Unravelling Malaika Arora, Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez and Alia Bhatt's food fads

Malaika Arora. Pics/Instagram

Black water

Who follows it: Malaika Arora, Badshah, Urvashi Rautela, Virat Kohli

‘It's a fad' is the consensus! While Karle is quick to add that for individuals with an acidic constituency, black or alkaline water can be beneficial, "because you don't want the body to be acidic," she highlights that regular water "is all you need".

Munmun Ganeriwal is Rakul Preet Singh's nutritionist; Radhika Karle (left) caters to Sonam K Ahuja

Ganeriwal doesn't find merit in claims that the stomach needs to be neutralised by such measures. "Our bodies need acids. Our stomach naturally produces acids for digestion, and our body is not foolish. You need acids to digest proteins. It also sterilises the food. By constantly consuming alkaline foods, we are neutralising a natural mechanism of the body. This can lead to sibo [small intestinal bacterial overgrowth] because the food starts fermenting."

Ganeriwal adds that "marketing gimmicks" such as these sway people away from making small and beneficial lifestyle changes to their routine, and encourages them to take "short-cuts" instead.

Touted to be a healthier alternative to regular water, black water, its sellers claim, has over 70 minerals, and improves digestion, aids in metabolism, lowers acidity and boosts immunity. They also claim that it has anti-ageing benefits.

Chia/Sunflower/pumpkin seeds

Who follows it: Jacqueline Fernandez, Milind Soman

Fernandez with a post of her breakfast comprising chia seeds

Both Ganeriwal and Karle state that while chia seeds have gained attention, Indians will benefit from consuming indigenous varieties like sabja (basil) seeds instead. "Unlike chia seeds, sabja keeps the body cool, and the stomach flat. We are better off sticking to the food that is local," says Ganeriwal, adding that Indian preparations also facilitate better utilisation of its nutrients.

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"The way we incorporate native seeds into our diet is also traditional. We put sabja seeds in dahi or laddoos. Our preparations don't get publicity because they are not Instagramable. But they are a good source of protein, fibre, and antioxidants," she says, adding that she adds the seeds to Rakul Preet Singh's diet when the actor shoots in hot weather conditions. "On other occasions, she will consume halim seeds."

Karle adds that other seeds like sunflower seeds "are good a source of fat, and help in absorption of fat soluble vitamins". Halid or watercress seeds, she says, are a good source of iron and electrolytes.

Vegan/Vegetarian diets

Who follows it: John Abraham, Sonam K Ahuja, Alia Bhatt

Karle suggests that the focus on vegan diets stems from knowledge that dairy products are no longer organic. "The dairy available today has so many hormones, and has undergone a lot of genetic modification. It is hence getting [negative] publicity, and for the right reason. But, we have places in India where milk that has not been modified, is available. Cow's milk has protein and simple sugar. If, like the actors of Bollywood, you too have a fitness routine that is intense, your body requires such proteins and sugars. However, the concept of veganism arises due to the lack of natural or organic sources of food," she adds.

No-carb diets, like Keto

Who follows it: Arshad Warsi, Tanmay Bhat

Ganeriwal isn't in favour of the "healthy" iterations that carbohydrate-rich foods have been getting. "People talk about high-protein pizzas, and what not. What is the problem in eating a normal pizza, once in a while?" she asks, asserting that she would never promote the notion of a no-carb diet.

"Even when I worked with Taapsee Pannu for Rashmi Rocket, I never put her on a high-protein and low-carb diet. Carbohydrates are foods for the microbes in our body. If they are left without food, they will search for other sources and eat away at our own bodies. That can lead to complications. There is no scientific reason to skip carbohydrates," she says, quick to add that she promotes the consumption of millets, and legumes, and not refined carbohydrates.

Gluten-free diet

Who follows it: Katrina Kaif, Shamita Shetty

Ganeriwal says a gluten-free diet would be beneficial only if taken to for a short term. "People cut down wheat and search for gluten-free cakes and breads. But these gluten-free counterparts have more ultra-processed ingredients than [a food item] containing gluten. In the absence of gluten, other binding materials, like potato starch and other modified starches, need to be added to the foods. They do more harm than good. People assume that if they spend more money on [expensive gluten-free products], they are working towards improving their health. But that's not the case." She adds that it is due to the absence of other carbohydrate sources like jowar and bajra in international markets that the concept of a gluten-free diet gained prominence there. "But, in India, they are available. Both of them are naturally gluten-free. We should consume millets."

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