The cooling showers of monsoons are here, and so are the array of health issues like indigestion and allergies! Food poisoning, cold, cough, flu, cholera, dysentery, jaundice and typhoid are the most common and undesirable during the rains! However, these can be sorted out by making few necessary changes in your diet!! Due to the high humidity, the body’s’ capacity to digest food, reduces. To combat these, we need to include foods that boost both, our immunity as well as our metabolism!
- EAT FRESH: Make sure you relish your favorite fruits within half an hour of cutting. Freshly squeezed fruit juices are good to consume, avoid stale or stored juices. Eat only freshly cut salads
- STREET SMART: Don’t fall prey to the yummy cold street foods like pani puri, sev puri and different chaats as you are calling for gastric trouble!! Avoid eating fried items, pre- cut fruits and juices from road side vendors and stick to high quality and hygiene.
- PROPER STORAGE AND REFRIGERATION: Ensure that the food is well covered after preparation. Preferably, refrigerate within half an hour of preparation, as humidity and warmth are most favorable for the pathogens!
- SAY “NO” TO RAW: Consumption of raw fruits and vegetables is a complete “NO-NO”. Smartly choose your vegetables avoid vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, spinach and cabbage that could have worms inside. Make sure you wash the cauliflower in hot water to remove these worms. Avoid raw coriander leaves as a dressing on your vegetables during monsoon. Better eat seasonal fruits as non- seasonal fruits get infested with worms during the monsoons. Pomegranates, lychees, apples, bananas are among the recommended
- GO GARLIC: Try adding a dash of garlic to your soups and stir fries! Garlic has the property to improve your immunity and keep you away from illnesses!!
- OILY FOODS: Due to increased humidity, your digestion is in stake! Hence, you avoid all oily foods that might leave you with a “stomach upset!”
- IMPROVED DIGESTION: Pepper, asofoetida, turmeric and coriander are excellent herbs that help in your digestion. They will surely save you from a stomach upset!
- INCREASED IMMUNITY: Vitamin C (500mg) is a must for every season and specially monsoon to prevent cold and cough
- TO FIGH COLD COUGH: Have fresh radish juice. To reduce mucous formations, add pipli and rock salt to warm water. This reduces the natural monsoon ailments.
- Always wash your fruits and veggies, thoroughly before consumption!
- Foods such as brown rice, oats, and barley are the best foods one could have in this monsoon.
- Drink lots of herbal teas, especially those with antibacterial properties. These include ginger, pepper, honey, mint and basil leaves. Excessive intake of coffee and tea dehydrates body fluids so they must be better avoided.
- Eat steamed saladsinstead of raw vegetables as they contain active bacteria and virus that cause bacterial and viral infections.
NATUROPATHY TIP FOR BETTER IMMUNITY : (200 ML) you want to make sure your juice has beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. You can increase its beta-carotene kick and sweetness by adding mango, apricot, or both. (it can be had 2/3 times a week instead of your evening snack)
Ingredients: 1 golden beetroot, 3 large carrots, 4 stalks celery, ½ cucumber, ½ thumb of ginger, 1 medium pear
Nutrition value: 161 Calories; 5g Protein; 50g Carbs; 1g Fat; 2g Fiber.
Following these guidelines helps you to stay safe and healthy during monsoons. Always binge on nutritional food and be hygienic by taking necessary precautionary measures like cleaning your house, washing hands before and after having a meal, etc. Have a safe and healthy monsoon.