The very word Navratri brings to our mind joyous dance, music and fasting. Fasting during navratri has been a traditional practice which rekindles our stomach fire to get rid of toxins from the body. Erratic eating habits make our digestive system weak. This results in lower immunity. Fasting is a cleaning therapy which reboots our immune system by regenerating the immune cells. Sharad Navratri falls during September-October when there is a seasonal change which leads to decline in immunity, making our body vulnerable to infections and diseases. Hence, Sattvik food eaten during navratri is light on the digestive system.
How To Fast and Build Immunity During Navratri
The COVID pandemic changed the way we celebrate our festivals, wherein we place more emphasis on immunity. While a question may arise whether fasting is safe for the immune system or not, I’d recommend going ahead with it with the tips suggested below:
- Avoid long periods of starvation as this can lower immunity and make us susceptible to infections. Have fruits, dry fruits and nuts at regular intervals.
- As we want to ease our digestive system by fasting, choose light food and not fried food. Buckwheat, water chestnut atta, samak rice and sweet potatoes are nutritious options.
- Keep the body well hydrated during by having coconut water or nimbu pani in the morning. Butter milk is another great option. Have fruits and veggie infused water to level up the water intake. Avoid sodas and aerated drinks.
- With few options available during Navratri, choose your food wisely. Opt for cottage cheese and makhana rather than potato chips or any fried options.
- Since many people observe salt restriction during the fast, do not go overboard with sugar. Replace sugar with jaggery or honey.
- Eat at least 3-4 servings of fruits during Navratri fast as the high fiber will help you stay lean.
We hope these tips on fasting and building immunity during Navratri help you celebrate to the fullest! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more on Navratri, check out Healthy Reads or get in touch with your GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr
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We all enjoy the smell of wet mud, the cool breeze and the pleasant environment, but with these experiences, the rains also bring illnesses such as fever, cough, cold, infections, and stomach disorders, etc. The quick fix which most choose in these conditions is to visit a doctor who prescribes us an antibiotic for quick relief. While quick, medicines suppress our immunity and in most cases, we have a relapse. Well, when it comes to monsoon illnesses, we have a simple solution passed down the ages – a home remedy known as a Decoction syrup or Kadha.
With the monsoons here in full swing, most of us worry about getting sick with an infection. With the weather change, the virals in the air also start reacting. The side effects of cold, fever, viral and sore throat get rampant with drastic changes in weather. A strong immune system will help you recover quickly and mostly without the need for medication. The lower your immunity, the longer the healing process and you may have to resort to antibiotics.
Monsoons and the subsequent change in weather often result in low immunity and viral infections such as a sore throat, cold, fever, etc. which drain us. Yoga therapy has a holistic approach, works on 5 different levels i.e. Physical Body, Energy Body, Mental, Intellectual, Emotional and Spiritual level, which can help you overcome these ailments. Let’s look at how these levels help fight viral infections. 
Helps in clearing out the sinus passages, thereby clearing out blockages and allowing for more complete breathing. It invigorates the nervous system and relieves stress and tension.
Opens up the chest. It also sends fresh blood to the head, which helps open up the sinuses further. This asana also activates the thymus glands, one of the main organs of the immune system.
The Legs Up the Wall Pose is a great pose to practice to counter respiratory ailments. When you practice this asana, you might find relief from headaches or backaches that accompany a cold. Practicing this asana calms the mind and makes you strong as your body deals with the cold and helps in reducing fatigue, which usually follows common cold. This asana helps the immune cells to move through your body.
In this asana, your heart is placed higher than the head. There is a reverse pull of gravity that happens when you do that, and this aids in the proper circulation of the lymph and the blood. The mild inversion allows a free flow of white blood cells throughout the body and also helps to drain out the sinuses.
This asana opens up the chest and clears out all the passages. It is essential to try and breathe as much as you can while you are in this pose. This will help open up all the blocked areas that are causing the cold.
When you assume this asana, your chest is raised and your throat is opened up. This improves your breathing and might help alleviate a cold. During colds, one can support the upper thoracic back with a cushion, bolster, or yoga blocks, aiding optimal recovery.
