Stay Healthy, Eat Healthy This Monsoon

Monsoon has made a big splash, moods are uplifted, and romance is in the air. It’s a season when your heart longs to throw caution to the wind and get out and soak yourself in the pitter pattering rain. But, cautious you must be. Because, apart from making you feel gung ho, the rainy season can beset you with a whole lot of nagging infections. In such a scenario, Integrative Nutritionist and Life Coach and NLP Expert, Payal Kothari comes to your rescue. Not only does she give you tips on how to build your immunity and keep fit this season, as a bonus, she shares some recipes to eat right while it rains outside.  

Boost your Immunity this Monsoon

Get monsoon ready and start gearing up to build your immune system so you are not a victim of deadly water borne diseases like malaria, dengue, typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, viruses, flus and other illnesses. Eat right, work out right and take some precautions and you are all set to enjoy the rains…

Foods to avoid:

• Raw leafy greens: avoid eating raw leafy and green vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, and spinach, especially in restaurants. They are home to many harmful germs in this weather. If you have to use them for their nutrients,make sure they are thoroughly washed and cooked.
• Previously peeled or cut fruit: never eat a peeled fruit or previously cut fruit as flies are carriers of many viruses and infectious diseases and we don’t know where all they have been.
• No-no seafood: monsoon is the breeding season for sea creatures. So, avoid eating seafood to avoid any kind of infections and allergies.
• Outside water: carry around your own bottle with filtered water. If you must drink outside water, then make sure it’s from a clean reliable source and the glasses are washed well and are bone dry.
  

Foods to keep allergies away:

• Ginger + turmeric warm tea: the antiseptic anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and turmeric anytime during the day can keep your immunity strong and keep the sniffles at bay.  
• Traditional badaam ka sheera: enjoy traditional sheera made in pure desi ghee as it is easily digested than other heavy oils. One tbsp a day is just right.
• Monsoon Fruits: make sure you gorge on seasonal hydrating fruits which have ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and retinol to keep your immunity high. Eat freshly cut papaya, peaches, pears, plums and bananas to build up your stamina.

Work Out Smart

Along with foods, workouts can also be restrictive in the rains. So, a smart workout at home on your very own floor at home, or a quick run followed by some yoga asanas and stretches in your garden are smarter ways to get your workout in place. A fun HIIT workout comprising burpees, jumping jacks, spot jogging, and mountain climber, etc, could be effective too. Make sure you use a firm slip proof mat to workout on.

The Rain Snacks

Nothing feels better than sitting by your window, peacefully sipping a warm cuppa, listening to the pitter patter of the rains and taking in the blissful aroma of wet earth. Here are some fun yet healthy monsoon recipes to add to the fun.

Recipe: Vegetable Pad Thai

Ingredients list
Serves: 2 people

• ½ packet flat wide rice noodles
• 1.1/2 tbsp. soya sauce
• ¼ fresh lime juice
• Red crushed chilli flakes
• 1.1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• ½ tsp jaggery
• 1 carrot grated
• 1 bowl of grated cabbage
• 1 grated turnip
• 1 cup of bean sprouts
• 2 tsp roasted peanuts
• 1 clove of chopped garlic
• ½ cup of diced semi-firm tofu
• ½ cup broccoli  
• Salt as per taste

Cooking instructions:

1. Boil noodles according to the instructions on the packet.
2. On a wide pan put oil to simmer, add garlic and grated vegetables to semi-cook.
3. Add the soya sauce, jaggery, salt, and lime juice to the cooked vegetables in the pan.
4. Toss in the noodles and sprinkle the peanut powder, chilli flakes and firm tofu on top and toss once again gently without breaking the tofu.