Navaratri fast is observed for 8 or 9 days and food the consumed during the fast is nutritionally rich and helping your detoxify.
While the food consumed during the fast can help your body rejuvenate, wrong eating patterns followed can mess up the digestive system and devoid your body of all the nutritional benefits.
A few tips to for healthy eating patterns during Navaratri:
Start you day with warm water and a seasonal fruit. Starting your day with water will help your body detoxify and the fruit will give instant energy to your body.
Prefer eating home cooked meals. The vrat thali and combo available at the restaurants may look tempting to you but is not tempting your stomach. As he food items prepared at restaurants are fried in refined and re-used oil, low on nutrition and too high in calories.
Do not use refined for frying and cooking at home. Chose fileted or cold pressed oils or ghee in moderate quantities.
Do not consume your fried in fried form. The fast observed is to detoxify your body. The fried foods are burdening your stomach and liver with lot of fat to digest and absorb.
Do avoid desserts. The sugar is only adding to the empty calories without any nutrition and feeding the wrong bacteria in your gut. If you crave for dessert, you can opt for fruits in the form of fruit raita or fruits mixed with seeds in milk.
Consume good amount of fruits throughout the day. The natural sugar in the fruits will make sure there is constant supply of energy without letting you feel weak.
Make a juice of mixed seasonal vegetables as a morning or mid-morning meal. The raw vegetables will provide your body with all the vitamins and minerals and good digestive enzymes.
Stay hydrated throughout the day. This will help your body throw away all the toxins. And, sipping water throughout the day will keep the unnecessary hunger pangs away.
Add proteins to your diet in every meal. This will keep you high on energy, fuller for longer and meals rich in carbohydrates without proteins will add to the inches on your waist. Protein can be added in the form of protein, nuts, seeds, amaranth, curds.
If you suffer from acidity then you should take small and frequent meals, avoid fried and spicy foods and consume a small piece of jaggery after all the main meals.
Do continue with your regular exercise and routine.
Mental detoxification is also equally important and can be achieved by meditation, pranayama, workout, brisk walk in open air and most importantly staying away from screen as much as possible.
HAPPY AND HEALTHY NAVARATRI !!!
