India, Sept. 23 -- Are you observing a fast during this Navratri? While sabudana (tapioca pearls) is often considered a staple fasting food across India, it isn't as nutritionally rich as many believe. Mostly composed of simple carbohydrates, sabudana provides quick energy but few essential nutrients, making it largely "empty calories." Despite its popularity, relying on it as the main fasting food may not be the healthiest choice.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Payal Kothari, an integrative nutritionist, gut health coach, and author of The Gut, breaks down the nutritional value of sabudana and its impact on our health. She highlights how it benefits the gut, but it is mostly composed of "empty calories" and should not be used as a s...