Sawan, or shraawan, is the fifth month according to the Hindu calendar and overlaps with the monsoon season. This period observes frequent rainfall and lush greenery all over the Indian subcontinent. This is also the month in which people do Monday fasting, devoting their prayers to the Lord Shiva. However, the significance of sawan fasting is not limited to religious beliefs. You may be amazed to learn that sawan fasting is documented in the Ayurvedic texts to have immense health benefits for digestion and overall health. Scroll down to understand how fasting during the monsoon season is good for you.
How Do Seasonal Changes in Sawan Impact Our Health?
As per Ayurveda, the environment around us and the changing seasons impact our health and well-being. In sawan or monsoon, the vata dosha (air energy) is dominant in nature at this time. This weakens our “jatharagni” or digestive fire, and slows down metabolism. Eating heavy foods during this time can lead to indigestion and the build-up of toxins in our bodies. So, as per the Ayurvedic recommendations, we should switch to lighter foods and detoxify our bodies, just as nature is cleansing pollutants from the environment through constant showers. So, it is advised to strengthen the digestive fire by fasting, just like when you put the bigger wood out of the furnace and stoke the fire with lint to rekindle the fire. Hence, Monday fasting is found to be relevant in both spiritual and health contexts.
Now, let’s explore the weight loss benefits of Monday fasting in detail.
Healthy Fasting for Body Weight Management
Fasting for weight loss is one of the most commonly chosen techniques. Fasting limits your calorie intake and boosts your metabolism. As per one review of multiple studies, keeping fast for a whole day can help people lose up to 9% of their weight. As far as Monday fasting is concerned, another study shows that having just one meal a day can help reduce bad cholesterol and manage good cholesterol levels. So, if you’re wondering, “Can we eat one time food in monday fast?”, the answer is yes!
Monday fasting can be especially effective for those trying to lose weight with metabolic conditions, such as diabetes. Multiple studies have proven that fasting can help control the sugar in the blood, which can be an amazing health benefit of fasting for diabetes. Another study shows that intermittent fasting or restricting meals during certain times of the day can help improve metabolic health and reduce the risk of developing diabetes or heart disease.
So, if you’re wondering, “What to eat in sawan monday fast?”, you can take a look at the Monday fast rules for food, in the next section.
What to Eat in Sawan Somvar Fast?
A majority of people do keep a fast on Mondays during sawan due to its religious significance. They naturally eat fruits, dried fruits, and vegetables, and avoid restricted foods, such as onions and garlic, unless you are fasting only for fitness reasons. So, here are some of the common foods that you can safely eat when doing Monday fasting:
Fruits
Fruits are quick food options to have during fasting because they are easy to eat and are rich in natural sugars and fibre. So, eating them keeps your energy levels in check and keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time, helping you control hunger pangs. You can include seasonal fruits, such as blackberries, pomegranates, plums, pears, melons, etc.
Vegetables
It is said to avoid green leafy vegetables in sawan as the leaves may be infested with germs due to the heavy rains in the seasons. However, you can eat them after cleaning and cooking them thoroughly. You can also eat tomatoes, beans, potatoes, okra, brinjal, radish, etc.
Herbal or Milk Tea
People who are tea lovers may wonder, “Can we drink tea in sawan fast?”. The answer is yes. You can brew a hot cup of milk or black tea. You can also enjoy herbal tea made of tulsi, ginger, rosemary, etc., with a slice of lemon to promote weight loss and boost metabolism.
Grains and Lentils
Grains or grain breads can be eaten on a Monday fast once a day. This is usually at the end of the day, when the fast is broken. For health purposes, you can consume breads or porridge made of wholegrains, such as ragi, barley, quinoa, wholewheat, etc. Some people often wonder and ask, “Can we eat salt in sawan fast?”. In the Monday fasting, regular table salt is avoided and replaced with rock salt or sendha namak. Moreover, avoid very heavily processed and fried foods to help your body detoxify properly during sawan/monsoon.
Final Remarks
Monday fasting during sawan is often practiced due to its significance to religion and health. It is said to avoid heavily fried and processed foods during this time as the digestive fire is weak, as per Ayurveda. Thus, healthy fasting is often recommended to boost one’s digestion and metabolism during this time.
You can eat seasonal fruits, vegetables, and grains and sip herbal teas to help detoxify your body when fasting in sawan.
