In the year 2001, my elder brother got a job in MNC. Our family started searching for his potential partner. 

That time, I heard that my brother, Dada as I call him, was on a strict diet to lose some weight so that he would get a beautiful partner. (cliché, I know!)

That day for the first time, I heard the name of the “Keto” diet, in which the person would only consume protein mainly & minimizing the other food groups (such as carbs, fats). 

I got puzzled by this strange practice but I saw its instant results. He lost 10 kg weight in just 3 months & got ready for his marriage. A few months post-wedding, he discontinued the diet by saying he did not want to starve himself anymore. He quickly gained back his lost weight. 

Since then, I heard about many diet trends. Young India is becoming health conscious. But sadly, their fitness goals are tied with their body weight. 

The Era of Food Fads

Any diet which focuses on the weight loss agenda is trending. Like any fashion trend, food fads with the names like keto, LCHF (low carbs high fat), Intermittent, Paleo, Juice diets, etc with marketing emphasis on the weight-loss drama are trending!

Sometimes, people become so crazy that they are just taking unconventional & unsustainable diets to get immediate results!

But, are these diets beneficial?

Are these diets focussed on long-term fitness?

What type of diet should we follow?

To answer these questions, first, analyze 3 main diet trends in India nowadays.

I. Satvic Movement

This health-based movement is based on the principles of the Satvik &  Vegan diet. Their participants follow a plant-based diet. 

Satvik diet prohibits the use of garlic & onion. A vegan diet prohibits the use of dairy products. 

Created by Subah Jain, this movement emphasizes eating water-soluble fruits & cooking vegetables without oil. It insists on fasting from 6 pm to 11 am. 

Strategy 

1. Last meal by 6 pm
2. Include wholesome foods
3. No pulses included
4. Consume sprouts in your meals
5. PracticeYoga
6. Uses Cold packs & Enema kits
7. Sunbathing
8. Uses Coconut milk & Almond milk as milk alternatives

Diet Plan

9 am - Before Breakfast - Detox Juice- Ash Gourd Juice/Coconut Water

11 am - Breakfast - Fresh Fruits

2 pm - Lunch - Satvik Vegetable with Chapati/Brown Rice

4 pm - Mid-Meal - Fresh Ash Gourd Juice/Dried Coconut pieces/Coconut water

6 pm - Dinner - Satvic Salad / Satvic Soup

Benefits

1. Many Healing Stories from sinus, diabetics patients
2. Easy to adapt healthy replacements in cooking
3. Learn healthy & delicious Satvik desserts without sugar!
4. Have different Colorful Chapatis
5. Tasty Satvik Sabzis without oil!

Challenges

1. No scientific clarity on Enema.
2. Not a conventional diet, so difficult to follow.
3. No options given for working professionals, who work late.
4. Coconut milk, Almond milk & Peanut milk – not affordable & easily available to everyone!

 II. Ayurvedic Food Diet

It can be taken in two ways. First, having three main meals with lunch being the heaviest.

Second, a yogic way of having two heavy meals a day, one as a brunch and the other in the sunset time around 7-8 pm.  It focuses on traditional eating practices.

Strategy

1. More like intermittent fasting, but here eating window being decided by nature.
2. The eating window is between the sunset & sunrise, as digestive fire increases from the sunrise, max at noon & then decreases till sunset.
3. Over 95% of diseases come from the stomach.
4. Food eaten after the sunset is not digested properly.
5. After sunset, only milk is recommended ideally 30 mins before bedtime.
6. Banana, curd, cucumber, radish not to be consumed after sunset.
7. Meal to be prepared with local, seasonal, fresh & satvik ingredients.
8. Do not consume negative pranic foods – Onion & Garlic should not be used daily
9. Neutral pranic foods as Potato & Tomato to be used in limited quantity
10. Includes Yoga in your routine.

Diet Plan

 Benefits

1. Convenient for busy working professionals
2. Promotes treatment of diseases by the food we eat, as over 95% of disease come from the stomach 
3. Helps in losing weight
4. Physically fit & active

Challenges

1. High chances of overeating when following two meals approach.
2. Sometimes difficult & confusing to follow because of many food restrictions.

III. Eating after regular intervals  

Nutritionists advise eating after every two hours. They advise you not to start your day with tea/coffee/herbal tea. They suggest starting the day with soaked nuts (almonds or raisins) or any fresh & seasonal fruit.

Eating nutritious food in small quantities & after regular intervals. It focuses on eating homemade food, meal preparation for everyone.

Strategy

1. Day divided into small meal setups throughout the day.
2. Prefer Homemade breakfasts
3. Traditional as per your grannies’ wisdom
4. Eat without distractions (phone, TV, social media, etc)
5. Have 1-2 tbsp of ghee daily
6. Plan your workout daily for at least 20-30 mins
7. Do 5-12 sets of Suryanamaskar daily

Diet Plan

 Benefits

1. Promotes eating fresh, seasonal & local veggies & fruits.
2. Homemade laddoos (energy balls) will make budge on outside food
3. No package, processed food
4. Weight loss & fitness
5. Weekly workout plan
6. Options available for the late working professionals too.

Challenges

1. Initially difficult to decide for the quantity of the meal.
2. Not feasible for office working professionals.
3. Requires weekly planning of meals.

Final Thoughts

My focus is to achieve health & fitness goals through a sustainable nutritious diet. I prefer developing those food habits that my family and I can follow on a long-term basis. Those habits should be easy, comfortable & in tune with our taste and food choices.

 It would be of no use if we are just following a diet to lose weight quickly & gaining it back with the same speed when we stop following.

I would prefer to eat in small quantities at regular intervals. That way, I don't end up excluding particular food types (like dairy products in Satvic Movement) and also have food options after sunset (unlike in Ayurveda). 

Yes, this will include a bit of planning & hassle, ahead of the week's meal preparations! But in the end, it will be worth it.

What are your thoughts? Which diet would you prefer?