to symbolise modernity, order, and class, in keeping with British beliefs,” Singh mentioned.
The forgotten knowledge of cyclical consuming
Singh additionally identified that historical Indian consuming was based mostly extra on cycles of fasting and feasting than inflexible meal timings. “Weekly fasts, seasonal detoxes, and fasting on non secular days had been widespread throughout communities. These weren’t simply religious 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— gentle, simple to digest, and infrequently made out of fermented or leftover grains. Their transformation into “breakfast meals” had extra to do with urbanisation, faculty timings, and nuclear households than any cultural shift.
Superstar routines can increase consciousness, however they typically lack scientific context. (Supply: Freepik)
The truth examine
At the moment, as celebrities champion OMAD and intermittent fasting, some persons are experimenting with OMAD or two-meal routines –– with combined outcomes.
Journalist Madhulika Sprint started a versatile strategy combining OMAD, two meals, and intermittent fasting after being identified with Grade 4 fatty liver. Instructed to lose 10 kg and put together for surgical procedure, she as a substitute selected to heal by means of way of life change. Her expertise highlighted each the transformative potential and the challenges: “You’re feeling lighter, extra targeted, your pores and skin improves, interval pains cut back, and your joints turn 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 at least one fashion of consuming simply due to how good it makes you are feeling.”
For Niyti Chetan Maru, 25, OMAD linked her to Jain religious fasting (Varsitap), the place she alternated full fasts with easy meals. “At some point I might utterly 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, provided a special perspective: “Everybody’s romanticising OMAD due to celeb 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 negative effects: “My fitness center stamina dropped. I bought irritable. My relationship with meals turned 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 saved going as a result of it labored. However convincing my mother and father to let me skip breakfast was arduous.” Over time, she observed extra power and fewer senseless consuming. “It really works when you have a naturally small urge for food and may energy by means of the preliminary starvation,” she mentioned.
What consultants say
Nutritionist Aditi Prabhu, founding father of NutroDynamix, mentioned fasting is just not new to Indian tradition, however wants context: “Whether or not fewer meals will work is dependent upon age, medical points, local weather, urge for food, and way of life. Doing it unsupervised could be dangerous.”
She famous that Indian diets are closely carbohydrate-based, with average to low protein and micronutrients. “Proscribing frequency with out balanced consumption could 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 embrace fatigue, temper swings, intestine points, hormonal imbalances, and nutrient loss. “Individuals could expertise muscle loss, poor focus, and irregular intervals with out correct planning,” Kumat warned.
Ought to celebrities be extra accountable?
Specialists warned towards blindly following celeb well being developments. “Celebrities reside very totally different lives. Whereas they work arduous to keep up their look, in addition they have entry to private trainers, dietitians, and medical consultants,” mentioned Prabhu, including, “They’re not healthcare professionals, and should not realise that well being and diet should be tailor-made to every particular person.”
Kumat echoed the priority: “Superstar routines can increase consciousness, however they typically lack scientific context. These diets are often carried out below skilled 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 important
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 consultants and practitioners, is that this: consuming patterns must be versatile, private, and aligned along with your physique’s wants, way of life, well being situations, and cultural context. It shouldn’t be a blanket rule borrowed from influencers or historical customs.
The true lesson isn’t in regards to the variety of meals, however about reconnecting with our physique’s pure rhythms whereas being aware of our trendy realities. “There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all in the case of diet,” Prabhu mentioned.
DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on info from the general public area and/or the consultants we spoke to. At all times seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.
