Going on a fruit diet this Navratri? Things to keep in mind

Fasting for Shardiya Navratri has started today (September 26) and will end with Kanya Pujan on Navami on October 4. Many followers of Durga fast during the whole nine-day Hindu festival, while others only do so on the first two and last two days. There are no set guidelines for how to celebrate Navratri, and the ceremonies vary slightly depending on the state.

As far as Navratri fasting is concerned, those who practise it adhere to a "falahaari" diet that can include Samvat ke chawal (banyard millet), kuttu ka aata (buckwheat flour), sabudana or sago, rajgira, singhare ka aata (water chestnut flour), potatoes, sweet potatoes, bottle gourd (lauki), arbi, pumpkin The following foods are forbidden during the Navratri fast: wheat, rice, semolina, maida, corn flour, legumes, and pulses. The number of fasting days, the length of the fast throughout the day, and the kinds of foods consumed and abstained from during fasts all vary widely. Some people only drink water, some practise intermittent fasting, some eat one meal a day, and some only consume fruits and milk.

Let’s talk about the fruit diet and everything you should know about it.

A fruit diet requires that you consume at least 50% of your calories from fresh fruit, such as bananas, papayas, grapes, apples, and berries. The remaining 25% to 50% of calories are often found in whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables. However, strict fruitarians may consume up to 90% fruit and only 10% of nuts and seeds.

Citrus, cranberries, and pineapples are acidic fruits

Fruits that are sour: Sweet cherries, raspberries, and figs

Bananas, grapes, melons, and other sweet fruits

Olives, avocados, and other fatty fruits

Nuts: Almonds, pistachios, cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts

Sunflower, pumpkin, and squash seeds

The fruitarian diet has certain nutritional advantages, but it also has some very major disadvantages.

You can have a lot of fruit for comparatively few calories because fruits are frequently low-fat and high in water. In order to consume enough calories on a fruit-based diet, you would have to eat a lot of food, which would effectively encourage fullness.

Fruits are packed with nutrients, but they don't have all you need for a balanced, nutritious diet. The fruitarian way of eating is rather limited. Fruit-only or fruit-heavy diets may grow monotonous and trigger desires for other foods.