Monsoon Mania: Eat right to stay right

It’s that time of the year again when The Almighty blesses us with scintillating rains and give us the much-needed respite from the sweltering heat. But as summers transforms seamlessly into monsoon, the body’s metabolic processes also undergoes a change. Hence, it is important that the food we eat also changes.

In summer, we crave for cooling and water-based fruits. Sugary and salty food items are the flavor of the season and thus melons, mangoes and beverages like the JALJEERA and lemon water are highly preferred.

But as monsoon steps in, it brings with it scores of disease and germs. The rain water is not always clean and in this weather, our vulnerability to cold and stomach increases ten-fold. The best way to protect ourselves from infection is to follow the ancient Indian wisdom of eating seasonal.

What’s Right Eating

• Commence your day with hot water and lemon, along with a pinch of cinnamon, which prevents infections and water-borne diseases. Boil water and drink only filtered, boiled or distilled water.
• Eat fruits such as peaches, plums, cherries and kiwis.
• Consume vegetables such as cluster beans, gourd, bottle gourd, ivy gourd, long green bean and corn
• Have cooked pulses in the form of dals and grains in the form of rotis, rice, upma and poha.
• Have hot soups and rasam with a pinch of cinnamon.
• Fresh ginger is available in the monsoon. Add it to your food as it prevents intestinal disorders, especially bloating and nausea. It also prevents cold, cough, flu and joint pain.

What’s Wrong Eating

• During the monsoon, homemade food is suggested. If you are eating out, eat only cooked food.
• Avoid leafy greens as they may have insects in them.
• It is also advisable to avoid Brinjal as it may be bitter and have an astringent-like taste to it, this season.
• Avoid eating junk food from roadside stalls. Further, reduce the intake of milk-based products from outside.
• Avoid eating pre-cut fruits from the road or at home. Wash the fruits in fresh water before you eat them.
• Avoid fish. If you want to opt for non-vegetarian food, stick to cooked chicken. Avoid cold cuts.