Great Lent is approaching, which helps to cleanse the body and soul of man. During it, believers consume only lean foods. Before you start fasting, listen to the following tips.
What is forbidden during fasting
The main condition that fasting people must observe is to refuse meat products (pork, chicken, beef, fish, lamb). And you can not include the following components in your diet:
- white bread ;
- eggs;
- candy;
- dairy products (sour cream, cheeses, butter, dairy and, in fact, milk).
So, what should be the nutrition and which lean foods are best used in the diet during Lent?
Grocery list
As you know, in the post you can not use products of animal origin, but you can only lean products. On the shelves of supermarkets, markets, you can find a large assortment of such goods. Before you go shopping, take a list of lean foods with you:
- groats (oat, buckwheat, rice, bulgur, pearl barley, corn, wheat, barley);
- vegetables (beets, spinach, potatoes, asparagus, carrots, peppers, cabbage, garlic, onions);
- mushrooms (porcini, champignons, mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, chanterelles), can be consumed in any form - both fresh, dried and frozen.
- legumes (peas, asparagus and green beans, lentils, mung bean, chickpeas);
- vegetable fats (sesame oil, olive oil, linseed, sunflower, pumpkin);
- pickles (cucumbers, apples, cabbage, tomatoes);
- greens (basil, dill, mint, leek, parsley) is used in dried and fresh form or as a spice;
- dried fruits (raisins, candied fruits, dried apricots, figs, prunes);
- nuts (cashews, walnuts, forest, hazelnuts);
- fruits can be any, even exotic;
- sweets (jams, kozinaki, jam, halva, honey);
- black and green olives;
- flour products from durum wheat;
- malt and bran bread;
- drinks (green tea, fruit drinks, cocoa, compote, juices, jelly);
- soy products (milk, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream).
Here you can eat lean foods. The list is quite wide. We advise you to stick with it during the post.
Soy Lean Products
The stores still sell ready-made meat and dairy products that are made from soy. They are enriched with vitamins, Omega-3 acids, trace elements, isoflavones. These lean foods have many advantages:
1. They do not need to be stored in the refrigerator.
2. They cook fast.
3. Soy can be attributed to a complete source of protein.
4. Reduce the risk of breast tumors and cardiovascular diseases.
5. Regulate blood cholesterol.
6. Improve brain activity.
But doctors advise to be careful with these products. After all, most of the soybeans are grown using transgenic technologies. When choosing soy products, think about whether these imitators are necessary.
Lenten menu example
Before you start cooking, get food. As mentioned above, fasting products for fasting can be bought in supermarkets, in markets. So, here are a couple of menu options where components that are prohibited from posting are excluded.
For breakfast: wheat porridge cooked exclusively on water. Add finely chopped pumpkin to it. The drink is green tea.
Lunch: vegetarian borsch, light salad of fresh cabbage with finely grated carrots.
Snack: cook potato rolls with mushrooms in the oven. The drink is a compote of apples.
Dinner: stew turnip with carrots. As a dessert - cranberries, which mix with honey.
Here is another option.
Breakfast: potato pancakes, radish salad. The drink is green tea.
Lunch: broccoli puree soup, salad from celery root, apples, rutabaga.
Snack: vegetable stew. Drink - apple-cranberry mousse.
Dinner: stewed cabbage rolls with rice and carrots. Drink - tea with jam. Dessert - candied fruit.
Now you are convinced that the fasting table can be varied and, most importantly, useful. All dishes are balanced and include a sufficient amount of vitamins, proteins, trace elements.
Benefits and contraindications
For some people, dietary restrictions are extremely contraindicated. The following categories of persons are exempted from the post:
- children;
- all who have recently undergone a complex operation or a serious illness;
- aged people;
- pregnant women, nursing mothers;
- patients with diabetes;
- suffering from high blood pressure, kidney failure, serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach ulcer, gastritis;
- people who are engaged in heavy physical labor.
As for the rest, the doctors welcome the desire to fast them. After all, at least once a week, you need to arrange a fasting day.
Fasting is also beneficial for the gastrointestinal tract. When eating lean food, harmful toxins and toxins are removed from the body. The intestinal microflora is restored. The level of cholesterol and sugar decreases, excess fluid is excreted. Many people lose weight during fasting. Many dream about it. Indeed, overweight puts a strain on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Lenten menu is rich in fruits and vegetables, which saturate the body with vitamins.
Fasting mistakes
In no case should you eat once or twice a day. The body ceases to receive enough energy sources. In this regard, the functioning of the immune system may deteriorate, and the hormonal background is disturbed. Be sure to include in your diet not only carbohydrate foods, but also protein foods. Otherwise, it will lead to the accumulation of adipose tissue. Excessive consumption of raw fruits and vegetables, nuts can provoke colic, bloating and even exacerbation of bowel disease. Be sure to include the first dish in the lean menu for every day.
The main thing in fasting is not limiting oneself in food, but a complete cleansing of the soul. And do not go to extremes and make your menu only from water and bread.
Doctors do not advise entering a multi-week post without preparation. This can lead to nervous breakdowns and health problems. All this arises from a feeling of hunger. Prepare yourself best throughout the year. Arrange unloading once a week. Food should be frequent and fractional. Eat five times a day. Exclude fried. Steam, boil, simmer and bake.
After reading the article, we hope you understand that lean foods are nutritious, healthy and appetizing, and not at all tasteless.