Navratra Detox Tips by Dt. Pallavi Jassal
Healthy Navratra Diet .. Certainly can help you to lose weight and detoxify your body and soul….!
With 15 years of my experience in dietetics and nutrition, I strongly believe that diet pattern followed during Navratras is very effective and can make you lose weight faster. And yes,’Fasting does not mean “Say No to Food”. So start fasting and consider the following diet tips to lose your excessive weight and attain the divine grace of your worshiped God.
It becomes more important if you’re fasting, to take care of the nutrients and fluid intakes to gain energy, feel energetic and stay healthy. These simple healthy foods will not only go with your fasting rituals but also help to keep you to lose weight and help you to enjoy the festival to the fullest.
Go ‘Sattvic’
The Sattvic diet means very simple, pure and light meal that helps you to achieve the purity of body and mind. Sattvic diet is very effective in losing weight too. Sattvic diet mainly comprises of fruits, milk and veggies. It helps in both cleansing and detoxifying the body. So, sticking to Sattvic diet is a great idea! Follow Sattvic diet at least during Navratri and see the positive effects on your body. Fruits such as bananas, apples, oranges and guavas as they will keep your energy levels and morale high during fast. Have dairy products such as Milk, Paneer (Cottage Cheese), Curd and Lassi (Butter Milk) in order to fulfill your protein needs. Consuming nuts like almonds, peanuts, walnuts and figs (Anjeer) is also a great idea.
Relish different flours, cereals and legumes and reap health benefits:
1. Kuttu Atta or buckwheat flour is power packed with high fiber that helps to detoxify body and helps to keep hunger pangs at bay thus making us crave less while fasting. It is also rich in Proteins, B-Complex Vitamins and minerals like Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Manganese.
Buckwheat reduces the risk of diabetes by lowering glucose, optimizes blood pressure, cholesterol and reduce hemorrhage caused by high blood pressure.
2. Sabudana is an excellent source of carbohydrates which boosts the much-needed energy during fasts.and gives a soothing effect to the body and is easy to digest.It is low in fat and low in protein, it can be used with other ingredients, such as milk and dals, for making kheer, payasam, gruel or vegetables and peanuts for making sabu dana khichdi.
3. Samak/Sama Chawal can be a perfect replacement for rice as it tastes almost similar to broken brown rice when cooked, so it is also called sanwa rice. It provides energy, contains a high amount of fiber, B-complex vitamins and important minerals like Iron and Magnesium. It is also said to be rich in phytochemicals which help in lowering cholesterol.
4. Makhana is a very popular food during the fasting, as it is packed with antioxidants and acts as an anti-ageing food by preventing white hair, wrinkles and premature ageing. It is very rich in fiber so helps you to avoid constipation, helps the body to flush out the waste and excess water and prevents the accumulation of toxins. These nuts are high in magnesium and potassium which help in controlling high blood pressure but low in saturated fats as well as. It helps in relieving arthritis-numbness and joint pains. Makhana is too good to quench thirst during fast.
5. Pulses are excellent source of protein and fiber, as well as forms significant source of vitamins and minerals.
Let’s go nuts these Navratras
Dry fruits are store house to gain energy with very little quantity. Almonds, pistachio, cashew nuts and kishmish are eaten during fasts. These dry fruits are most used to flavour desserts like halwas or payasams, preparing various dishes for Navratri.
Pump up nutrients and taste with fruits and vegetables.
A bowl of fresh fruits and boiled vegetables provides you with fullness and satiety and supports your fasting regime.Vegetables like bottle gourd, potato, pumpkin, colocasia, yam, sweet potato, cucumber, tomato, carrot, raw papaya and spinach are vegetables which help to keep up energy during Navratri.
Say yes to low fat dairy products
Dairy products are considered undoubtedly holy during Navratra fasts. But if aiming for weight-loss, you can definitely consume natural products such as skimmed milk, curd, paneer, butter milk.
Spice up your fast
Sendha namak (rock salt) is consumed during Navratras, being low in Sodium, it helps to reduce water retention and blood pressure . Other flavours like that of tamarind, cumin seeds, green cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, nutmeg, cinnamon and green chilli can add flavour to your food.Also lemon, coriander leaves, curry leaves, ginger etc can also be consumed during Navratras/fasting season.
