Victoria Beckham recently revealed in an interview with the British Telegraph that she ate the same food – grilled fish and steamed vegetables – for 25 years. Similarly, Bollywood star Anushka Sharma revealed in an interview with Slurp that she follows this diet from time to time. These celebrity stories have made this diet a hot topic. To learn more, we asked the experts about the celebrity-endorsed monotrophic diet.
What is a monotrophic diet?
“A monotrophic diet, or ‘monodiet,’ is a simple way of eating where you eat only one type of food or a small selection of similar foods over a period of time to lose weight,” says Dt. Kamal Malik, Chief Dietitian, Asiatic Hospital, Faridabad. Celebrities like Beckham and Sharma often choose this diet because it’s easy to follow and cuts down on the effort of meal planning.
Diets are popular among those trying to lose weight because they focus on one meal or one food group. “One of the main benefits of a mono diet is calorie restriction, which can help with short-term weight loss,” adds Dt. Malik. It can also help people learn which foods are best for their bodies by limiting the variety.
Benefits
A monotrophic diet is easy to follow and helps you quickly reduce your calorie intake. Dt. Malik explains, “It makes meal planning easier, reduces stress about eating, and gives your gut a break to process fewer meals. It can also help identify food sensitivities or allergies that may be missed with a varied diet.”
“It also eliminates having to decide what to eat, which can reduce decision fatigue. Eating the same foods for a while can help some people figure out what works best for their digestion or energy levels,” she continues. However, there are downsides to this approach.
The risks of a “mono” diet
Dt. Malik cautions that while the mono diet can help with rapid weight loss, it is not sustainable in the long term. “Because the mono diet is calorie-restricted, it often results in nutrient deficiencies,” she says. “This lack of variety can weaken the immune system, lower energy levels and harm overall health. Most monodiets focus on just one food, like fruit or grains, which don’t provide all the vitamins and minerals your body needs.’
Repeated consumption of the same food can also affect digestion and metabolism. “This can make digestion less efficient and even cause food intolerances. Over time, the body can struggle to process these foods properly, leading to digestive problems,” adds Dt. Debyani Banerjee, Head of Dietetics at PSRI Hospital.
Clinical nutritionist Garima Goyal further explains, “A varied diet promotes a healthy gut microbiome. A mono-diet reduces the variety of nutrients needed to support diverse gut bacteria, leading to possible digestive problems and weakened immunity.”
What should be considered
A monotrophic diet can work for some people, especially under the guidance of a health care professional. However, Dt. Banerjee warns, “A diet with little variety can do more harm than good. If anyone wants to try a mono diet, it should only be done under strict supervision.”
“This diet is not suitable for everyone, especially people with conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. If you want to try a mono diet, choose foods that are rich in nutrients, such as vegetables, fruits, or whole grains. Make sure to stay hydrated and consider supplementation if necessary,” says Goyal.
For long-term health, a balanced and varied diet is still the best choice. As Dt. Malik summarizes, “The body needs a variety of nutrients to function well, which a mono-diet cannot provide over time.”
