Monsoon has arrived and it’s a relief from the scorching summer heat. However, it is important to keep in mind that besides pleasant weather, the monsoon also brings with itself a host of health problems. For a lot of people, especially children, the immunity may get affected, which is why it is extremely important to take extra care of yourself during the rainy season.
What Happens to Health During the Monsoon?
When it rains, a lot of humidity gets trapped in the atmosphere and there is stagnant water at several places. So while we are enjoying the showers of nature, our surroundings can become a breeding ground for insects which can lead to water-borne diseases. Besides, the continuous temperature fluctuations in the atmosphere can make the body susceptible to bacterial and viral attack. No wonder why cold, flu, malaria and other such diseases get so common this time around. Especially monsoons paired with the current Covid-19 situation poses a bigger problem. It sounds alarming, doesn’t it? But with the help of the following simple lifestyle and diet tips, you can make sure that you and your family are able to enjoy this lovely weather while also staying safe.
Top 5 Health and Nutrition Tips to Stay Protected During Monsoon
- Keep Yourself Hydrated: People tend to cut their water intake during the rainy season because they sweat less and do not feel parched very often. By not drinking enough water, you are at risk of being dehydrated and falling ill. To make sure that you keep diseases at bay, drink plenty of water to drive out toxins from your body. You can also drink infused or herbal waters to help yourself stay nourished and abstain from drinking too much caffeine-related drinks or alcohol, because such drinks can dehydrate the fluids in your body.
- Take Help of Immunity Boosters: An improved immunity is our best bet when it comes to staying safe during fluctuations in the weather. And natural antibiotics such as turmeric, ginger, and fenugreek seeds do a great job at enhancing the metabolic rate, promoting digestion and improving immunity. You can simply drink a decoction of turmeric and ginger tea infused with a dash of spices such as cloves, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, every night, to help you fight any monsoon-related infections.
- Avoid Deep-Fried and Processed Food: During the highly-humid monsoon weather, your digestion process slows down and you may experience bloating, indigestion or acid reflux. To avoid putting more strain on your digestive system, make sure to eat less heavy and processed foods and more whole foods and seasonal fruits. Always wash fruits and vegetables properly with warm water and vinegar before cooking them or consuming them raw. With the rains and the Covid-19 pandemic, no precaution can be too much.
- Stay Well Rested: Since we are talking about keeping the immunity intact, a sound sleep of eight hours can undoubtedly help you stay healthy. When you sleep, your body produces a protein known as cytokine which helps heal any sort of inflammation or infection. Lack of proper sleep can decrease the production of cytokines in your body. Thereby, affecting the immunity system. To induce sleep naturally, you can drink chamomile tea before bed as it promotes relaxation, sleep and its overall quality.
- Fight Infections by Working Out: Daily exercise is important to keep the body fit and healthy. By working out everyday, your body temperature rises and there is an improved blood flow in the body. This helps in better circulation of antibodies in the bloodstream to ward off any infections, should you catch a cold or flu. Also, it is advisable to prefer home-based workouts instead of going for outdoor walks. You can try practicing yoga, pilates or simply some bodyweight exercises.
Foods to Avoid During the Monsoon
Since eating the right kind of food is the foundation of building immunity, it is important to note that there are certain foods that you must avoid during the rainy weather. No matter how much you crave a plate of hot fritters and steaming coffee, making the right diet choices can help you steer away any potential risk of infections.
- Seafood: While fish and other seafood is generally termed as a healthier meat option, it should be avoided during the monsoon. Monsoon is the breeding season for fish and prawns and consuming the wrong fish can cause stomach infections.
- Leafy Vegetables: Vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower and spinach should not be consumed in the rainy weather because the natural dampness of these vegetables and the heightened atmospheric humidity makes them a perfect breeding ground for germs. Monsoon is the season of gourds, like bottle gourd, bitter gourd, Indian squash, etc. Add plenty of these vegetables in your daily diet to stay healthy.
- Mushrooms: Mushrooms usually grow in damp areas but because of rains the risk of bacterial infections is high. If you plan on consuming mushrooms, make sure to clean them thoroughly.
- Deep Fried Food: Fried foods are low in fiber which means that they can take a long time to digest. As you already know that the digestion system tends to slow down during this weather, eating fried and heavy food might not be the best idea.
- Watery Foods: Buttermilk, watermelon, cantaloupes are refreshing summer foods but amidst the rains and slowed down digestion, such foods can cause bloating. By taking watery foods in a moderated quantity, you can take care of the water retention in your body.
Besides following these health and diet tips, you should also practice various hygienic habits like washing hands regularly, changing into dry clothes in case you get soaked in the rain, keeping your house clean and if you have pets, make sure you wipe their paws after you take them for a walk. By taking a few extra precautions you can ensure safe and healthy monsoons for both you and your family.
