Tip tap tip tap!
You hear the monsoon rains and the 1st thing that comes to your mind is adrakwali chai and hot hot pakoras!
After the long, hot summer months, the monsoon rains bring much needed relief from the scorching heat. While it is surely a great relief, sipping on a hot cup of tea or ensuring that you stay dry is not enough. During the monsoon there is a high amount of humidity in the atmosphere and it is the ideal time for germs and bacteria to thrive in unhygienic conditions. Cold, flu, viral fever is generally on this rise in this season. With the changing weather conditions, you also need to alter your lifestyle.
So how does one take care of one’s health in this season of rains to come?
Here are some tips to eat smart this monsoon and avoid getting sick:
The diseases in monsoons are waterborne so it is extremely important to take care of the water you consume. Drinking water should be boiled and purified during the monsoon. Most of the water-borne diseases like dysentery and cholera are caused due to impure water. No matter where you go, carry a bottle of boiled water from home to avoid drinking water from unsafe sources.
Avoid eating outside foods as much as possible. Street food like pani puri, vada pav and bhajiyas may seem very tempting during but these foods are exposed to humid conditions and may contain bacteria and germs that may cause indigestion or food poisoning. Street golas, juices and kulfi should be also be avoided during the monsoons.
Include lots of coloured fruits and vegetables in your diet. They have a good amount of nutrients that will keep you fit during this season and help in building your body’s immunity.
Make sure that you wash all your vegetables and fruits, especially those that are to be consumed raw, with warm water or with salt to get rid of the accumulated dirt and reduce your risk of infections. You can blanch the green leafy vegetables to disinfect them from germs and bacteria. Blanching also helps the veggies from losing its colour, texture and flavour.
Concentrate on consuming light and healthy meals. Eat fresh home cooked meals like dal-chawal, roti-sabzi as far as possible. Whenever you are tempted to have pakoras choose homemade roasted corn or steamed potatoes instead. Nothing smells and tastes better than the age old seka hua bhutta or chatpata aloo.
Avoid eating any food that has been cut and left in the open for a long period of time. Cover foodstuffs at all times in order to keep them away from the exposure of humidity and other germs in the air.
Rains are the perfect excuse to not exercise. Outsmart the rains by joining a gym / yoga / dance or aerobic class or using that treadmill or elliptical or the cycle lying unused in your home. Since these are conducted or used indoors, the rains are highly unlikely to hamper your fitness plans!
It is also a good time to get active by playing tennis, squash and other such indoor sports in your nearest club. If you can’t face heading outside then perhaps pick up some exercise DVD’s or surf the internet for exercises that you can do at home.
The best thing you can do on a rainy day is to let it rain! Enjoy the monsoon!
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