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Chaitra Navratri fast is going to start from Tuesday, April 9. The nine-day fasting period is a time to detox, worship Maa Durga, spend some time in spiritual contemplation and rejuvenate the body and mind. Consisting of fast-friendly grains, hydrating vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds and millets, the Navratri diet is rich in nutrients and if eaten in moderation and cooked in a healthy manner, nourishes the body well. Excessive consumption of deep-fried foods and even sattvic foods can lead to weight gain, increased blood sugar levels and increased symptoms of chronic health problems. (Also Read | Chaitra Navratri 2024: From red to sky blue; check day-wise colors and their significance)
Furthermore, it is important to maintain a balanced diet during Navratri and include all the essential food groups such as high protein foods, complex carbs, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Not drinking enough water, adding fiber to your diet, or eating hydrating foods can lead to digestive issues ranging from constipation to bloating. There are plenty of fasting-friendly foods that can meet your daily nutritional requirements. While consumption of milk, cheese, buckwheat flour, nuts, seeds, amaranth will take care of your protein requirements, curd and buttermilk are essential for your digestive health. Fruits and vegetables are an important dietary supplement for vital antioxidants and vitamins.
Cereals like wheat and rice, non-vegetarian food, eggs, onion, garlic and other tamasic foods are prohibited during Navratri.
Here is a list of foods that should be consumed and avoided.
Foods to eat and avoid during Navratri
1. Hydrating Fruits and Vegetables: Since Chaitra Navratri falls during the warmer months, it is important to increase your intake of hydrating fruits and vegetables during this time. Fruits like oranges, grapes, watermelon, melon, cucumber, tomatoes will ensure that you have not only enough fiber in your system but also a generous dose of vitamins and minerals that can keep your immunity high as well as your energy. Can also increase the level. Day.
2. High Protein Foods: Eating high-protein foods during your fast will not only help provide sustained energy throughout the day, but will also keep you full for longer. From milk and milk-based products like cheese to buckwheat flour and amaranth, there are plenty of protein options to choose from.
3. Probiotics like buttermilk and curd: Eating foods rich in probiotics will not only help your gut health but may also boost your immune system. Apart from improving mood, it will also help in increasing your energy levels.
4. Millet: Buckwheat, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, small millet are all storehouses of essential nutrients and can help in increasing energy levels along with preventing weight gain. You can add them to your pulao, soup, porridge etc. Make sure not to consume them in fried form like puris and pakodas.
5. Potato, gourd, pumpkin: During fasting, preference should be given to light and easily digestible vegetables which will aid in detox and rejuvenation. Pumpkin and bottle gourd contain high fiber and essential nutrients and are easy on the stomach.
6. Makhana and peanut: Makhana is a great source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, while peanuts are also an important source of many vitamins and minerals like copper, niacin, folate, manganese etc. Having breakfast of makhana and peanuts will also keep your hunger satiated.
Food items to be avoided during Navratri fast
1. Onion and Garlic: They are prohibited not only for those who are fasting, but also for those who are not fasting. These are considered tamasic and should not be added to the tadka while making vegetables. During this period they should not be included in salad also.
2. Grains and Cereals: Grains and cereals like rice, wheat and pulses are not allowed during Navratri fast. These are generally replaced by legume foods like samak rice, buckwheat bread, amaranth and water chestnut flour.
3. Non-Vegetarian Food: Being tamasic food, non-vegetarian food like chicken and mutton is strictly prohibited during Navratri fasting and even by Hindus who are not fasting.
4. Processed or deep-fried foods: While people usually love to eat deep-fried foods like Kuttu ki Puri and Singhare pakoda during Navratri, they can be a burden on the digestive system, causing acidity and constipation instead of detoxifying your system. .
5. Table Salt: Being refined, table salt is not allowed during Navratri fasting and is replaced with rock salt. Some people stop eating salt altogether.
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