Monsoon is the time which weakens digestion, sometimes leading to bloated stomach and gas formation, and indigestion. Following these habits during the rainy season will let you enjoy the rains without worrying about diseases:
- Vegetables recommended during rains are snake gourd (chadinda), gourd (Lauki), cluster beans (Gawar ki fali), parwal, tinda and karela.
- Fruits recommended are pomegranate, mangoes, bananas, apples and cherries.
- Fresh fruits are recommended.
- Wash them properly before eating.
- Avoid fruit juices from outside.
- Do not eat cut fruits and salads from outside.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, particularly leafy vegetables and cauliflower which not only contain larvae and worms, but also attract dirt from the streets.
- Include oats, barley and bajra in normal wheat flour chapatis to increase fiber content in it. Eat in moderation as the body finds it harder to digest during monsoons.
- Use herbal teas (homemade) like tulsi, mint, jeera, ajwain and other warm beverages.
- Improve immunity by having roasted black chana with powdered black pepper with ginger tea. Garlic, black pepper, ginger, afoetida (hing), jeera powder, turmeric and coriander help enhance digestion and improve immunity.
- Avoid fried food from outside vendors as it lowers down immunity.
- Gargle with warm water with a pinch of black salt every morning to keep throat infection at bay.
- Detox body once in a week by having only fruits, and observing fast once in a week.
- Use less spices (red chillies, garam masala) to stay active throughout day. Include khichri once a week in diet for good assimilation.
- Green moong dal should be the dal of choice for this season.
- Avoid amchur, tamarind in monsoon as it causes water retention and as a result swelling in the body.
- Do breathing exercises daily to clean respiratory tract.
- Use sautéed, steamed, boiled or baked food like salads and other veggies than raw.