Shivratri Vrat: Tips For Healthy Fasting

Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 17:39 [IST]

Mahashivratri: शिवरात्रि की 4 पहर की सम्पूर्ण पूजा विधि | Shivratri Vrat and Puja Vidhi | Boldsky

Maha Shivratri is one of the most popular Hindu festivals which is celebrated with great vigour and devotion. Devotees of Lord Shiva observe whole day fast. However, Shivratri fasts are not very strict when compared to the other ones like Navratri and Karwa Chauth.

During Shivratri fasting, devotees can eat potatoes, fruits, raw vegetables like carrots, cucumber etc and fruit juices. However, some people also eat sabudana and kuttu ka atta. Phalahar is one of the methods followed by people observing vrats in Hinduism. Sabudana is one of the widely used in phalahar (fasting meal which consists of kuttu ki roti, aloo ki sabji, halwa etc). All the dishes are prepared using rock salt (sindha namak) and not the normal salt. There are also devotees who do not eat at all and simply go on a crash diet for one day. They abstain from eating fruits and phalahar and only rely on water. FIND OUT HEALTH BENEFITS OF SABUDANA

As fasting whole day can lower your energy levels and make you feel weak and hungry, here are some tips to have a healthy fasting. If you are embarking on having a fast on Shivratri, then follow this health guide to have a healthy and spiritual fasting.

Tips For A Healthy Fasting:

Eat Healthy Foods In The Night

The day before fasting, do not hog on too much food so as to avoid feeling hungry the next day. You must start eating healthy foods the day before fasting. This will help you have a healthy digestive system on the fasting day.

Avoid Spicy Foods

Eating spicy foods in the dinner before fasting can cause stomach problems like acidity, indigestion and loose motions the next day. So prefer healthy and blunt food.

Stay Hydrated

This is one of the tips to have a healthy fasting. Devotees who do not even eat on Shivratri vrat must drink lots of water. Apart from keeping you hydrated, it will also make you feel full and boost your immunity.

Eat Fresh Fruits

If you are allowed to eat fruits while fasting, then follow this health tip. Eating fruits will provide the essential nutrients and vitamins that are required by the body. Eat filling fruits like banana with a glass of milk.

Do Not Hog

People observing phalahar eat one meal at any time of the day. In that meal, do not hog on or feast yourself. overeating your plate will only lead to health problems like indigestion and weight gain.

Avoid Rich Foods

During fasting, people eat fried and rich foods. Follow a healthy cooking method to avoid unwanted weight gain.

Balance Sugar Levels

Sugar levels fall down during fasting. Down sugar levels can lower the body's energy. Have some sweets with milk if possible to fight lethargy and laziness which happens due to low sugar levels.

Watch Out What You Eat

There are many devotees who feast on fried foods like chips and pakoras prepared with rock salt during Shivratri vrat. Fried foods can lead to gas and lethargy so, watch out on what you eat.