Nine Gems For 9 Days Of Navratri

The festival celebrating triumph of good over evil, Navratri, is around the corner. During these nine days often more than half the times we tend to pile up our plates with excess dairy, fried snacks and sweets in the homage to Maa Durga. Instead include foods that sustain energy for a long time and are powerhouse of nutrients.

Here is a list of nine super fasting foods to include daily for nine days of Navratri...

Fruits: It would be an insult to Mother Nature if we did not consume fruit and reap the benefits of her hard work they are packed with fibre, natural sugar, minerals and vitamins.

Nuts: Not only are they ideal for fasting and keep you full for a longer time but they are also a good source of protein and fat. Munch on a handful of almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews and peanuts between meals.

Seeds: They are nature’s way of perpetuating vegetation life. Eating sunflower, fennel, pumpkin, sesame and flax seeds can have many positive effects on your body. They contain vitamins A, B, E and K, as well as the minerals, calcium, iron and zinc. The high zinc and calcium content helps prevent colon cancer and osteo porosis.

Ghee: More precious than white gold, it has amazing health benefits from lowering cholesterol to boosting vitality and prevents diseases by enhancing immunity.

Coconut: This planets best gift to us was the coconut. It is a complete food that gives us healthy fat, carbohydrate and protein. The water is the highest source of natural electrolyte preventing dehydration.

Amaranth: This ancient grain is high in calcium, protein and fibre. Today it has got fame due to it being glutton free. It has been used since centuries as a fasting food.

Spices: Ginger, mint, cumin and rock salt aid in digestion, prevent gas and joint pain.

Sweet potato: It is high in beta carotene, low in GI and keeps you full for long. It works as a wonderful
antidepressant. Sweet potatoes are easily available, inexpensive and delicious. Its orange colour which is rich in carotenoids makes it a good source of Vitamin A, B5, B6, Thiamine, Niacin and Riboflin.

Purple and orange yam: A powerful antioxidant along with being a good source of carbohydrate they are also low in GI.

Sample Day

• Start your day with coconut water and its cream.
• Add on fruits.
• Tea with a handful of nuts.
• Lunch - permissible vegetable (normally it is white bottle gourd, cucumber or amaranth roti).
• Vegetables should be cooked in cows ghee and seasoned with ginger, cumin and rock salt.
• Mint tea with handful of nuts.
• Dinner – sweet potato and yam with a mint and coriander chutney, sprinkle with a digestive mix of roasted seeds and rock salt.