“Jitna kam khaoge na, utna zyada energy hota hai ” (The much less you eat, the extra power you may have), stated actor Ram Kapoor on Bharti Singh’s podcast, the place he appeared alongside Mona Singh.
The dialog turned revealing when Kapoor stated, “If you eat only one meal a day — main nahi karta hoon… (I don’t do that),” prompting Mona so as to add, “I eat one meal a day.” Kapoor continued, “I eat two. But one meal a day is supposed to be the healthiest. Jo aapki energy level double ho jaati hai (Your energy level doubles).”
Citing non secular chief Sadhguru, he stated, “Sadhguru Ko Jaante Ho? One meal a day Khaate Hain, Unhone Khud Bataya Hai—YouTube mein hai. (Do you know Sadhguru? He eats one meal a day, he’s said it himself, it’s on YouTube.)” Kapoor then claimed, “If you eat two meals a day, technically you are 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 food industry ko promote karne ke liye kiya gaya tha. (Everything we’ve been taught in the last 20 years… that we should eat three meals a day, eat cereal… is all wrong. It was promoted to benefit the food industry).”
When Bharti joked about having 4 meals a day, Kapoor stated, “Arey foremost 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 change shines gentle on the rising recognition of intermittent fasting traits like OMAD (One Meal A Day) and the Two-Meal strategy. But in a rustic as socio-economically various as India, with lengthy working hours and diversified dietary wants, is this sort of celebrity-endorsed way of life change really possible or advisable?
The colonial affect on Indian consuming patterns
Food historical past knowledgeable Alok Singh of Diga Organics defined that earlier than colonial affect, Indian consuming patterns had been removed from standardised. “Meal timings were more intuitive, shaped by climate, agricultural work, spiritual customs, and regional food availability,” he informed indianexpress.com.
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Agrarian and pastoral communities usually ate two foremost 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. Among tribal and nomadic teams, meals had been typically dictated by availability quite than fastened 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 based on Victorian norms, which was replicated in schools, offices, and hospitals.”
It additionally turned aspirational. “Eating three meals a day came to symbolise modernity, order, and sophistication, in line with British ideals,” Singh stated.
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 religious days were common across communities. These weren’t just spiritual practices; they reflected a cyclical understanding of digestion and health,” he stated.
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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 foods” had extra to do with urbanisation, college timings, and nuclear households than any cultural shift.
Celebrity routines can elevate consciousness, however they typically lack scientific context. (Source: Freepik)
The actuality verify
Today, as celebrities champion OMAD and intermittent fasting, some persons are experimenting with OMAD or two-meal routines –– with combined outcomes.
Journalist Madhulika Dash Began A versatile strategy combining OMADtwo meals, and intermittent fasting after being recognized with Grade 4 fatty liver. Told 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 feel lighter, more focused, your skin improves, period pains reduce, and your joints become more flexible. You also get more attuned to your body’s signals.” However, she warned, “You need supplements, because it’s easy to cling to one style of eating just because of how good it makes you feel.”
For Niyti Chetan Maru, 25, OMAD related her to Jain non secular fasting (Varsitap), the place she alternated full fasts with easy meals. “One day I would completely fast with just boiled water, and then the following day I would have two plain Jain meals,” she stated, including, “I felt lighter, digestion was better, and I craved less. Mentally, I was more relaxed, clearer-headed, and less reactive.” But, on some days, she additionally skilled “exhaustion, minor headaches, or lagging energy.”
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Deep Mitra Roy, 33, supplied a distinct perspective: “Everyone’s romanticising OMAD because of celebrity podcasts. But celebs have chefs, wellness teams, and PR. Try doing it with a 9-to-5 job and social meals –– it doesn’t work.” He additionally confronted bodily unwanted side effects: “My gym stamina dropped. I got irritable. My relationship with food became obsessive. I started dreading meals instead of enjoying them.”
Lubna Ifrah, 25, tried a two-meal-a-day sample after weight acquire. “It started during Ramadan and I kept going because it worked. But convincing my parents to let me skip breakfast was hard.” Over time, she observed extra power and fewer senseless consuming. “It works if you have a naturally small appetite and can power through the initial hunger,” she stated.
What consultants say
Nutritionist Aditi Prabhu, founding father of NutroDynamix, stated fasting will not be new to Indian tradition, however wants context: “Whether fewer meals will work depends on age, medical issues, climate, appetite, and lifestyle. Doing it unsupervised can be risky.”
She famous that Indian diets are closely carbohydrate-based, with average to low protein and micronutrients. “Restricting frequency without balanced intake may lead to fatigue and deficiencies,” she stated.
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Dietician Pranjal Kumat echoed this: “While it may improve insulin sensitivity or help weight loss in some, it’s not sustainable for most Indians—especially those with erratic schedules or high energy demands.”
Red flags embrace fatigue, temper swings, intestine points, hormonal imbalances, and nutrient loss. “People may experience muscle loss, poor concentration, and irregular periods without proper planning,” Kumat warned.
Should celebrities be extra accountable?
Experts warned towards blindly following movie star well being traits. “Celebrities live very different lives. While they work hard to maintain their appearance, they also have access to personal trainers, dietitians, and medical experts,” stated Prabhu, including, “They’re not healthcare professionals, and may not realise that health and nutrition need to be tailored to each individual.”
Kumat echoed the priority: “Celebrity routines can raise awareness, but they often lack scientific context. These diets are usually carried out under expert supervision ,something most people don’t have, and that can lead to unrealistic expectations and potential health risks.”
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While it might enhance insulin sensitivity or assist weight reduction in some, it’s not sustainable for many Indians (Source: Freepik)
Finding a steadiness is crucial
Kapoor could also be proper concerning the three-meal construction being traditionally current and colonial in origin. But 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 needs to be versatile, private, and aligned along with your physique’s wants, way of life, well being circumstances, and cultural context. It shouldn’t be a blanket rule borrowed from influencers or historical customs.
The actual lesson isn’t concerning the variety of meals, however about reconnecting with our physique’s pure rhythms whereas being aware of our fashionable realities. “There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to nutrition,” Prabhu stated.
DISCLAIMER: This article relies on data from the general public area and/or the consultants we spoke to. Always seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.
