Monsoon has finally arrived at your doorstep after playing hide and seek for a week or two. While that may be a relief, what’s not is the fact that along with the rain clouds, the monsoon has also brought its share of woes. Health problems are always on the rise during the rainy season, be it cold and flu, viral fever etc. Sipping on a hot cup of tea or ensuring that you stay dry is not enough. With the changing weather conditions, you also need to alter your lifestyle.

“Monsoon is the time for germs and bacteria to thrive in unhygienic conditions. During the rains, there is a high amount of humidity in the atmosphere due to which our digestive system gets sluggish. Thus, eating the right kind of food and taking care of your overall health becomes extremely important to prevent yourself from falling ill.”

Skip eating outside :

Try to avoid eating from outside as much as possible. Street foods like pani puri, bhel puri, sandwiches and pakoras may seem very tempting during this season but they contain bacteria that may cause indigestion. “Avoid eating any kind of raw foods or cut fruits during the rains, as they might have accumulation of germs on them, which can also lead to food poisoning.” Also, don’t drink water from outside. Most of the water-borne diseases like dysentery, cholera, etc are caused due to impure water. Street golas, juices and kulfi should be avoided during the monsoons.

Consume green & coloured veggies :

Include lots of green and coloured vegetables in your diet. They have a good amount of nutrients that will keep you fit during this season. Make sure that you wash all your vegetables with warm water or with salt to get rid of the accumulated dirt. You can blanch the vegetables to disinfect them from germs and bacteria. Blanching also helps the veggies from losing its colour, texture and flavour. Also, thoroughly wash and clean the vegetables used in making salads.

Shower immediately after getting wet :

“If you’ve got wet in the rain, go for a shower to protect yourself from infections.” Also, avoid entering an air-conditioned room with wet hair and damp clothes to prevent yourself from a viral fever or cold and cough.

Avoid fish, unless it’s fresh :

 “You should be careful about the fish and prawns you consume during the monsoons, since it is their breeding season. You may end up with a stomach infection.” Be careful when shopping for fish — make sure it is fresh. Avoid raw fish this season.

Stay hydrated :

It is extremely important to drink lots of water during the monsoons, so that your system is clean.  “Boil your drinking water and put chloride in it (for one litre of water put 3-4 drops of chloride) to kill the harmful micro-organisms and other impurities, which might cause diseases.”

You can alternate tea and coffee with herbal drinks like jasmine tea, chamomile tea or green tea. It keeps you healthy and builds up your resistance to fight against infections. Avoid drinking too much coffee during the monsoons, as it tends to dehydrate the fluids in your body.

Exercise regularly :

Regular exercise must be incorporated in your day-to-day routine to stay fit and healthy.  Since you cannot venture out during the rains for your morning walk, it is advisable to exercise at home. You can try practicing Pilates or yoga or simply indulge in some free-hand exercises at home.”