Experts warn against post-festive detox fads and recommend balanced meals after Navratri

Navratri feasting often leaves people feeling heavier due to heavy vrat foods like deep-fried kuttu puris and starchy sabudana, prompting many to chase harsh diet trends once the festival ends.

Expert Warning

Roshni Sanghvi, a holistic nutritionist and functional health expert at Clinic Living Plus, explains that quick fixes like Panchakarma and juicing can cause metabolic jet lag when used without supervision. Rapidly shifting between very high and very low calories disrupts the body's hormonal response, causing stubborn fat gain and making the body stop responding to diets over time. She notes that the liver constantly detoxes the body naturally and only needs support through proper food rather than extreme cleanses.

Practical Recovery Steps

Instead of starving or skipping meals, Roshni suggests making one meal a day lighter and fibre-rich, such as a smoothie or fruit for breakfast, a sprout salad for lunch, or a sweet potato chaat. She also advises keeping up daily movement like taking the stairs or going for a post-dinner walk to control blood sugar spikes without needing to hit the gym hard.

Leafy Greens and GLP-1

Leafy greens and fibre help the body produce more of its own GLP-1, the natural satiety hormone that keeps people full for longer. Roshni recommends dishes like palak khichdi, methi parathas, and sarson ka saag so that people eat at least one green-rich meal a day without constantly fighting food cravings.

Context

Festive periods in India often involve traditional diets that are high in carbohydrates and fats, leading to post-holiday weight concerns. Health professionals frequently advise steady, sustainable lifestyle habits over drastic short-term diets to maintain long-term physical well-being.