Make Navratri Fasting Healthy

Navratri is a nine days festival of Goddess Durga. It is celebrated all over India but more widely an important festival in states of West Bengal and Gujarat. The nine days festival changes the overall look and lifestyle of people in these states.

However, with Navratri starting today, many devotees go for nine days fasting. According to Hindu beliefs, fasting purifies the heart and soul of a person. Apart from spiritual benefits, fasting is also good for the health. It detoxifies the body, improves digestive system, controls blood sugar levels and most importantly, aids weight loss!

If you are fasting this Navratri, then here are few healthy ways to detoxify the body without getting exhausted for nine days.

Healthy ways to fast during Navratri:

Don't feast: When you are fasting, the capacity of your stomach to take excessive food lowers down. Moreover, eating too much than required can make you feel lazy and tired. So, make sure you do not feast on food but eat them in required proportions while fasting.

Right foods: When you are fasting, you get more urge to eat. This is the time when your self-control needs to show its affect on you. While fasting, you should not eat unhealthy foods like fried chips or potatoes. Fried dishes are very common Indian fasting foods. Do not stuff yourself with oily and fried foods. Sabudana khichdi is one of the most popular dishes that is made during Navratri fasting. But, this fasting dish is very low in fibre so should be avoided. Also, there are many people who go on no-salt-diet during Navratri but if you do not eat salt, you will feel weak as blood pressure goes really down. So, make sure you eat salt at least once in a day. Rock salt can be consumed while fasting during Navratri.

Fruits and raw vegetables: While fasting, you should snack fresh fruits like banana and apple as they keep you full for a longer time and controls cravings. You can have these fruits with milk or plain yogurt. Raw vegetables like cucumber and tomatoes can be included in the list of fasting foods. To stay healthy during Navratri fasting, have fruits or fruit juice every two hours to avoid acidity.

Consider your health: Many people do not have the stamina to fast for full nine days. Headache, vomiting, indigestion, improper bowel movements, bloating, weakness and acidity are common health problems people face while fasting. People who suffer from diabetes, hyper acidity or gastroenteritis should avoid fasting.

Don't starve: While fasting, many people skip meals completely and rely on water. Don't starve as your body needs vitamin and nutrient supplements. Prolonged fasting can lead to weakness, acidity, fatigue etc. So, see that you are not depriving your body from energy that is required.

These are few healthy ways to fast during Navratri. Do you have more ideas? Do share with us.