A Monsoon Managed Well
Following the guidelines below can help you enjoy the monsoon long-drives and splashes without being unwell :
1) Avoid having cut fruits and vegetables outside. Raw food is most likely to get infected by microorganisms when the humidity levels are high. So, if you have to eat outside, prefer having well-cooked meals. For example, having a tandoori/ grille/ roasted/ steamed food item or the bhutta(corn on the cob)may be better than a salad from a fast-food joint. One must avoid leafy greens during this time as they attract grime and become the perfect carriers of infection-bearing microbes.
2) Prefer warm foods like soups, stews and broths. Foods are like Khichdi, daals, lentils, corn, oats, besan-based foods are ideal to be consumed during this time. 80% of our immunity lies in our gut and lighter and well-cooked foods will keep the gut happy in this moist weather. It is advisable to include a probiotic within 10 minutes of having a meal.
3) Be wise and stick to seasonal fruits like apples and pears which have less water content as compared to watermelon, mangoes, melons and other peak summer fruits. Mother nature knows best and offers you denser fruits apples & pears during monsoon.
4) Include immunity-boosting herbs and spices such as ginger, garlic, cloves, turmeric, Hing, pepper cinnamon. So, having a masala chai during rains may actually be a good idea. Another herbal brew can be water boiled with tulsi or morninga leaves, cinnamon and ginger and with a spoon of honey and a dash of lemon.
5) Try and include bitters like bitter gourd(karela), neem, methi seeds, jamun to ensure elimination of toxins and a clearer skin. Bitter gourd can be cooked. Neem can be boiled in water and had. Methi seeds can be added for tempering cooked vegetables and daals. Swap your heavier cooking oils like mustard, groundnut and sesame oil to lighter ones like rice bran oil, Ghee, sunflower Oil, canola oil and olive oil.
6) People suffering from bone-related issues like arthritis, rheumatism may have more pain during this season, so it is advisable to stay away from cold fluids/ beverages. Adding turmeric and ghee with a dash of black pepper to meals can be helpful.
7) Make sure that the water you consume is filtered and safe for consumption. Avoid having food from outside when you are unsure about the quality of water used. Avoid eating street food from places where you see a lot of flies, as they infect the food instantly.
8) If you are a non-vegetarian, it is best to avoid meats- especially fish during the rainy season as it is the breeding period for them. Ancient food wisdom also says, avoid fish during Chaturmasya and consume more of daals and lentils for dietary protein.
9) Diabetic people should be extra careful and check their feet often for fungal infections(due to the high moisture content in air) in toes and fingers.
10) Maintain hygiene. While washing one’s hands frequently is a good habit, it should be practised more frequently during the monsoon season. Use hand sanitizer when eating outside. Make sure you add a drop or two of eucalyptus oil to the water used for housecleaning every day.
