Begin Your Health Journey On Navratri
Introduction
Navratri is the Hindu festival that celebrates goddess Durga and her nine manifestations. It is the festival of nine nights where good triumphs over evil, such as how Goddess Durga triumphed over the demon Mahishasura. During Navratri, people fast for the nine days to honour the Goddess Durga and her manifestations. The process of fasting and praying for nine days also helps with deepening one’s devotion and spiritual purification. The period is also a good time to begin one’s health journey and overcome unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as consuming foods that harm the vital organs of the body. In this article, discover how the festival of Navratri can also be the perfect time to begin your health journey.
Navratri as a Time of Detox
The festival of Navratri can also act as a time of detox. During the nine days, one goes through the practice of fasting, meditation, prayers, and eating only light sattvic foods. While these practices honour the nine Goddesses, they also allow for a detox of the mind and body in the following ways –
- Physical Benefits – The act of fasting offers a break to the digestive system of the body. Through the practice of following a sattvic diet, one is also helping their vital organs release toxins from the body.
- Weight Management – By eating lighter foods and increasing one’s intake of healthy foods such as fruits, the body undergoes a reduced calorie intake. This can promote natural weight loss for the body.
- Mindfulness – The process of fasting during Navratri can help decrease restlessness of the mind, while allowing the person to focus more efficiently and reach a deeper state of consciousness through daily prayers and meditation.
- Mind-Body Discipline – The ritual of fasting and daily prayers during the nine days and nights helps push one beyond the comfort zone, therefore helping build strong habits of discipline. One is able to demonstrate self-control and power over their mind and body.
Benefits of Fasting for the Body
One of the major traditions followed during Navratri is that of fasting. During the fasting, people do not consume common grains, garlic, lentils and onion. Instead, only few permitted food items are consumed, such as root vegetables, sabudana, and fruits. This practice can have many benefits for the physical body as elaborated upon below –
- Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health – Fasting can improve insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar levels and help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, weight loss is promoted due to lower calorie consumption, while risks for various heart diseases are eliminated.
- Cellular and Immune Function – The process of fasting can trigger ‘autophagy’, a process where the body cleans out damaged or dysfunctional cells, contributing to overall cellular health. Furthermore, chronic inflammation in the body can also be improved, while the immune system’s ability to defend the body against illnesses is also improved.
- Nervous System Health – Fasting can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor, in turn enhancing cognitive function and memory. Furthermore, the risk of neurodegenerative diseases is also reduced with the practice of fasting.
- Sleep Health– Fasting can help regulate the sleep cycle and also improve the production of melatonin, a hormone required for high-quality sleep.
Additional Precautionary Measures for Good Health
While following the rituals of fasting and praying during Navratri, one should take necessary measures to protect their health. Some of the measures are listed below –
- Staying Hydrated – Staying hydrated during the process of fasting is important. One should drink plenty of water, coconut water and fruit juices to ensure the body is sufficiently hydrated through the nine days.
- Eating Light Meals – Even with food restrictions, it is possible to eat light meals in frequent intervals rather than large meals in a single setting. This can help with one’s metabolic health. Furthermore, fibre and nutrients should be sufficiently included in these meals.
- Moderate Levels of Exercise – Moderate levels of exercise, such as brisk walks can help with the health of the body. However, one should avoid overexertion and avoid heavy exercises. Exercise can also help manage levels of stress and improve quality of sleep.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Navratri is an excellent time for a physical and mental detox. One can improve various physical functions of their body, such as metabolic health, cardiovascular health and nervous system health by practising fasting and prayers on a daily basis. It is a good time to overcome unhealthy habits and create healthier habits which can be included in the lifestyle beyond the festivities. However, taking precautionary measures is important to protect one’s health. Use MedCab’s pathology services to get blood tests and sample collections done at the convenience of your home. This can help in keeping track of your health parameters and ensure your physical health is moving in the right direction.
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