Blog19:Nutritious Navratri

Happy Navratri to all of you.

Hope you people are enjoying this festive season. Navratri is considered as one of the most auspicious festival and celebrated as 9 days long festival in India. However, it is celebrated in different manners across the country. During the nine days of Navratri, devotees fast while restricting themselves from intake of certain foods like alcohol, onion, garlic or non-vegetarian food. While some take part in the festivities for religious reasons, others look to give their body a much required detox and lose weight. If you plan to fast this Navratri ensure that it is done the healthy way. It can help you detoxify, cleanse your mind and will leave you feeling great! 

Tips to follow to make your fasting healthier:

1. Lemon juice can be taken with lukewarm water in the morning for much better detoxification.

2. Drink a lot of water to keep yourself away from dehydration. In addition, water can make your skin retain that glow and also help your body retain the energy.

3. Eat small meals and do not starve yourself. This will help maintain blood glucose levels and prevent you from feeling low.

4. Eat fruits such as apple, banana, oranges, pineapple, berries etc which have more nutrition values. Avoid juices and prefer whole fruits as juices are less with nutrients.

5. Combine high carbohydrates like potatoes and sabudana(sago) with other vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, bottle guard, etc. Also try to bake, saute and roast vegetables instead of deep-frying them.

6. Apples are rich in dietary fiber, flavonoids and antioxidants. It’s one fruit that you can eat at any time of the day for an energy boost.

7. Paneer is rich in protein and a good source of calcium. Try having paneer tikka for dinner instead of gorging on fried puris.

8. Raita is made of curd, considered a “complete food” as it is full of nutrients, protein and calcium.

9. Kuttu (buckwheat flour) is a brilliant combination of carbohydrates (70-75%) and protein(20-25%). Use it to make chapatti instead of gorging on puris.

10. Samak rice are extremely easy to digest and can be consumed in any kind of quantity.

11. Curb those evil sugar cravings by eating a lot of fruits raita, dates, apple kheer, samak rice kheer.

12. You can also skip sugar or sugar-free for makhana and fruit kheer because fruits work as the sweetener in this nutritious kheer.

13. Try and adopt healthy snacking and don't binge on namkeens packets as they are high in salt and fat content. A mix of cashew-nuts, pistachio, dates, almonds and raisins are a better snack choice compared to the pre-packaged upwas chivdas. Dry fruits have all the essential nutrients that you need for good health.

14. Use skimmed milk instead of full cream milk.

Fasting is energy sapping and if prolonged can lead to weakness, acidity, anaemia, headaches and fatigue. So, guard against too much fasting. Keep your energy level up to enjoy the festivities of Navratri. By observing these simple instructions on ways to fast, you can get the best out of this Navratri.

THANK YOU!!