Finally, the monsoon showers hit the city after experiencing the scorching summer heat. However, these pleasing moments might be spoiled by non-desirable health conditions like cough, cold, diarrhoea or flu. We are not unaware of the fact that in the rainy season our body is more susceptible to health issues. Most likely this might be because monsoon reduces the immunity power of our body.
The humidity in the atmosphere is usually high in this season; as a result, the body’s digestive capability goes down. The important point to keep in mind is that you must avoid oily food, street food or any type of food that is prepared in bulk else there is a possibility that it upsets your stomach.
If you are already following a healthy eating style, make some modifications to your standard diet by including foods that are light on your digestive system, at the same time prep up your metabolic rates.
Always keep in mind that you should never eat if you are not feeling hungry, this is a solid cardinal mantra in monsoons or in any season. Overeating results in indigestion problems and illness. So, here are some specific guidelines regarding what to eat and what not to eat during rainy season.
Foods to include in your diet during Monsoon
If your immune system is weak your body is easily prone to diseases instantly. To maintain a healthy diet and protect you from ill causes during the rainy season these countermeasures have to be taken.
- Eat fruits as they help you restore energy. Apples, mangoes, pomegranates, and pears are best suggestible.
- Have medium to low salt food and avoid heavy salty food as they are responsible for high blood pressure and water retention.
- Eating watery foods like lassi, watermelon, rice, muskmelon creates swelling in the body. So, better opt for foods which are drying in nature like corn, gram flour, chickpea, etc.
- Foods such as brown rice, oats, and barley are the best foods one could opt-in this monsoon.
- Body’s immunity can be increased by adding a dash of garlic to the soups, sir fries and curries you intake.
- Opt for yogurt, curd, almonds in your diet instead of milk. Drink only boiled and purified water to protect yourself from harmful germs and drinking plenty of water keeps your body hydrated.
- Consuming bitter vegetables like bitter gourd, and bitter herbs like neem, turmeric powder, fenugreek, help in preventing infections.
- Consume drying oils like corn oil or light oil and avoid heavy oils like sesame oil, peanut oil, mustard oil as they fall in the first place to infections.
- People who face skin allergies during rainy seasons must avoid eating spicy foods. Spicy foods raise body temperature and stimulate blood circulation and it leads to allergies and skin irritation.
- Avoid too much of fish and meat this season and heavy curries and non-vegetarians should go for light meat preparations like stew and soups.
- Astringent, mildly bitter and pungent foods must be best served this season.
- 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.
- Vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, ladies finger, kidney beans, pigeon pea, and sprouted grains must be avoided.
- Eat steamed salads instead of raw vegetables as they contain active bacteria and virus that cause bacterial and viral infections.
- Have fresh radish juice to fight cold and cough. This reduces the natural monsoon ailments.
- Better eat seasonal fruits as non- seasonal fruits get infested with worms during the monsoons. Pomegranates, leeches, apples, bananas are among the recommended.
- Avoid eating fried items, pre-cut fruits and juices from roadside vendors and stick to high quality and hygiene.
- Always wash vegetables well and keep them clean especially if they are taken raw.
Following these guidelines will help 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.
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