Five food items to avoid during monsoon
What's the story
Although the monsoon is sure to offer some much-needed respite from the scorching summer heat, it could still be a tricky time for your health.
This is so because the rainy season can put you at risk of various bacterial and fungal infections.
Here are five food items to avoid during the rainy season, a couple of must-haves, and some other handy health tips.
#1
Leafy veggies
Although it might sound counter intuitive because of all the positivity surrounding leafy green veggies, but during the monsoon, the grime and dampness in these veggies make them highly susceptible to various germs.
So, bid goodbye to the leafy greens during rains and welcome pungent vegetables like bitter gourd in your kitchen.
Also make sure to thoroughly wash all your veggies before cooking.
#2,3
Seafood and oily/fried food
Seafood: Since monsoon is the breeding season for fish and prawns, they should better be avoided. Non-vegetarians should preferably make do with meats.
Oily and fried food: Say goodbye to those burgers and French fries, as oily/fried food is known to heat up body and cause dehydration, which is dangerous during monsoon. Further, these foods may also cause heart problems and raise blood-sugar levels.
#4,5
Carbonated drinks and Alcohol
Carbonated drinks: Carbonated drinks reduce mineral levels and enzyme activity in our body, thus leading to indigestion. Stick to water to stay hydrated. Also, prefer hot beverages like herbal teas and homemade soups.
Alcohol: It is no secret that intake of alcoholic beverages dehydrates the body, which is obviously quite undesirable during the excessively humid rainy season. So, limit your consumption.
Details
On the other hand, here are must-have foods during monsoon
Increase your consumption of ginger and garlic, as their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties will help reduce risk of infection.
Also, take more of good bacteria-comprising probiotics (fermented as well as natural), and antioxidants-rich turmeric to stay healthy during monsoon.
Other immunity-boosting food items to have during the rains are mushroom, citrus fruits, beetroot, nuts, whole wheat, and steamed vegetable salads.
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Other handy health precautions for the rainy season
Apart from following a healthy diet and staying hydrated, here are some other handy health precautions to take during the rainy season: 1) Keep your hands clean, 2) Avoid getting drenched in the rain, 3) Bathe twice a day, 4) Always apply mosquito repellent creams/lotions.