Chaitra Navratri Fasting 2024: What to Eat and What to Avoid During Fasting?

Chaitra Navratri Fasting 2024: During Navratri Fasting, it is important to eat foods that keep you hydrated and give you good nutrition, while avoiding ones that make you feel tired. Chaitra Navratri fasting starts on April 9, Tuesday. It is a nine-day period where people detox, worship Maa Durga, take time for spiritual reflection, and refresh their bodies and minds. The Navratri diet includes fasting-friendly grains, hydrating vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, and millet. These foods are packed with nutrients and can nourish your body well, but it is important to eat them in moderation and healthily cook them.

Eating too many deep-fried foods or overindulging in even simple, pure foods can lead to weight gain, spikes in blood sugar levels, and worsening symptoms of chronic health issues. So, it’s essential to be mindful of what you eat during this fasting period and focus on foods that will keep you healthy and energized.

It is crucial to have a balanced diet during Navratri, including all the essential food groups like high-protein foods, complex carbs, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Not drinking enough water, eating fiber-rich foods, or having hydrating foods can lead to digestive issues like constipation and bloating.

Many fasting-friendly foods can meet your daily nutritional needs. Foods like milk, paneer, buckwheat flour, nuts, seeds, and amaranth can provide the protein you need. Including curd and buttermilk in your diet is important for maintaining good digestive health. Fruits and vegetables are also essential for providing antioxidants and vitamins that your body needs.

During Navratri, certain foods are restricted, such as grains like wheat and rice, non-vegetarian foods, eggs, onions, garlic, and other tamasic foods. It is important to avoid these foods during the fasting period to adhere to the Navratri traditions.

What to Eat?

1. Makhana and Peanuts: Makhana is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, while peanuts provide vitamins and minerals like copper, niacin, folate, and manganese. Snacking on these foods can help curb hunger pangs and provide essential nutrients during fasting.
2. Probiotics: Including probiotic-rich foods like buttermilk and curd in your diet can support gut health and boost your immune system. They can also improve your mood and energy levels.
3. High-Protein Foods: Eating foods rich in protein during your fast can give you sustained energy and help you feel full longer. Milk, paneer, kuttu atta, and amaranth are good sources of protein.
4. Millets: Buckwheat, barnyard millet, foxtail millet, and little millet are nutritious options that can increase your energy levels and prevent weight gain. You can add them to dishes like pulao, soup, or porridge, but avoid deep-frying them.
5. Hydrating Fruits and Vegetables: Since Chaitra Navratri happens during warmer months, it’s a good idea to eat plenty of hydrating fruits and veggies. Oranges, grapes, watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and tomatoes are great choices. They provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals to keep you energized and boost your immunity.
6. Light and Digestible Vegetables: Opt for easy-to-digest vegetables like potatoes, bottle-gourd, and pumpkin during fasting. They are high in fiber and essential nutrients and gentle on the stomach.

Foods to Avoid During Navratri Fast

1. Onion and Garlic: These ingredients are not allowed during Navratri fasting, as they are considered tamasic. They should be avoided in cooking and even in salads.
2. Non-Vegetarian Foods: Non-Vegetarian items such as chicken and mutton are strictly prohibited during Navratri fasting, adhered to by both fasting individuals and Hindus who are not fasting.
3. Grains and Cereals: Food like rice, wheat, and lentils are not permitted during Navratri fasting. Instead, people opt for alternatives like same rice, buckwheat roti, amaranth, and water chestnut flour.
4. Processed or Deep-Fried Foods: While fried foods like buckwheat puris and water chestnut pakoras are popular during Navratri, they can burden the digestive system, leading to issues like acidity and constipation instead of aiding detoxification.
5. Table Salt: Refined table salt is not allowed during Navratri fasting and is replaced by rock salt (sendha namak). Some people even choose to skip salt altogether during this time.

Also Read: Chaitra Navratri 2024: Date, Celebration, History and Significance