Health Benefits of Navratri: How Fasting Can Renew Your Body and Mind!

Chaitra Navratri, commencing on April 9th, heralds a nine-day period of devout worship and abstention from food in the Hindu tradition. Beyond its religious significance, this occasion prompts a profound exploration into the potential benefits of fasting for this duration. Central to this inquiry is the question: Is your body adequately prepared for such a regimen? Indeed, optimal health is imperative for fasting effectively. Thus, it becomes essential to undertake measures to prepare the body beforehand, ensuring a smooth fasting experience devoid of complications, thereby enabling the body to derive maximum benefits from the fast.

Can you reply me with Jai Maa Shailputri 💗#Navratri pic.twitter.com/6e5YyfGPHC

— Bhagavad Gita 🪷 (@Geetashloks) April 9, 2024

Fasting for nine days during Navratri offers a myriad of advantages that extend beyond the spiritual realm. Experts posit that fasting triggers the production of specific proteins within the body, facilitating the regulation of liver fatty acids and metabolism. Furthermore, fasting has been shown to mitigate the risk of various illnesses. Research underscores this claim, revealing that individuals afflicted with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease experienced tangible improvements in liver fat reduction and insulin sensitivity after adhering to a fasting regimen accompanied by daily exercise for three months. Notably, with one in four individuals in India grappling with fatty liver issues, Navratri emerges as an opportune occasion to effectively detoxify the body, promoting holistic health and well-being.

"One who fasts for 9 days during Navratri gets happiness, wealth, health and also gets to heaven after death. Saptami, Ashtami and Navami, if anyone fasts for these three days, then they get the benefit of fasting for Navratri."~ Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu#वर्षप्रतिपदा pic.twitter.com/kbYVs3keoB

— Reena Rajput (@ReenaRa94421314) April 13, 2021

Fatty liver, a prevalent medical condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, poses a significant risk of liver damage if left unaddressed. Manifesting through symptoms such as yellowing of urine, excessive fatigue, abdominal pain, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and loss of appetite, fatty liver can be attributed to a multitude of factors. Unhealthy lifestyle choices, including excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, alongside factors such as excessive medication intake and viral infections like Hepatitis-C, contribute to its onset. Additionally, high cholesterol levels, obesity, and underlying conditions such as thyroid disorders, sleep apnea, and indigestion exacerbate the risk of developing fatty liver.

To safeguard and nurture a healthy liver, adopting a proactive approach is imperative. This entails regulating blood sugar levels, striving for weight loss through a balanced and nutritious diet, and embracing a healthier lifestyle that prioritizes liver care. Reducing cholesterol intake, embracing a plant-based vegetarian diet rich in seasonal fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, forms the cornerstone of liver health maintenance.

- PTC PUNJABI