It’s that time of the year when everything deep fried and unhealthy makes an unapologetic comeback. After all, we have the rains and cosy weather to blame! The aroma of hot bhajiyas wafts through the air-be it homes or rain-soaked lanes. But with our bodies more vulnerable to diseases, nutritionist Suman Agarwal spells out 12 things to watch out for during the rains.
1. Home is where food is: A warm and comforting homemade dal khichdi is second to none, during the rains. Eat warm, freshly cooked ghar ka khana and show the viruses the exit sign.
2. Vote for Vitamin C: Oranges, amla, lemon, raw mangoes…include them in your daily diet.
3. Say hello to probiotic: Immunity levels take a huge beating during this season. Beat it back by including good probiotics like curds and buttermilk, which aid digestion.
4. Hail Herbal: Sip on herbal teas like tulsi green tea, chamomile tea and honey lemon tea. If you are looking for something more traditional, drink kadha. All you need to do is: In a pan, boil water, 10 tulsi leaves and lightly crushed peppercorn. Let it boil sufficiently well. Add a teaspoon of honey. This is a sure-fire way to get rid of cold and cough; it also improves your immunity.
5. Chicken Out: Avoid eating non-vegetarian foods from restaurants as it might cause stomach infection.
6. Stop Street Treats: Avoid street foods especially cold foods like pani puri, chat and other foods that can cause gastro illnesses.
7. Veggie Woes: Vegetables like cauliflower, potatoes, cluster beans, okra (bhindi), kidney beans, pigeon pea and sprouted grains are the most likely to rot easily during the rains. Try and avoid these. If you do wish to eat them, make sure you cook it as soon as you buy them. It is not advisable to store boiled potatoes.
8. Fruit Fight: Fruits with strong smells or fruits which are very sweet such as mangoes, jamun, jackfruit attract flies in the house. So make sure you keep them in a fruit basked. Excess intake of some of these fruits may cause skin irritation and an upset stomach; avoid buying them during this season.
9. Carbs and Fat: Given that rains restrict us to staying indoors for most part of the season, go easy on your daily intake of carbs and fats.
10. Wash Out: Do not wash your vegetables thoroughly before storing, as the moisture will attract pathogenic fungus. Buy them in limited portions and use them as soon as possible. Bread should be used within two days.
11. Spice Me Up: Include spices such as pepper, asafoetida (hing), turmeric powder and coriander powder to improve immunity.
12. Sunny side down: Many Indians suffer from vitamin D deficiency and monsoon further reduces our exposure to sun. Visit your doc, check your vitamin D level and take supplements if recommended.
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