Is it healthy to eat only one meal a day?

Bruce Springsteen celebrated his 75th birthday in September and is a famous singer Born in USAwho is currently on a world tour, announces to anyone who wants him that he is “at his best”. The reason for this tireless energy lies, among other things, in his special diet. It is said that the American singer is a dieterOne meal a day (OMAD), or “one meal a day” in French, which, as the name suggests, consists of eating just one meal a day. It was Coldplay frontman Chris Martin who spilled the beans on the podcast last March. Conan O’Brien needs a friend stating that he managed to maintain his slim figure by being inspired by Bruce Springsteen. The latter recently confirmed these statements in columns Times stating, however, that one should eat “a little fruit in the morning” and then only dinner to “stay slim and in shape.” Should we consider this a suitable example of food?

Weight loss and detox

To fully understand the topic, let’s remember that this diet consists of an extreme fast, during which we abstain from food for a long period of 23 hours. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer to eat in the morning, at lunchtime or in the evening, the idea is to get all the calories you need in one meal. And what do we put on the plate? Surprisingly, there are no nutritional guidelines in the articles promoting the diet – you can eat whatever you want. As for drinks, it is recommended to choose without calories: water, tea, coffee.

Among the benefits of the OMAD diet recognized by its followers, we find above the weight loss argument. “The effect is very fast,” comments professional doctor and nutritionist Claire Kalchman. In a nutshell, this diet induces a process called ketosis, which allows the body to lower blood sugar and thus burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. It also has a detox effect on the body, as fasting allows the digestive system to rest.”

Devastating effects on body and mind

On the other hand, these effects on the body are neither long-lasting nor beneficial for our health, the doctor emphasizes. “The negatives greatly outweigh the positives,” he continues. By asking the body to suddenly starve, we quickly run the risk of becoming depleted, dehydrated, sleepy and irritable. And later, when we eat normally after that, or when we have cravings, which can only happen, we will gain weight very quickly and maybe even more than before.

The consequences are also psychologically devastating. “Many compulsive eating disorders appear after this type of diet,” notes Dr. Claire Kalchman. It is extremely dangerous, especially when we know that it is increasingly affecting the younger population.”

A few alternatives

If you’re interested in trying fasting, however, there’s a less extreme alternative: intermittent fasting, which consists of not eating anything for a period of time. There are several options: fasting every day, one day a week, the “5:2 diet” (five days of a balanced diet and two days of calorie restriction), or even “overnight” fasting, meaning 16 hours without eating. But the effectiveness of this diet on weight loss, as on health in general, is not the subject of any scientific consensus, the doctor reminds. Intermittent fasting research has many limitations. “They are generally conducted on small samples of people and over a short period of time, and their results are often mixed,” the paper reported. The New York Times This November 1, Alice H. Lichtenstein, scientist and professor at Tufts University (Massachusetts) Jean Mayer Center for Research in Human Nutrition.

There is no single approach to eating, everyone has their own, trying to make it as balanced as possible.

Claire Kalchman, Occupational Therapist and Nutritionist

If you want to watch your weight and take care of your health in general, Dr. Claire Kalchman prefers to recommend a less restrictive diet, the low glycemic index diet. In fact, all foods have a glycemic index (GI), which indicates how quickly sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream after consuming said food. The higher the score, the more the food raises blood sugar levels, making us more prone to fatigue, cravings, and weight gain. Hence the importance of choosing so-called “low GI” foods (whole starches, green vegetables, oily seeds, hard cheeses). “This is a diet that is recommended for people suffering from diabetes, chronic pathologies, and it can easily be extended to all family members,” summarizes the specialist, who is releasing a recipe book dedicated to this topic this month (1).

The ideal way to maintain a peaceful relationship with your plate. Listen to yourself, the doctor finally emphasizes. “Rather than forcing yourself to fast at all costs, you need to listen to your feelings,” she continues. There is no one approach to eating, everyone has their own, trying to make it as balanced as possible.” And if you do not do this, then the accompaniment of a specialist doctor is mandatory.

(1) Claire Kalchman is the author Claire with matcha cooking low GIillustrated by Carotte et Moutards, published by Éditions Eyrolles, 160 pages, €18.90.