Karva Chauth, the Hindu festival where married women observe vrat or fast for their husbands’ longevity, will be observed this Saturday on October 27. Women fast from morning to night without food or water, breaking the fast only at the sight of the moon through a sieve. The husbands then feed their famished wives with the first morsel of the day. These days, even men fast alongside their wives to show their support for them.

If you plan on fasting this year for your significant other this Karwa Chauth, make sure you follow the right steps.  Here’s why.

What Happens To Your Body During a Fast?

Your body undergoes a lot of changes while you fast. When you begin the vrat, your body senses the food deprivation and your digestive system that normally produces digestive enzymes, lowers its production. Even the delicate mucous lining of the stomach is temporarily altered during the fast. Don’t Know What To Gift Your Wife? Here Are Thoughtful Karwa Chauth Gifts Ideas For Confused Husbands.

If you have fasted for the entire day, your body will undergo these biological changes. What you eat to break the fast is therefore of utmost importance. Because, overeating immediately after a fast is worse than overeating at any other time. You may end up with nausea, vomiting and stomach cramping if you are not careful. So here are the right ways to end the fast. Karwa Chauth 2018 Puja Samagri: List of Items Including Puja Thali, Karwa, Sindoor and Where to Find Them Online.

How To Start The Fast:

What To Eat After a Fast?

You will be ravenously hungry, thirsty and tired by the end of the day. But considering how sensitive your digestive system will be immediately after a fast, do not gorge on the lavish spread the moment the fast ends.

  • Ideally, at the end of the fast, the husbands offer their wives a sip of water to mark the end of the fast. That’s a good start. Drinking water is probably the mildest food you can introduce to your stomach at this point.

  • Staying hungry throughout the day may cause acidity. So beverages like tea, coffee and soda are a big no-no.

  • Immediately after you break your fast with water, move to milder foods like fruits. Berries, apples, bananas and papayas work best.

  • Alternatively, you can also have a bowl of curd or yoghurt and a glass of chaas.

  • Dried fruits like dates, prunes, raisins and apricots can give you the energy you require at the end of the fast.

  • Oily, greasy foods can be tough on the digestive system. Instead of gorging samosas and puris, try khichdi or curd rice.

  • A mild, sweet dessert can be had along with some fruit juices.

  • Once your stomach has accepted these foods without any hang-ups, move heavier foods.

Karva Chauth is a beautiful festival that celebrates conjugal love. But if you don’t fast the right way, gastric problems can ruin the experience for both the partners. So be wise and share this article with your spouse in case they are planning to observe the fast for you on Karwa Chauth this year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2018 06:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).