August 9, 2024

Monsoon diet : This is the time when you need to take extra care of your diet in the monsoon season. An expert shares some essential dos and don’ts to help you stay healthy and safe in this time. According to Dr. Rohini Patil, an MBBS and Nutritionist and Founder of Nutracy Lifestyle, one should be very conscious of dietary intake during the monsoon season. Refreshing change and rejuvenation reflect in nature during this period; extra care in what we eat is really called for. Since monsoon is a time when the atmosphere remains wet and damp, our body becomes really susceptible to various infections and digestive problems. So, to enjoy good health, one needs to be very conscious about what to eat during this season. Foods to Include Light and Freshly Cooked Meals: It is always advised that one should consume light and easily digestible food rather than heavy, oily, and raw food during the monsoon. Lightly prepared foods like soups, khichdi, and steamed or grilled vegetables turn out to be really fantastic options. These meals not only meet the stomach requirements but also help to sustain a good digestive system, which more often than not gets out of balance during this season. Vegetable and fruit intake that is high in nutrient properties should be included; such are the vegetables carrot, beans, and spinach. They are very nutrient-dense and fill your body up with immune-enhancing ability. Likewise, fruits like pomegranates, apples, and pears are enriched with multivitamins and antioxidants to boost your immunity during monsoon weather. Warm Liquids Herbal teas, turmeric liquor, and ginger liquor-infused water are some of the best beverages during the monsoon. These drinks not only improve metabolism and help in digestion but also rehydrate the body since it can quickly get sluggish because of the cool and damp weather. Probiotic Foods: Ingestion of probiotic-rich foods like yoghurt, buttermilk, and other fermented products is of great essence in sustaining gut health. Probiotics are needed to maintain a balance of good bacteria in the gut, often disturbed by the humid and at times unhygienic conditions during monsoons. Foods to Avoid Street Food and Unhygienic Sources: It’s best to avoid street food in the monsoon season. Most of these foods lie damp and soggy, which provides an apt breeding ground for other harmful contaminants; such foods are hence quite common to spread food-borne diseases during this season. Raw Vegetables: The vegetables are healthy in general, but their raw intake during the monsoon can be dangerous due to harmful bacteria. It’s better to consume them in a cooked form. Sugary drinks and Sodas: The consumption of sugary drinks and sodas needs to be reduced as much as possible; not only do they weaken your immunity system, but they are also the cause of many other diseases. They are also responsible for problematic digestion, and one certainly does not want to have a troubled stomach during the monsoons. Fried and Oily Foods: These foods are difficult to digest and can trouble the stomach and other digestive problems. Therefore, heavy greasy foods should be avoided, and light food with less oil should be consumed during this season. Dairy Products: Avoid milk and cheese dairy products that get spoiled by moisture. They will upset the stomach unless properly pasteurized and preserved.