The monsoon not only dampens your immunity but along with it also exposes you to many diseases. Monsoon is the time when diseases of the digestive system are rampant. The cool monsoon climate tempts you to binge on those bhajiyas and sweets. But give in to that hearty appetite with a bit of caution.
The monsoons reduce our immunity making us susceptible to many diseases which are commonly associated with this season (Malaria, Jaundice and gastrointestinal infections like typhoid, cholera and viral infections like cold and cough). While we do take the regular precautions, here are a few tips that will help you to eat well, increase your power of digestion and strengthen the digestive system during the rains.
ü Drink boiled water.
ü Avoid street foods or foods made in bulk.
ü Do not over eat or eat when not hungry as the digestion is weak during the monsoons and will invite indigestion and the accompanied illnesses.
ü Eat moderate quantities of food as our digestive power is a bit low during this season.
ü Drink warm beverages like a ginger and mint tea or clear soups.
ü Include foods like tamarind, tomato, kokum, lime or fresh buttermilk in your diet.
ü Mong dal is the easiest to digest of all the dals. A hot moong dal soup would do wonders for a vegetarian.
ü Cereals like rice, millets and corn or oats are also easy to digest.
ü Pepper, methi (fenugreek seeds), garlic, ginger, dry ginger powder (soonth), jeera, basil leaves (tulsi leaves), tamarind (haldi), asafetida (hing) added to foods help increase the digestion and thus immunity.
ü Seasonal vegetables like gourd vegetables (doodhi, karela, padwal), ladyfinger (bhindi), suran (elephant’s foot) and brinjal (baingan) are good in this season.
ü Pomegranates, chickoos, bananas are best utilized in this season.
ü Non vegetarian foods should be taken in moderate amounts and in the form of light stews or soups and not rich gravies.
ü Eating a few dates, raisins, almonds, cashew nuts and peanuts will help improve iron intake apart from other vital nutrients.
ü Eat foods as fresh as possible. In case eating or storing leftover foods try to be careful to see that the foods are cooked well and heat it well when removed from the refrigerator.
ü Have plenty of water even if you are not thirsty. Dehydration is possible even during the monsoons.
Other tips:
Ø Have a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of honey early in the morning to help flush out the system of toxins.
Ø Have a teaspoon of honey and fresh ginger juice/ dry ginger powder twice a day.
Ø Amla and citrus fruits will help improve immunity.
Ø Avoid aerated/ alcoholic/ caffeinated drinks. Drinking herbal tea is a better option.
Ø Avoid very greasy and spicy foods.
Ø Avoid foods that are not cooked especially outside foods like raw salads or chutneys.
Ø Avoid highly salted foods.
Ø Food poisoning from E- coli, salmonella or other contaminants are common in this season. Eat only well-cooked and hot food. Throw out food, which has a strange odour or mould.
Ø Avoid sea foods and half cooked/ raw eggs in this season.
Ø Keep yourself warm as the low temperatures help the infectious organisms to thrive.
So, keep your body resistant against diseases by boosting your immunity and taking precautions against the diseases common during this season.
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