Keep a sharp eye on what you Eat and Drink during the Monsoon

Keep a sharp eye on what you eat and drink during the monsoon.
The first showers of the monsoon provide relief from the intense heat of summer. However, the rain also brings some health issues that can spoil your mood like food poisoning, diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. And not all are water-borne. So it is necessary to keep a sharp eye on what you’re eating and drinking.                                                                                  There are some precautions and diet modifications that will keep you healthy.

1. Drink warm beverages. Add mint or ginger or dry ginger powder to tea and hot milk.
2. Avoid street and junk food, as very few people have the high immunity to handle the bacterial overload at such places.
3. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially leafy ones and cauliflower.
4. Eat moderate quantities of food, as the body finds it hard to digest food.
5. Use plenty of garlic, pepper, ginger, asafetida (hing), turmeric, coriander and jeera all of which enhance digestive power and improve immunity.
6. Eat light foods like vegetables, fruits, cereals etc.
7. Avoid sour foods like tamarind (imli), chutneys and pickles as they promote water retention.
8. Also avoid eating cut fruits and raw vegetable outside because there are more chances of bacterial growth and infection.
9. Go for light meal preparations like soups and stews rather than heavy curries.
10. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration is possible. Drink only boiled and filtered water.
11. Honey is an excellent tonic that helps keep the intestines sterile. It also assists in digestion. (1tsp / day)
12. Eat bitter vegetables like karela (bitter gourd) and herbs like neem (basil), methi(fenugreek) seeds, haldi (turmeric) as they prevents infection.
13. Fresh is the best for monsoon, so eat freshly cooked food. Avoid eating food straight out of the fridge. Fresh foods are the best, but if you like to store cooked food in the fridge, heat it gradually and thoroughly before eating.
14. Consume lots of Vitamin C through amla and citrus fruits to boost immunity.
15. Avoid fried oily food that may cause acidity. Go for grilled or tandoori items that require minimum oil/butter.
16. Avoid using too much spice, as this promotes water retention and bloating. Go for medium or low salt food.

The monsoon is a time when diseases, particularly of the digestive system, are rampant. Simply follow these tips and have a healthy monsoon.