{"id":245302,"date":"2026-01-15T02:27:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T02:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/245302\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T02:27:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T02:27:25","slug":"bruce-springsteen-says-the-omad-diet-keeps-him-lean-and-mean-at-76-but-experts-caution-against-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/245302\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruce Springsteen Says the OMAD Diet Keeps Him \u2018Lean and Mean\u2019 at 76, But Experts Caution Against It"},"content":{"rendered":"

The One Meal a Day Diet (OMAD) has some A-list fans, including Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin. But is this restrictive way of eating actually beneficial for our bodies? We spoke to a dietitian to explore the risks and advantages of this approach. But first, what exactly is OMAD?<\/p>\n

What is the vegan OMAD diet?<\/p>\n

Intermittent fasting is generally popular with celebrities and refers to going extended periods of time without eating. However, approaches vary significantly. Some people choose to simply skip breakfast (prolonging the natural fast we all do when we sleep overnight), while others take it to the more extreme end of the spectrum, like with the OMAD diet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe OMAD diet, or \u2018One Meal A Day\u2019 diet, is a type of intermittent fasting where you eat all your daily calories in a single meal, typically within a one-hour window,\u201d explains Ana Reisdorf, MS, RD of The Food Trends<\/a> to VegNews.<\/p>\n

According to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, he started following the OMAD diet after having lunch with hitmaker Springsteen. Speaking on an episode of the podcast Conan O\u2019Brien Needs a Friend, he told the host, \u201cI actually don\u2019t have dinner anymore. I stop eating at 4pm, and I learned that from having lunch with Bruce Springsteen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was lucky enough to go over there to lunch the day after we played Philadelphia last year,\u201d he added. \u201cI was on a really strict diet anyway. But I was like, \u2018Bruce looks even more in shape than me.\u2019\u201d The secret, according to Martin, was eating just once a day. \u201cI was like, \u2018Well, there we go. That\u2019s my next challenge,\u2019\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

Bruce Springsteen\u2019s OMAD diet<\/p>\n

Springsteen\u2019s version of the OMAD diet isn\u2019t quite as strict as some others, but it is still extreme. He told\u00a0The Times in 2024, for example, that he does eat fruit in the morning, but after that, he won\u2019t eat again until dinnertime. \u201cThat has kept me lean and mean,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In 2021, he also told Tim McGraw in an interview for Apple Music that his key to staying in shape is exercise and \u201cdiet, diet, diet.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI don\u2019t eat too much, and I don\u2019t eat bad food, except for every once in a while when I want to have some fun for myself. I think anybody that\u2019s trying to get in shape, exercise is always important, of course, but diet is 90% of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: Intermittent Fasting Has Benefits, Especially if You Break It With These Dietitian-Approved Foods<\/a><\/p>\n

\"VegNews.veganfood.pexels\"Pexels<\/p>\n

What does fasting do to the body?<\/p>\n

Springsteen\u2019s approach to diet is not new. Fasting is actually a common practice in many religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Christianity, and Islam, and is often thought to demonstrate spiritual discipline. Over the centuries, fasting (or hunger strike) has also been used as a form of political protest (think of Mahatma Gandhi, for example, or imprisoned suffragettes).<\/p>\n

But now, as Springsteen says, this restrictive approach to diet is becoming a popular\u00a0weight loss tool. \u201cDuring fasting, insulin levels drop, and the body starts using stored energy, such as glycogen and fat, for fuel,\u201d Reisdorf explains. \u201cThis can lead to weight loss.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reisdorf adds that fasting may also possibly induce autophagy, which is when the body\u2019s cells essentially clean out any unnecessary or damaged parts. There is some research to back this up, but it\u2019s worth noting that, right now, it\u2019s in the very early stages, and most studies have not been carried out on humans.<\/p>\n

According to Medical News Today, there is also research to suggest that exercise and a naturally occurring chemical called curcumin (found in turmeric) may also induce autophagy.<\/p>\n

\"VegNews.headachhe.pexels\"Pexels<\/p>\n

Is the vegan OMAD diet safe?<\/p>\n

While there may be some benefits to fasting, Reisdorf does not recommend that people follow Springsteen\u2019s example for long periods of time. \u201cExtended fasting can have potential risks and side effects, including nutrient deficiencies and muscle loss,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Other potential side effects of fasting include low blood sugar, which can result in symptoms like dizziness, shakiness, headaches, and an increased heart rate.<\/p>\n

Healthline also notes that extreme restriction may result in irritability, low energy, and constipation. It may also increase levels of bad cholesterol<\/a> and lead to high blood pressure for some people.<\/p>\n

OMAD diets can also consist of processed foods, like French fries and chips, as there are no restrictions on ingredients, which, as Residorf noted, could lead to an increased risk of nutrient deficiencies.<\/p>\n

If you want to experiment with intermittent fasting or the OMAD diet like Springsteen, it\u2019s important to speak with your healthcare provider or a dietitian beforehand to make sure this way of eating is safe for you. But Reisdorf is clear, this is not something anybody should be doing long-term.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would not recommend anyone follow this diet for any extended period of time,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you want to fast like this one to two days a week for weight loss in the short term and you are generally healthy, I think it\u2019s probably fine. But this is not a sustainable or healthy way to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more plant-based stories like this, read:<\/p>\n

\"VegNews.CharlottePointingBio\"\/<\/p>\n

Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The One Meal a Day Diet (OMAD) has some A-list fans, including Bruce Springsteen and Chris Martin. But…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":245303,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[103,61,60,446],"class_list":{"0":"post-245302","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-ie","10":"tag-ireland","11":"tag-nutrition"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=245302"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245302\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/245303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}