Foods You Must Avoid During Navratri

There are certain foods that you need to avoid if you are fasting during Navratri.

By Chandreyee Sen

Saturday, September 9, 2017, 12:53

Navratri is an auspicious occasion of the Hindus. The nine-day festival is celebrated with traditional rituals, by fasting, by sharing prasad and chanting Vedic prayers to Goddess Durga-the epitome of woman power.

In this puja, women are portrayed as powerful as men in implementing good over evil. People all over the Hindu community celebrate it as Durga Puja or Navratri based on their state and culture.

Navratri falls twice in the year, one during Chaitra (April-May) and another during Sharad (October-November).

Special pujas, the aromatic fragrance of incense sticks, morning prayers performed while wearing new clothes, everything together makes Navratri one of the most special pujas for the Hindus.

Havans are even conducted to keep evil away from home. Devotees fast during the puja and avoid heavy meals, especially non-vegetarian dishes, to keep a balance in their diet.

However, when the fragrance of mouthwatering dishes reaches the nose, it is almost impossible to resist yourself.

Below is the list of food that one must avoid during Navratri to keep it more sacred and stay active.

Avoid Fried Foods:

Cholesterol, hypertension, thyroid and blood sugar are some of the diseases which are seen affecting a majority of people either genetically or due to unhealthy food habits. Burgers, pizzas, fries food, sausages and all other processed food attract today's youngsters. These are readily available and reduce the time for cooking.

But these foods are detrimental to your health. During the nine days of Navratri, many people opt to eat fruits, sweets or home-made vegetarian food to stay healthy. Leafy green vegetables and foods containing carbohydrates are the necessities of every adult. So this Navratri, try to avoid fried samosas and pakoras and eat healthy foods like fruits, raita, milk, etc.

Avoid Too Much Of Oily Foods:

If you wish to stay healthy and active, then it's better to keep a distance from oily food, not only during festivities but all throughout the year. Oily food contains a high amount of fat that gets stored in the body and increases our weight. These fats also cause blockage in heart and disturb the blood circulation process which is the primary reason for heart attacks.

So, to keep your heart healthy and at the same time, to reduce weight, you must stay away from oily parathas and puris and opt for fresh fruits, dal, leafy green vegetables, milk, yogurt, etc. Stay healthy this Navratri and the rest of the year.

Limited Portions:

During pujas, we often tend to eat a variety of delicious items and forget the hefty amount of food that we consume. So what happens at the end of the day is that you have either a bloated stomach or suffer from indigestion and stomachache.

With friends and relatives around, it's hard to say no to ghee ladoos and butter-coated parathas, but if you ought to stay healthy, then it is important to limit your food intake. Make a chart of the calories you intake in a day so that you can enjoy a balanced diet even during Navratri.

Limit Sugar Intake:

Prasad is an integral part of any puja and saying no to prasad, which mainly contains sweets, will infuriate the gods. But we often forget that while we take the initiative to appease the gods, such high-calorie food becomes dangerous for diabetic patients.

So it is advisable to limit the sugar intake during Navratri and have food which is made of sugar substitutes and doesn't contain calories that increase the blood sugar level.

Avoid Soda:

Cold drinks or any aerated drinks should be avoided most of the time. During any festivities, cold drinks are the perfect companion for an evening get together, but these drinks have a high amount of sugar that is detrimental to your health.

Further, these have the fat content that adds to obesity and decays the teeth. The artificial sweetener is of no nutritious value. So, you can instead have fresh fruit juice this Navratri or home-made lassi to enjoy the festivities and reduce health hazards.

Navratri holds a special position in the life of the Hindus. So enjoy this festival with full energy without inviting any health hazards. Follow the above food habits and if you are already a patient of any pre-existing disease, like blood pressure or diabetes, don't forget to have your medicines on time as that is the foremost thing that will keep you fit along with a healthy diet.