India, July 31 -- As most part of India observes Sawan from July 30 to August 28 this year, fasting is often viewed as a spiritual detox. But replacing regular meals with deep-fried sabudana vadas, potato chips, sweets and sugary drinks can easily turn it into a calorie overload, leaving you bloated and even heavier by the end of the holy month. "It is commonly seen that people tend to gain weight during sawan fasting. This is because many people consume calorie-dense food items like fried potatoes, sabudana vadas, sweets, sugary drinks instead of regular meals and are less physically active," says nutritionist Lovely Singh, Asian Hospital, Faridabad. Fasting doesn't automatically mean eating fewer calories, explains Mumbai-based nutrition expert Neha Ranglani. "Many traditional fasting foods are rich in refined starches and fats, which can push calorie intake above normal. Sabudana, for example, is predominantly starch with very little protein or fibre, so it can spike blood sugar, increase hunger, and lead to overeating." Instead of fried fasting snacks, choose roasted makhana, steamed samak rice, grilled or lightly sauteed paneer, cucumber-tomato-peanut salad, plain yoghurt, and fruits like guava or apple. "These foods have more fibre, digest slowly, control blood sugar and keep you fuller longer than fried foods consumed during fasting," says Singh. (Inputs by Neha Ranglani)...