HEALTHY Monsoons

monsoon

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.

EAT HEALTHY & FRESH FOOD
Avoid outside food, also anything that is uncooked or semi-cooked. Do not consume fruits that have been cut for hours. Avoid non-vegetarian food items, put a halt to raw egg and salads too. Instead, opt for home-cooked food, add a generous amount of turmeric and ginger to almost everything you cook. They have antioxidants, known to cleanse the body and cure stomach related problems, such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting etc. which are quite common during rainy season. Include lots of green and colored vegetables in your diet. They have a good amount of nutrients that build immunity and are light on stomach.

EXERCISE REGULARLY
Since you cannot venture out during the rains for your morning walk, it is advisable to exercise at home. A few minutes spent practicing yoga at the comfort of your home can improve your immunity drastically and let you enjoy monsoons better.
These simple pranayamas and yoga poses will equip you against monsoons’ grim side-effects:

1. Kapal Bhati pranayama
2. Nadi Shodhan pranayama
3. Adho Mukha Svanasana
4. Setu Bandhasana
5. Bhujangasana
6. Naukasana

Stay hydrated
It is extremely important to drink lots of water during the monsoons, so that your system is clean.
You can alternate tea and coffee with herbal drinks like ginger-lemon tea, jappy 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.

Additionally, keep your house clean. Don’t let the water from accumulating anywhere in or around the house, kitchen sink, bathroom tub, flower vases. It is also recommended to add a few drops of lemon-eucalyptus/lavender/lemon grass oil to the earthen air diffuser and place it at a central location of your house. It doesn’t only purify the air but also keeps mosquitos away.

So, this monsoon, enjoy nature’s shower without having to worry about germs, mosquitos and dampness. Have fun and enjoy!