John Abraham can’t have ‘baingan, bhindi sabzi’; celebrity trainer says, ‘uska pet kharaab hojayega’

Detailing his diet, Channa rued that John, 53, is so strict that his body wouldn’t be able to digest some foods it hasn’t been exposed to for so long. “He is an eggetarian. He is a vegetarian, but he only eats eggs. If I tell him to eat only four foods, he will only eat those. He won’t touch anything else. He is that strict. He doesn’t eat sugar. But I do advise him not to completely shut down foods because if by chance, he eats…he will have a cough…because he is sensitive towards that food.”

He added, “He has been on a diet for so many years. If he eats baingan or bhindi sabzi, uska pet kharaab ho jayega (his stomach will be upset) because he has not eaten them for many years. He is so strict in his diet. If something you don’t eat at all comes, the body can’t digest it because it is so used to a certain food. Which is why I tell him to have some jaggery or form of sugar, if not sugar directly, to avoid a weird reaction from the body if exposed.”

While eggplant and okra are both nutritious vegetables packed with fibre, vitamins and antioxidants and are part of a balanced diet for most people, for some individuals on long-standing training routines, certain high-fibre or mucilage-rich foods can cause bloating, gas or intestinal heaviness, said consultant dietitian Garima Goyal.

Your body may not be able to digest certain foods at all if you have stopped exposing it to them altogether (representative) (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

This does not mean the vegetables are inherently “bad”. “Instead, it reflects how one body’s digestive system interacts uniquely with certain plant compounds,” she added.

In the context of high-performance training, individuals pay close attention to what helps them feel light, agile and fully recovered. “When digestion is compromised, nutrient absorption may suffer, energy levels can dip, and overall training performance may be affected. By observing how his body reacts to specific foods, John appears to prioritise not just macronutrient balance, but also personalised tolerance and comfort,” said Goyal.

Nutritional advice cannot be one-size-fits-all. A food that causes discomfort for one person may be excellent for another. Paying attention to signals from the gut—such as bloating, heaviness or irregularity—can help tailor a diet that supports both health and training goals.

This blend of structure and self-awareness is at the heart of sustainable fitness and effective nutrition planning.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.