Stay Healthy This Monsoon With These Expert Diet Suggestions
Harpreet Kour Updated: Jul 12, 2024 3:13 PM IST
To stay healthy during the monsoon, consume seasonal fruits, herbal teas, and probiotics while staying hydrated. Avoid leafy vegetables, street food, and raw salads due to potential contamination, and focus on light, easily digestible meals with immune-boosting spices like turmeric and garlic. Cook foods thoroughly to reduce the risk of infections.
1. Eat Seasonal Fruits:
- Tip: Include seasonal fruits like jamun, litchi, and pomegranate in your diet.
- Why: These fruits are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, which help boost immunity.
2. Drink Herbal Teas:
- Tip: Drink herbal teas made with ingredients like ginger, tulsi, and mint.
- Why: These ingredients have antibacterial and antiviral properties that help protect against infections.
3. Avoid Leafy Vegetables:
- Tip: Reduce the intake of leafy greens like spinach and lettuce.
- Why: Leafy vegetables can carry more dirt and bacteria during the monsoon season, leading to gastrointestinal issues.
4. Stay Hydrated:
- Tip: Drink plenty of boiled or filtered water throughout the day.
- Why: Proper hydration helps flush out toxins and keeps your digestive system healthy.
5. Consume Probiotics:
- Tip: Include yogurt, buttermilk, and fermented foods in your diet.
- Why: Probiotics help maintain a healthy gut flora and improve digestion.
6. Eat Light and Fresh:
- Tip: Opt for light, easily digestible foods like soups, stews, and boiled vegetables.
- Why: Heavy and oily foods can be difficult to digest during the monsoon, leading to bloating and discomfort.
7. Avoid Street Food:
- Tip: Refrain from eating street food, especially items like golgappa, chaat, and samosas.
- Why: Street food can be contaminated due to poor hygiene and exposure to monsoon humidity, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
8. Use Spices Wisely:
- Tip: Incorporate spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, and asafoetida (hing) in your cooking.
- Why:These spices have antimicrobial properties and aid in digestion.
9. Cook with Garlic:
- Tip: Add garlic to your meals.
- Why: Garlic has immune-boosting properties and helps fight off infections.
10. Avoid Raw Salads:
- Tip: Prefer cooked salads over raw ones.
- Why: Cooking helps eliminate bacteria and parasites that might be present on raw vegetables during the monsoon season.