Healthy Diet For Monsoon
Now since the rains are here, a cup of ginger tea and a plate of onion fries are the best combination to enjoy rains at their fullest. But monsoon weather comes with easy susceptibility to infections. So during monsoons we need to take extra care to avoid getting infections. Eating fried pakodas and bhajias or drinking unlimited cups of tea won’t increase our immunity but only help us to put on weight.
To enjoy the monsoon you need to have Healthy Diet For Monsoon. Following are the simple rules to follow:
- Wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming. Avoid cut fruits from outside stalls. They can be contaminated. Heat the refrigerated food thoroughly before consuming them. During monsoons, bacteria multiply rapidly and food if not heated properly can cause food poisoning.
- Whole fruits are healthier option than a glass of fruit juice or instant drinks. Tetra pack juices or drinks are high in preservatives. Most of the vendors do not maintain hygiene while preparing juices, carry or buy a whole fruit. These are high in natural sugar, vitamins, minerals and fiber.
- Citrus fruits have vitamin C which increases immunity against cold.
- Avoid roadside stalls for pakodas and bhajiyas. Oil used by these vendors are not always fresh and vegetables are cut long back so they are likely to be contaminated.
- Outside tea vendors always do not maintain hygiene. Moreover during monsoons, water used by them is not always clean. The milk they use might also be adulterated.
- Always go for home cooked food. They are hygienic and healthy.
- Low fat milk can be used for tea or coffee in your home or office.
- Ginger and garlic contain antioxidant and medicinal properties. Add them in all your meals. They will not only enhance the flavour of the food but also protect you from infections.
- Turmeric is one of the best medicinal roots that nature has in its basket. Turmeric should be added in all your meals. A glass of warm milk with half a spoon of turmeric will give you immunity and also will help to cure cold if you have one.
- Try to include eggs and pulses in your daily diet. Being good source of protein they can help you fight colds and infection.
- Carry dry fruits with you whenever you step out of your house. Dry fruits are rich packets of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. They will not only increase your immunity but also keep you full if taken as a snack.
- Nature has different varieties of vegetables. Use them as often as possible. Using herbs such as coriander, rosemary, wheat grass etc will help you increase your immunity. Different coloured vegetables add colour to your plate and since they are low in calories and high in nutrients they help you check your weight as well.
- Ginger tea and other herbal teas are very good during monsoon as they have antioxidants. But avoid taking too many of them.
Enjoy with Healthy Diet For Monsoon!
Rupa Gupta
Consultant Nutritionist, DietVita
