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The festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year in the month of January. Along with it’s religious significance, this festival is also known to have a variety of health benefits.
Makar Sankranti is also known as ‘Khichdi Parv’ since one of the important dishes prepared during this festival is our good old Khichdi.
While the festival of Sankranti has religious significance, the ingredients of the special meal on that day keep us healthy and fit during the cold winter months.
The main dish, Khichdi, can be prepared in a variety of ways. For example, my mother prepares it with urad daal or black lentils and rice and adds some vegetables like potatoes, peas. Alternately, some may prefer to prepare a dry, no daal version of khichdi.
As a superfood, khichdi does not only provide nutrition, but its ingredients also generate heat in our bodies and provide protection against infections and diseases.
Talking about the health benefits of khichdi, nutritionist Kavita Devgan said that it can easily be digested so our bodies don’t have to work hard to digest it. It is also hydrating and nutritious as it contains less fat, high fibre, essential vitamins and minerals.
Khichdi is an easy to prepare dish that also fulfills your body’s protein needs.
Laddus made from til or sesame seeds and gud or jaggery are also an important part of the Makar Sankranti meal. The mixture of black and white sesame seeds, flour, ramdana or amaranth and certain millets is also a great healthy snack for winters.
Kavita Devgan explains that the laddus contain powerful antioxidants and a balanced amount of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
These laddus contain a good amount of calcium and an omega-6 fatty acid called linolenic acid, which balances the good and bad cholesterol in our bodies.
Gud or jaggery is full of iron content which helps pump more oxygen in the blood and also strengthens the body’s immune system.
So this Makar Sankranti, treat your body with a healthy bowl of khichdi!
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Published: 12 Jan 2019,04:34 PM IST