The Navratri festival is its full swing. This sacred is celebrated with the onset of both spring and autumn. People worship Goddess Durga and fast for around nine days. Owing to a nine day celebration, this festival is called Navratri.

Fasting is an important aspect of this festival and is being practiced since ancient times. Sacrificing food during these nine days is a symbol of showing denial towards worldly needs. All the more, it has been scientifically proven that fasting is good for health as it gives rest to the digestive system. This way one gets an opportunity to detoxify the body by flushing out harmful toxins. Therefore, fruits, a few raw vegetables and dairy products are consumed during fast. Spices are a strict no no during this period. Also, people consume rock salt, which is the purest form. So, let us take a look at what all can we eat during a Navratri fast. Take a look!

1. Buckwheat

Buckwheat flour, known as kuttu atta in Hindi, is a fiber-rich ingredient. Fiber is really good for the body as it keeps you full for a longer period of time, thus allowing less consumption of calories.  This way the body improves it digestive system, thus flushing out all body toxins. Kuttu is also rich in proteins, vitamin B-complex, phosphorus, iron, zinc magnesium and copper. Besides, the essential fatty acids present in buckwheat keep a check on diabetes, lower cholesterol levels and maintain blood pressure.

To know more about the other benefits of buckwheat flour, click here.

2. Dry fruits

Dry fruits in general are good for health owing to their fibrous content. Also, they provide instant energy on fasting days and otherwise. Be it almonds, cashew nuts, pistachio or kishmish, all can be consumed during fast. These can be eaten just like that or added to desserts like kheer, halwa or laddoos.

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3. Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables keep you hydrated during fast and also keep your body cool. You can eat vegetables like bottle gourd, pumpkin, sweet potato, cucumber, potato and tomato. Besides, all types of fruits can be consumed. Such a diet keeps your digestive system healthy and running.

4. Sabudana or sago

This is the most popular fast ingredient. You can either make wadas out of it or prepare a delicious khichri. Sabudana is basically rich in carbohydrates; therefore it keeps you full and provides energy during fast.  It also helps in aiding good digestion.

5. Herbs and spices

During fast, we are not allowed to consume salt or spices. Instead, you can consume sendha namak or rock salt. It is really good for digestion. Besides, you can substitute your red chillies with green ones. Green cardamom, cumin, peppercorns and cinnamon can also be used to add some flavor to the otherwise bland food prepared during fasting days.

Rock salt is also a great exfoliating scrub. To know more about it, click here.

6. Makhana or fox nuts

This another popular ingredient consumed during fast. Owing to the presence of antioxidants, it is good for warding off ageing signs. It is also rich in calcium and thus good for lactating mothers. Its fiber content eases constipation woes by flushing out toxins from the body.

Besides, these have less amount of saturated fats and sodium, which is in turn good for a healthy heart. Other benefits include controlling blood pressure, diabetes, and curing palpitation and insomnia. Numbness in arthritis and joint pains can also be cured by consuming fox nuts regularly

7. Dairy products

Dairy products are part and parcel of every fast delicacy. They are also considered auspicious. You can consume milk and its products like cottage cheese, curd, white butter, ghee, chach and khoya.

8. Sama Chawal or barnyard millet

Sama chawal is a replacement for rice as grains cannot be consumed during fast. It is rich in fiber vitamin B-complex, iron and magnesium. Therefore, it keeps the digestive system on track. Besides, it contains phytochemicals, which help in reducing levels of cholesterol.