Most cities have already begun to experience pre-monsoon rains, and the monsoons are expected to arrive in full force soon! While this season provides welcome relief from the heat, it also brings with it its own set of issues such as viral fever, cough, cold, stomach illnesses, dengue fever, and malaria.
When you have a hefty rain, your immune system becomes impaired owing to bacterial or viral illnesses. Having a robust immune system and taking measures can help you heal faster and prevent you from illnesses.
first and final line of protection. Your immune system is made up of immune cells, and each of these cells needs a certain amount of energy, which may be obtained from the food you consume, the water you drink, and the air you breathe. This is how one keeps a healthy immune system.
There are food items that can help you strengthen your immune system during this season, but they don’t work like magic. They help. Your immune system is a function of your whole lifestyle, which includes proper diet, adequate water intake, relaxation, recuperation, sleep, mental cleansing, and an active lifestyle to help circulate nutrients to all of your body’s trillions of cells.
5 food items to include in your diet this monsoon
Hot & Spicy Soups
Consider monsoons and hot soups. You may prepare pumpkin soup, tomato soup, moringa soup, green pea soup, mixed vegetable soup, or even rasam. Because of its high concentration of beta carotene and vitamin C, pumpkin is an excellent immune enhancer.
Make sure to include garlic and ginger since they are anti-inflammatory, and garlic acts as an antibiotic and antifungal meal. Unless you have an acidity problem, you may also add chilies to this recipe. Chilies are also exceptionally high in vitamin C. If you’re not a vegetarian, a basic chicken broth with spices and veggies is an excellent immune-boosting meal.
Oregano
Do you understand why? Because of its highly effective antifungal effects. Monsoons increase the risk of fungal infections because the dampness and wetness create an ideal and favourable environment for them to grow.
Simply make oregano tea or season your salad and meal with dried/fresh oregano leaves, depending on what you have on hand. Even 1-2 drops of consumable oregano essential oil in your drink or soup will do the trick. Oregano is also beneficial to the respiratory system and aids in the loosening of mucus and phlegm, especially when we drink warm.
Seeds and nuts
You won’t regret walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds, whether they’re hot or cold. Make sure you get some of these in a day. It may be a handful or less, but don’t go overboard. Maintain their equilibrium.
Cruciferous Vegetables
These include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and radish, and they are excellent for reducing inflammation, combating bacterial infections, and acting as potent immune boosters. Because of their goitrogenic impact, make sure they are well cleaned and cooked/steamed/blanched, especially if you have a thyroid problem. You may make soups, stir-fries, soups, or vegetable dishes out of them.
Masala/spice
Stock up on popular cooking spices, since they will be your go-tos throughout the rainy season. To improve immunity, utilise common household spices such as turmeric, cumin, methi seeds, ginger, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, curry leaves, tulsi/basil leaves, and black pepper. You may construct a mixture of a water infusion out of these ingredients, or simply incorporate them into your regular meals.
You may also combine all of these ingredients to make a hot cup of chai devoid of added sugar. Replace it with jaggery instead, and you’ll see how it just improves the flavour. So, if your body needs a cup of chai this monsoon, you know where to go. Only make it the proper way and season it!
All of the items described above, when combined with the appropriate lifestyle modifications, constitute your monsoon disease prevention strategy! Everything boils down to your immune system. You can have an exceptionally fit body, a size zero figure, or six-pack abs, but none of it matters if you don’t have a strong immune system.