Navratri fast 2020: Things to do and avoid during Navratri fast

With the onset of spring, we have Chaitra Navratri, an auspicious 9-day long festival celebrated by Hindus all around the world. Paying homage to Goddess Durga, many worshippers fast and keep away from certain food items in their diet. This year the Chaitra Navratri will start from 25 March and end on 2 April.
While fasting is a very traditional and customary ritual, there is no denying that if you do it correctly, fasting can be therapeutic for the body. It can act as a form of detox and keep you healthy as well.
So, if you are going to observe a fast this year, here are some dietary precautions you must follow.

Hydration is important
Whether you are fasting or not, you mustn’t ignore your water intake. Hydration is vital for proper body functioning. When you fast, there are a lot of restrictions on what you can eat and drink. So, stocking up on refreshing and hydrating drinks like coconut water, milk or fruit juices can help you stay replenished through the day. Plus, with the risk of catching infections as it is, staying hydrated is a must. Avoid drinking too much tea or coffee.

Avoid overeating
Fasting also means feasting on delicacies. Plus, you may go overboard to ensure that we stay full but this will only lead to digestion and other stomach ailments. As with any kind of diet, here also, moderation matters. Remember, if you don’t watch what you eat, you contradict the very purpose of fasting.

Avoid sugar
Stay away from refined sugar and avoid it as much as you can. Sugar is quite unhealthy and processed. Opt for natural sugar products like sugarcane, jaggery which are quite healthy for you.

Choose healthy snacks
Because you are fasting, you tend to get hungry at odd times. When you crave for something fried, go for healthy snacking options like makhana (foxnuts), sweet potato fries, nuts and fruits! They are also very nutritious and low on calories.

Eat fibre-rich food
Because you tend to eat lesser food than usual, or at unusual intervals, eating fibre rich food can help you keep fuller for longer as they take longer to digest and break down.

Good fibre content can be found in veggies like pumpkin, colocasia root (arbi), bananas and even potatoes, which are all fast-friendly food.

Stay away from processed food
With the variety available in the market, we tend to binge on market bought sweets, namkeens which are not healthy and made out of sub-standard, refined oil. Similarly, greasy food which can make you feel bloated should be avoided. This is not how you should be fasting in Navratras!

Sleep well
During any fasting season, the body is undergoing detox and it needs plenty of rest. Hence, make sure you sleep for 7-8 hours every day. Try to relax and go for some mindful meditative exercise to completely detoxify your body. You should also ensure that you do not exert yourself and put too much pressure on your body during these 9 days.

Tip

Celebrations and fasting together can drain out your body. Do not stay hungry for long and keep munching something from where your body can get energy.

Similarly, you must not ignore your health at this point of time. To ward off infections, your body needs immunity rich, anti-viral foods in abundance. Hence, you should be making healthy choices with your diet.

We wish you a happy and pious Navratri!

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