Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda has undergone a massive body transformation to portray the role of Savarkar in his upcoming movie Swatantra Veer Savarkar, especially for his scenes in the Andaman prison. He lost 18 kilograms in 28 days. But Hooda has dismissed the claim that he was just having one date and has pointed out that he used to have a handful of this fruit with milk for a limited number of days as part of the fitness regime for the movie.
It is no surprise that dates and milk are both super nutritious foods, but this diet is a mono diet (eating one food or a food group for an extended period). While it is claimed to help with weight loss, it might not be a good idea to go on this diet for over a week.
Health benefits of milk
Dr Varha Gorey, senior clinical dietitian, Apollo Hospital, Mumbai, explains that milk is a complete food. It contains lactose, which is a carbohydrate as well as whey and casein proteins. It is also a good source of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Dr Giridhar Adapa, endocrinologist, Manipal Hospitals, Vijayawada, explains that the kind of milk you consume also makes a difference. Skimmed milk has no fats but whole milk contains fats and thus more calories. Higher calories could cause weight gain. Dr Adapa says that milk does not directly help one lose weight. But if people want to watch their calories, they can consume toned milk.
Health benefits of dates
Dates, which are traditionally consumed as a fast-breaking food, is high in fibre and contain antioxidants. It is used as a replacement for white sugar because of the fructose content in it. “Dates are calorie dense, so it is a good choice if you want to fill hunger,” says Dr Gorey, adding that they have a moderate glycemic index and average sugar content.
Dr Adapa cautions that because of the high calorie content in dates, you should keep a check on the quantity you consume.
How healthy is the date-and-milk diet?
The body needs a balanced diet with adequate vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibre. Experts stress that an exclusive date-and-milk diet cannot work for long.
“Your body will basically be in starvation mode, and you are not having all the essential nutrients,” says Dr Gorey. “It [the diet] is repetitive and lacks all these nutrients that the body would require for its sustenance, maintenance and weight loss. The sugars in dates and milk – fructose and lactose – are simple sugars or carbohydrates.” Complex carbohydrates have high fibre and this will help people feel fuller for a long time.
The body also needs more fibre and protein than what we get from dates and milk. Dr Adapa explains that the protein in milk is not sufficient for the body’s protein requirements, and muscle loss is a danger for those with less protein consumption.
Weight loss depends on the calories consumed in a day. For effective weight loss, the total calorie intake should be less, says Dr Adapa. He adds that this diet might be okay temporarily for rapid weight loss and stresses the role of exercise in one’s weight-loss journey.
People with diabetes should especially be cautious because the fructose in dates can cause a spike in their sugar levels. “People with diabetes should not have more than two dry dates a day,” says Dr Adapa.
Precautions to take
According to experts, people with diabetes, pregnant women, people with hormonal issues and those on medication should abstain from this diet as hypertension, cholesterol or gut issues may occur as it is not a balanced diet. If you have hormonal issues, it is essential to consult a doctor or dietician before starting any dairy-based diet.
Takeaways
- Dates and milk are nutritious. But a diet with just dates and milk can be detrimental to one’s health if continued for more than a week.
- The body needs a balanced diet with adequate vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibre.
- The dates-and-milk diet is repetitive and might not necessarily help with weight loss.
