Tip tip Health Tip for Monsoon

Monsoon is really a relief from the scorching summer heat, it’s an enigmatic to watch the.

Fire spewing streets to get drenched in water. Sitting down with a cup of tea, biting into pakoras and samosas and watching the rain — but Monsoon also necessitates eating healthy and clean food. The rainy season brings with it a host of health problems, which test the body’s immune system. There are many illnesses, allergies, etc., which can make a person feel under the weather.

The question arises here – if Monsoon is so soothing for mind , how come is it a threat to body ?

The risk of being exposed to multiple viruses, bacteria, and other infections is two times higher during the monsoon than in any other season. The high moisture content in the air enables harmful microorganisms to thrive, resulting in the transmission of a number of diseases.

Our immune system is built to fight against all external viruses, bacteria and infectious diseases while protecting us from falling ill. During the monsoons, the WBC (White blood cells) weaken due to temperature fluctuations, thus lowering our immunity.

Dietitian Shilpi Goel advices to enjoy the monsoon with due precautions. It is important to eat healthy and nutritious meals which boost your immunity.

Lemon:

Lemon is a great source of vitamin C and strengthens our immunity. Monsoons are the time when we are more prone to catching diseases. Vitamin C helps fight infections, eases digestion, and takes care of bone health. Having lemon juice or squeezing some on your food or salads is a good way to amp up your nutrition and immunity.

Green peppercorns:

Green peppercorns contain piperine, an alkaloid that has various health benefits. It also has a significant amount of vitamins C and K. It also has antimicrobial properties, which means it may be able to reduce the risk of food poisoning by eliminating the bacteria responsible for foodborne illnesses.

Fruits:

Seasonal fruits like peaches, plums, cherries, jamun, pomegranate are packed with vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants. Avoid eating pre-cut fruits and juices from roadside vendors, and stick to high-quality fresh cut fruits and juices made at home.

Fluids:

Include plenty of warm fluids like soup, masala tea, green tea, broth, dal, etc., as they are good for rehydration and are great for the immune system.

Vegetables:

It is a season of gourds, like snake gourd, bottle gourd, Indian squash, ridge gourd, etc. Include gourd vegetables in various preparations like vegetables, paratha, soup, raita, etc. Eat steamed salads instead of raw vegetables as they contain active bacteria and virus that may cause bacterial and viral infections.

Probiotics:

Include probiotics like curd, buttermilk, kefir, pickled vegetables to make your gut flora healthy. These helps boost the growth of good bacteria in the gut, that helps fight the bad bacteria or the disease-causing bacteria. Take this as extra precaution prefer curd or yoghurt over milk as it avoids any possibility of bad bacteria entering the body.

Garlic:

A hint of garlic here and there in your food will help in improving your immune system.

Fenugreek seeds/methi:

Fenugreek is an energy booster, and it contains all the necessary minerals for it to take care of our body, even during fever and digestive disorders.

Turmeric:

Turmeric has curcumin that has antioxidant, antimicrobial effects. It also helps with antimalarial activity among other protective and preventive functions. A teaspoon of turmeric as milk/latte, with honey or in hot water would be ideal.

Omega-3 fatty acids:

Omega-3 fatty acids have immune modulatory effect. In monsoon, where the risk of infection through food and water increases, increasing immunity would help. Omega-3 fatty acids are present in fish, shrimps, oysters, nuts, and oil seeds like walnuts, pistachio, chia seeds, flax seeds, etc.

Moreover, if you are a hardcore non-vegetarian, limit meat for a couple of months. Instead of heavy curry dishes of meat prefer soups and stew

“For monsoon bitter is better vegetables like methi and bitter gourd, neem and turmeric as addition to the diet can help in preventing infections”

 

Shilpi Goel,

Dietitian and Founder Nutrishilp

 

Bonus Tip: Wash your vegetables and fruits with vinegar as an acidic medium can help eliminate any harmful bacteria present in your food.