One meal a day: What happens to your body?

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The one meal a day diet, also known as OMAD, can give you health benefits, such as weight loss and disease prevention, if applied correctly. However, not everyone is suitable for this type of diet, so before implementing any diet, you should also consult a nutritionist carefully.

1. Is eating one meal a day good for health?

Most of us dread the thought of eating just one meal a day. The 1-meal-a-day diet, also known as OMAD, is in fact an extreme variant of the intermittent fasting or the Warrior Diet. However, proponents of the OMAD diet claim that they can offer many impressive health benefits, including:
Increased focus and productivity: Because the 1-meal-a-day diet does not include: lunch, so it can eliminate the sluggishness of the body when having to digest food for lunch. Weight loss: Following a once-daily diet can help you avoid absorbing as many calories as eating all three main meals of the day. This will help you lose weight effectively and quickly. Freelance Diet: When you follow the OMAD diet, you won't need to plan your meals throughout the day.

2. What happens to your body when you eat one meal a day?

Not everyone is suitable for the 1 meal a day diet. Many studies have shown that eating once a day can increase blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Especially if your one-meal diet consists of only fried foods that are highly processed or contain too many simple carbs.
Some other risks of fasting may include:
Tremors or weakness Feeling extremely hungry or binge eating Fatigue and low energy Brain fog or difficulty concentrating A meeting A small 2017 study in people with type 2 diabetes found that fasting for 18 to 20 hours a day can help better control blood sugar levels. However, the long-term OMAD regimen may not be suitable for people with diabetes. Ideally, you should consult your doctor before changing your diet.
Another study also shows that fasting can improve the body's resistance to disease by putting cells in a state of active stress. In addition, prolonged fasting, in which you only drink water, may also help reduce the incidence of diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. On the other hand, health care professionals agree that occasional fasting is safe for most healthy adults.

3. Who should not apply the one-meal-a-day diet?

To know if the 1 meal a day diet is right for you, you should discuss it carefully with a nutritionist.
In general, OMAD is not a diet that can be maintained for a long time, so people should not use them as a main weight loss diet method.
When it comes to diets, as a general rule, people should be wary of methods and trends that are hyped to easily solve a complex health problem, for example like losing weight or preventing cancer. You should thoroughly understand the benefits as well as the risks that such a diet can bring.
The OMAD diet can be extremely dangerous for children and young adults who have hypoglycemia, diabetes, obesity or metabolic rate problems. Even this diet can increase the risk of binge eating.

4. How should I apply a one-meal-a-day diet?

Actually, eating 1 meal a day is not as harmful to health as you think, but it is not suitable for everyone. You shouldn't use it as a long-term diet for weeks or months at a time.
If you want to try fasting but are confused with the OMAD diet, you may consider doing another more manageable diet, such as the 5 - 2 diet or the warrior diet .
Sometimes in busy days you can eat one meal a day. It's also a great way to challenge yourself and improve your eating habits. The key to success with OMAD, like any other diet, is to listen to your body.
In case the one meal a day diet causes serious negative health effects, you should stop and change in a more suitable direction.

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Reference source: healthline.com