With MONSOON around the corner, you can’t help thinking about gorging on crispy fritters and sipping piping hot tea. Though they may seem the ultimate comfort food, they won’t offer any nutritional benefits to you. Follow this handy guide of the must-eats and must-not-eats from Suman Agarwal of Selfcare, the natural way, to get a healthy immunity and enjoy the rains to the hilt
he monsoon is such a welcome respite from the scorching summer – thanks to the overcast sky, gentle rain and lush greenery all around. Almost all of us love to savour spicy and crunchy food items such as fritters (pakoras) and chaats like pani puri, sev puri teamed with cutting chai as the rainwater lashes against the window pane. However, the season also brings along a host of diseases such as dengue, malaria, conjunctivitis, typhoid, viral fever, pneumonia, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhoea, food poisoning, cholera, cough and cold and jaundice due to bacteria in the environment. The challenge lies in going about your daily routine without falling ill. If you suffer from low immunity, you are at a higher risk of contracting these diseases. However, the right dietary tips can strengthen your immunity and help you stay hale and hearty.
Stay well-hydrated
Due to the humid climate, you may not feel too thirsty and consume just one litre of water every day. But you need to be well hydrated as sweat doesn’t evaporate quickly in monsoon. Consequently, this prevents the body from releasing heat. So consume a lot of water as it helps to flush out toxins from the body. Ensure that the water is clean, pure and safe to drink. Avoid aerated drinks; instead consume warm beverages such as green tea with holy basil leaves, ginger, pepper and honey as they have anti-bacterial properties. A bowl of hot vegetable soup is also a good option. The hot beverages will increase your body temperature (which will in turn give you warmth) while the ingredients will boost your immunity.
Switch to a balanced diet
Consume fruits such as cherries, bananas, apples, pomegranates, plums, litchis and pears as they are packed with anti-oxidants and are rich in vitamin A, E, C and minerals. Vegetables such as cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, lady's finger, kidney beans, pigeon pea and sprouted grains get spoilt easily due to the humidity. So, they should be avoided. Opt for cooked or steamed veggies. Avoid salads as they comprise raw vegetables that contain active bacteria which lead to various infections and affect the body’s immunity. Avoid strong smelling or extra sweet fruits such as mangoes and jackfruit that attract flies as their excess intake can cause skin irritation and stomach ache.
It’s also important to store vegetables the right way during the rains. Do not wash the veggies thoroughly before storing, as the moisture will attract pathogenic fungus. These bacteria can spread to other susceptible food items as well, making them unhygienic. Instead, pat dry and store separate food items in different containers. Buy them in limited portions and use them as soon as possible.
Maintain your tresses
Dehydration makes your hair brittle and scanty. So hydrate yourself. Zinc and iron help to keep your tresses healthy and beautiful. Consume nuts, eggs and walnuts to maintain hair strength. Walnuts are rich in biotin and vitamin E, which are excellent antioxidants. Proteins are important for hair strength too. So add curd to your diet, as it is a great source of protein. Amla juice, oranges and other citrus foods are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C keeps your hair strong as it helps in production of collagen that among other things strengthens the hair capillaries (ensuring proper nutrient supply to our hair). Also, ensure that you wash your locks on alternate days and cover them well during the monsoon. Dried apricots, roasted sunflower seeds and lentils are better foods to consume during monsoon than other iron-rich foods which are susceptible to microbial attack.
Do not forget to eat yummy corn on cob as corn is also rich in iron and zinc.
So, the secret to enjoy the rains, without the fear of affecting your health is to go light on eating. Have a safe and healthy monsoon.
