Fasting During Navratri ! Know Fasting Tips, Healthy Snacks, Precautions and Health Benefits

In this post you will come to know about fasting during Navratri. We will discuss what are healthy snacks for Navratri fasting, Precautions you have to take during fasting in nine days of Navratri as well what will be the health benefits while keeping fast during Navratri. So lets direct jump to the details.

Tips for fasting during Navratri

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, coconut water, nimbu pani, buttermilk, milkshake or fresh juice.
• Choose sattvic food and avoid fried snacks.
• Plan your meals and have small portions.
• Eat healthy snacks like makhanas (foxnuts), boiled sweet potatoes, fruits and dry fruits instead of fried chips.
• Use rock salt instead of common salt for cooking.
• Use healthy cooking methods like roasting, boiling, steaming and grilling.

Precautions to take while fasting during Navratri

• All fast-related food needs to be prepared without onion or garlic.• Avoid starchy foods like potatoes.
• Avoid legumes, lentils, rice flour, cornflour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour and semolina (rava).
• Non-vegetarian food, eggs, alcohol, smoking and aerated drinks are strictly prohibited.
• Do not eat packed vrat foods and avoid eating deep-fried items to break the fast.
• Have a light meal when breaking the fast in the evening or at night and avoid heavy meals as it makes it difficult for the system to digest.

Healthy snacks to eat during Navratri Fasting

• Roasted Makhana (foxnuts) with spices and seasonings.
• Potatoes, sweet potatoes, colocasia (arbi), pumpkin, raw banana, tomatoes, coconut.
• Foods made with rajgira flour, arrowroot flour, waterchestnut flour (singhada ka atta), buckwheat, sabudana, sanwa millet, milk, curd and paneer.
• Some popular Navratri snacks include sabudana khichdi, aloo chaat made with boiled potatoes and chutneys, fruit chaat made with seasonal fruits and roasted makhana.

Health benefits of fasting during Navratri

• Improved cardiovascular function, blood composition, and blood pressure.
• Improving many risk factors pertaining to blood triglycerides, blood sugar level, LDL, and many others that are related to heart health.
• Making the inner journey towards bliss and joy easier by reducing restlessness of the mind and bringing forth awareness.
• Lowering inflammatory levels in the body which is advantageous for those who suffer from conditions such as arthritis or asthma.