Intermittent Fasting on the Ekadashiday and the Role of Spiritual Nutrition

Intermittent fasting or a calorie restricted diet is being practised for many centuries with ancient Indian religious beliefs every fifteen days in Ekadashi day which is the eleventh day of a lunar cycle. This fasting has innumerable health benefits like providing antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. This is customarily broken the next day with a mixture of amla-raita and agathi leaf intake. Amla (Emblica officinalis) with a minimal calorific value with better digestive actions has got anti-ulcer and anti-bloating effects. The curd has probiotic qualities with lactobacillus content. Amala curd raita forms an ideal recipe in such conditions. The agathi leaves (Sesbania grandiflora) have antiulcer effect and it improves gut motility. Yet this nutrition (cooked agathi leaves) if taken daily is injurious to health and therefore recommended for two to three times a month. This exactly matches the fortnightly occurrence of Dwadashi. Thus,fasting during Ekadashi day reaps the benefit of intermittent fasting on health and breaking it the next day with an ideal combination of gut friendly foods provide adequate calories. Such foods with religious and scientific backing can be termed spiritual nutrients which brings better health to humanity.