Chaitra Navratri 2023: Fasting rules for beginners

Chaitra Navratri has begun, and this year it began on March 22 and will conclude on March 30, 2023. These 9 days of festivity are very auspicious, and people celebrate them with much pomp and show. It also marks the change of season, and hence, people fast during these 9 days and eat sattvik food to prepare body to deal with the summer months. If you are someone, who is observing Navratri fasts for the first time, then read this piece of information, as it will help you know how to take care of your food habits and your body during these nine days. (Image: istock)

Don’t go with the flow or trend and just start fasting. Understand your body, take things slow, and also adjust to the changes that you are putting it through. It is not recommended to avoid sugar and salt, and to avoid stringent forms of fasting such as 'nirjala vrat,' in which people do not drink water during a specific fasting window.Make sure that your fasting diet includes all sorts of vitamins and minerals so that you don’t fall sick. (Image: istock)

The summer months are approaching, and if your job or duty involves a lot of outdoor activities, make sure to keep yourself hydrated. Apart from drinking water, start adding fresh juices, coconut water, nimbu pani, and other liquid diet options to your fasting diet. (Image: istock)

From potato chips to tikki, the market is loaded with many unhealthy fried fast foods. Try not to include them in your diet and instead invest in green leafy vegetables, millets, buckwheat flour and superfoods like makhana. Dry fruits and nuts are also a healthy option and will keep you full for a longer time. Also, avoid sweets and desserts, and instead choose dishes with a lower sugar content. (Image: istock)

Don’t do overeating and undereating too. While the fried fasting foods might tempt your taste buds, understand that fasting is a way of detoxifying, so mind what you eat and in what portion. Also, don’t skip meals in the name of fasting. To avoid dehydration, eat 4-5 small healthy meals throughout the day and limit your caffeine intake. (Image: istock)

The first few days of fasting could be tiring, and you might feel drained. Hence, sleep on time and have 7-8 hours of deep sleep. Slowly, as the body gets used to the fasting diet, start investing time in some basic exercises to stay active and healthy. (Image: istock)

It is suggested that kids, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and elderly people who are on heavy medication should avoid fasting and consume a balanced diet to live a healthy life. (Image: istock)