Finally summer has ended and we don’t have to witness the grating heat anymore. The rains tend to bring with them a sense of newness. They bring back everything around us to life. You might notice how there is a general shift in people’s mood from being cranky, depressed, and perpetually irritable, to being calmer, happier, energetic and enthusiastic.

However, one cannot deny the fact that monsoons also bring with them the chances of catching cold and flu. If left untreated, it can lead to other health concerns.
During monsoon our digestion gets weakened which slows down the metabolism and increases the fat storage. This makes us susceptible to various infections.

Though there are various artificial immunity boosters available in the market, nothing works better than the spices in our kitchen.
One of the best things about our Indian food is, the spices that we use on a daily basis. Though it is not advisable to eat spicy food daily, when blended properly and in right amounts, they work as great immunity boosters. Even a cup of freshly made tea with some ginger or tea masala once in a while can work wonders. If taken in right amounts, these spices are all that you need to help boost your immunity.

Wondering how? Here’s a list of dos and don’ts that will help you gain immunity against the monsoon monsters:

DOs:
1) Add natural immunity boosters like turmeric, pepper, asafoetida, cumin, peppercorn, cardamom, cinnamon and herbs like basil, ginger, mint leaves in your food. Also add foods like organic jaggery/ honey to increase the warmth in your body.

2) Up your nutrition game by eating healthy food. It is the cheapest way to protect yourself from sickness. Eat balanced and freshly cooked meal as much as possible. Eat vitamin C rich fruits and veggies, have yogurt daily and some hot soup once in a while.

3) Stay well hydrated. Even though you don’t feel like having a lot of water.

4) Eat seasonal fruits like pomegranates, lychees, plums, peaches, cherries, jamuns and bananas.

5) Add the guord family in your veggies – Bottle gourd, ridge gourd, sponge gourd, snake gourd, bitter gourd, ivy gourd, round gourd, pumpkin, zucchini etc.

6) Stay dry to prevent fungal infections and wash hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of virus and bacteria.

7) Eat light and easy to digest easily, and eat less spicy food for enhancing your digestion during monsoon. For in-between hunger pangs stick to lemon water/ buttermilk/ kokum sherbet/ coconut water / roasted chana/ corn/ mixed seeds/ makhana/ sweet potato/ sprouts ( can steam) / home made dry bhel/ steamed savouries.

8) Exercise daily – along with food , workouts can be restrictive too. You can opt for gym workouts or stick to smart home workouts for example spot walking/ jogging, walk at home or compound/ do stretches / functional training and Yoga asanas in your garden/ home.


DONTs:
1) Avoid outside food and street food, water, juices, buttermilk – it’s unhygienic can lead to gastritis/ diarrhoea/ stomach infections .

2) Avoid seafood as it is the breeding period for sea creatures. They can upset your stomach. If you are unable to resist, stick to international/ imported varieties.

3) Avoid refined sugar and beverages.

4) Avoid fried food as it is heavy on your system, it slows down digestion and can can cause bloating and upset your stomach.

5) Avoid leafy greens and veggies like cauliflower/ cabbage and broccoli especially outside as it contains worms. One may soak leafy greens in vinegar solution (30 ml vinegar in half a litre of water for 10 mins, then wash it with plain water) as it is antibacterial. Try to prepare the above veggies by steaming or lightly cooking them.

6) Avoid raw salad and have tossed salad as it is easier to digest and are light on the body.

This monsoon, stay healthy and be wise. Stay safe and enjoy to the fullest.