Navratri is the time to worship Goddess Durga and celebrate fasting. Fasting is an act of sanctification that establishes a harmonious coordination between mind, body and soul. The crux of fasting is to boost up the falling immunity in this seasonal change period. Detox your body with natural superfoods and enjoy the essence of Navratra!

1. Treat with buckwheat!

It’s a pseudocereal, just like amaranth. They are the ones which are consumed same way as cereal grains, but don't grow on grasses. Buckwheat (called as ‘kuttu’) is the superfood relished and enjoyed in Navratra. It is good in fiber and loaded with minerals. It can be cooked into pooris, rotis, uttapam, dosa, dhokla etc. Among all the cereals and pseudocereals, buckwheat is the richest source of “rutin”, a heart healthy antioxidant. It’s also a low to medium glycemic index food, so can be safely consumed by Diabetics. Buckwheat’s fiber content keeps hunger pangs at bay.

2. Don’t let go sago!

There is a tuber cassava, its roots are the source of tapioca pearls. Yes, it’s true that it is only starch, but its useful too. It can be used as a gluten-free alternative for wheat. It is generally regarded as inferior to other grains, but the crux is its use in Navratra fast is an energy source, being carbohydrate rich. It provides easily assimilable sugars. Also the resistant starch in these pearls adds on to fiber in the diet, offering satiety. They have a cooling effect on the body and are easy to digest.

3. Kill it with barnyard millet!

This Uttaranchal grown wild seed is also called sanwa/sama/sanwa millet in local areas. It is a low-calorie grain as compared to others. During fasting, consumption of sama rice makes a person feel energetic and light as well. Also being low in glycemic index makes it consumable for diabetics.

4. Don’t cut the fox nut!

Locally called as makhanas, it’s a common ingredient in Indian traditional ceremonies. Lower calorie and higher fibre content makes it a healthy snack option. A serving of 30 g of this gives approximately 100 kcal and 5.16 g protein. So we can clearly view it as a healthy vegan protein option. It’s a safe option for diabetics. Makhanas also contain anti-ageing compounds (glutamine, cysteine, methionine, arginine); so it’s known to prevent anti-ageing, white hair and wrinkles.

5. No halt to rock salt!

Navratras are welcomed by a drift from common salt to rock salt i.e. sendha namak. No doubt that both salts, be it table salt or pink salt are made of sodium chloride, but rock salt has 84 other minerals and trace elements. It has more calcium, potassium and magnesium over common salt. It plays a crucial role to lower blood pressure too!

6. Treat of fruit and dry fruit!

Fruits are a source of vitamins and minerals and also antioxidants. The colourful fruits have a lot to offer, especially when it comes to building immunity in the season change of Navratra. Along with this, nuts are a calorie dense healthy snack option, providing satiety in fast.

7. Easy for gut-water chestnut!

Don’t confuse the name with nuts. It’s not a nut! It’s an aquatic tuber vegetable which is low in calorie count. It’s crispy to consume, be it raw or cooked. This is because of an antioxidant present in chestnuts called ‘ferulic acid’. They are a high-volume food i.e. containing lot of water, which keeps us full for a longer time. Navratras observe the use of this vegetable as water chestnut flour i.e. singhare ka atta. It’s also a gluten-free alternative.

8. Know the sweety-sweet potato!

Sweet potato is a trendy food these days in the Western countries. This underground tuber has a high calorie value of approximately 100 kcal/100g. But what’s an eyeopener is the carotenoid content in sweet potato as 8653 mcg/100g. This is almost double than the daily RDA of this pigment compound of 4800 mcg. It converts to Vitamin A in the body. Being rich in fiber, they also have a filling effect. They have a lower glycemic index than potatoes.

9. Hath the amaranth!

Amaranth is a pseudo cereal i.e. it shares the comparable nutrients with cereals, but is technically not the one! It has a higher protein content (4g/30g)  as well as iron (2.41 mg/30g). Also, it's loaded with antioxidants mainly phenolic acids which have anti-cancer properties. Adding to the list, its a gluten-free grain and also a must have this Navratra!

10. Grin and have pumpkin!

Pumpkin is a low-calorie fruit/vegetable that is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Its orange colour is due to the carotenoids present in it (1449 mcg/100g), which convert into Vitamin A in the body. It is basically 94% water, which makes it low in calories (only 23.18 kcal/100 g). Not only this, the pumpkin seeds are also a superfood and are a great source of vegan protein, along with vitamins and minerals.

The final word

Through the nine days of this Maa Durga season, it is important to know about different superfoods and include them too! Keep in view to include ingredients that are nutritious as well as align with the fasting rituals.

                Happy Navratri 2018!