The Upvas food list consists of a variety of foods available to eat during the period of fasting to help bring the energy of mother goddess and purify the body and mind. Some of the basic foods include the following grains, spices, and vegetables.
Flour and Grains
Water chestnut flour
Buckwheat flour
Amaranth flour
Barnyard millet flour
Barnyard millet
Arrowroot flour
Spices and Herbs
Cumin and cumin powder
Black pepper powder
Rock salt
Green cardamom
Cloves
Black peppercorns
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Dry pomegranate seeds
Ginger
Green chili
Lemons
Carom seeds
Mint leaves
Curry leaves
Dry mango powder
Red chili powder
Black salt
Vegetables
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Sweet potatoes
Suran or Yam
Raw banana
Semi ripe papaya
Tomatoes
Spinach
Cucumber
Carrots
Bottle gourd
Additional Foods Allowed
Tapioca pearls
All dry fruits
All fruits and fruit juices
All milk products
Sugar
Honey
Lemon juice
Yogurt
Coconut
Melon Seeds
Peanuts
Groundnut oil
Foods to Avoid
Onion
Garlic
Lentils and legumes
Common salt
Alcohol
Non vegetarian food
Rice and rice flour
Wheat flour
All-purpose flour
Chickpea flour
Gram flour
Fasting can offer many positive and negative benefits to your health. Not being able to eat normally for just a week can improve cognitive function and reduce your risk of dementia and Alzheimers. Side effects of fasting may include difficulty sleeping, dehydration, and anxiety. Taking short periods of time to fast helps to give your digestive system a break but can restrict the consumption of essential vitamins and minerals. Additional pros and cons of fasting can be found listed in the infographic below.
