Navratri with healthy fasting
The auspicious 9-Day Navratri Festival has started. The season for both feasting and fasting arrives with Navratri! Fasting is an ideal way to achieve a balanced weight target in Navratri. But for certain people with diabetes, it may contribute to significant health issues. If you have any signs of COVID-19, it would be advisable not to fast.
While most fast for religious purposes, many people fast to eliminate excess calories and detoxify their bodies over certain days of the year. Many who wish to fast these days must follow certain health precautions and abstain from certain food products as well.
People with diabetes should ensure that their blood glucose levels do not increase or decrease below normal levels.
Here are some healthy fasting habits to follow if you’re fasting.
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During fasting, what happens to the body?
The changes that happen during fasting in the body depend on the period of the continuous fast. Initially, the body will use stored glucose sources and then, later on, it will break down body fat to use as the next source of energy. Using your body’s fat stores as an energy source will contribute to weight loss in the long run. Losing weight can also lead to better control of blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, especially if you are overweight. However, in the long term, fasting should not be used as a means of losing weight.
Diabetic diet for Navratri
- During fasting on Navratri, diabetics can follow their normal diet. Only their cereal is replaced by alternatives such as kuttu aata or singhara aata. They are gluten-free and low in glycemic index. Foods low in glycemic index help to regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics and provide sustained energy during the day.
- Potato is also used in the fasting of Navratri. Diabetics should be careful not to eat potatoes as a vegetable. They can replace roti with potatoes and have them with curds and vegetables.
- A lot of fluids, such as vegetable soups, juices, tender coconut water, etc., give energy, drain the toxins produced during fasting, and prevents dehydration.
Follow this diet plan to stay energetic while fasting
It’s a good idea to include foods that are more slowly absorbed (that have a lower glycemic index) just before you start fasting.
- Choosing these kinds of foods will help to fill you up and maintain your blood glucose levels even more during the fast course. They can also include fruits, vegetables, and salad.
- Include only small amounts of sugar and fatty foods, such as sweets, samosas, and puris, when you break the fast. As too many will make you gain weight. While cooking, use less oil and try to grill, bake or fry dry food using a non-stick pan.
- Also, to prevent dehydration, drink plenty of sugar-free and decaffeinated beverages, such as water, diet fizzy drinks, or no-added-sugar squash. Instead of sugar, use a sweetener if you prefer sweet beverages.
Can you fast if you’re having diabetes?
First, talk to your doctor. If you have type 1 diabetes, other diabetes-related health conditions, or have had hypoglycemia, your doctor does not recommend you to do fast.
If your doctor says it’s OK to try, ask if your blood sugar needs to be tested more often or if your diabetes medicine needs to be changed before and after fasting.
Breaking the Fast
When you break your fast in the evening or at night, begin with a light meal. It is not advisable to have a heavy meal after fasting as it makes it difficult for our system not only to digest but also to reverse the positive effects and cleansing process of fasting. Consume small amounts of food that can quickly be digested.
All of Navratri’s nine days are considered to be auspicious. It is often said that when you are young and healthy your whole life can be joyful like Nav-Din Navratri.