Ramya Krishnan looks fit and radiant at 56. One dietary habit followed by Baahubali star can improve sleep, reduce blood sugar and help you look young

Not for nothing is she called the Ageless Queen of South Cinema. At 56, Ramya Krishnan looks radiant and at peak fitness. The actress, who was once one of the top leading ladies in the 90s, starred in films such as Alludugaru (1990), Allari Mogudu (1992), Major Chandrakanth (1993) along with Mohan Babu, and Allari Priyudu (1993) along with Rajasekhar, etc. To the millennial and Gen Z audience, she is perhaps best known as Rajamata Sivagami Devi in the 2015 blockbuster Baahubali franchise. The actress recently went viral as her fitness secrets were revealed by a family member. Rather than relying on surgeries to remain youthful, Ramya prioritised ageing gracefully and relied on a sound lifestyle to keep fit.

A Look At The Secret To Her Fitness

Rather than attributing her youthful looks to a single factor, her reported fitness habits highlight the importance of maintaining a consistent routine. Regular physical activity, balanced meals and attention to overall health can contribute to strength, energy and well-being as people grow older.

In an Instagram video, her relative, Dr Guganath Sivakadaksham, a cardiologist revealed, while she had always been a yoga and cardio enthusiast, she also took up weight training, incorporating it in her exercise regimen. “Lean muscle after 50 years is worth more than gold. Maami (Ramya Krishnan) introduced me to the world of intermittent fasting through Dr Mindy Pelz, and it transformed my life. She’s always been a yoga and cardio person. Now she has embraced the benefits of weight training after my insistence…” he wrote on the post.


According to a Times of India report, physical activity is just one part of Ramya's reported wellness approach. The actress practises intermittent fasting and follows a protein-rich diet.

How Intermittent Fasting Can Help You Look Younger

An article from Otis Skincare explains that intermittent fasting is not a typical diet but rather a pattern of eating that involves alternating between times of eating and times of fasting. It may include restricting daily food intake to an eight-hour period and fasting for the other 16 hours or abstaining from food for a full 24 hours once weekly.

Author James Clear, recognised for his book Atomic Habits, is said to have noticed improvements in his fitness after practising intermittent fasting for a year. The report states that he built muscle, decreased his body fat by 3%, and enhanced his explosive strength, all while dedicating less time to the gym.

The Impact of Fasting on Fat Loss

The Otis Skincare article details how the body’s capacity to convert stored fat into energy varies based on the duration since the previous meal. After eating, the body transitions through various metabolic stages, which include the fed, post-absorptive, and fasted states. In the fed state, typically lasting about three to five hours after eating starts, the body processes food and takes in nutrients. Insulin levels increase during this time, assisting in the regulation of blood sugar and diminishing the direct use of stored fat for energy.

About eight to twelve hours after consuming food, the body reaches the post-absorptive phase, during which digestion and nutrient absorption from the recent meal have mostly decreased. With ongoing fasting, the body more heavily relies on its stored energy supplies.

Possible Health Advantages of Intermittent Fasting

Aside from weight control, the article links fasting to various possible health advantages, such as enhanced sleep, decreased inflammation, improved immune response, and greater insulin sensitivity. Caloric limitation and intermittent fasting have also been explored in studies investigating lifespan and risk of illness in communities linked to Blue Zones, areas recognised for their high numbers of centenarians.

Grasping Autophagy and Skin Wellness

One biochemical process mentioned regarding fasting is autophagy, the cellular recycling system of the body.

The Otis Skincare article states that this process aids cells in dismantling and eliminating damaged parts, enabling the recycling of beneficial materials. When autophagy activates, lifeless, damaged cells are substituted with younger, healthier cells. As a result, your skin appears more youthful and radiant.

Not just Ramya Krishnan, but also superstar Trisha Krishnan, who has enjoyed one of the longest careers as a leading actress across South India – since 2002 – and is considered one of the most beautiful actresses on the silver screen, have also opened up on how intermittent fasting helps her to keep in shape and look radiant.

In a 2021 interview with IANS, Trisha said, 'My daily diet includes a fruit bowl and vegetables. I also believe in intermittent fasting. I occasionally enjoy a cheat meal but also make sure to compensate every time. A good, clean, healthy, moderate, balanced diet is my mantra.”

Just like Ramya, Trisha also believes in the power of cardio and yoga. She said yoga, cardio and functional fitness help her keep her mind free from stress from hectic shoots and also keep her fit.