Monsoon – the very thought of this season takes you to the pattering of the rains, the smell of the soil, the cool breeze, and all that follows after soothing relief from the scorching sun.
Despite all the good things, the monsoon season also brings in various health issues, infections, seasonal cold, and flu. Our health needs to be properly taken care of during the monsoon season. Even a little negligence can cause health issues like cold, and flu.
If you hear close enough, you would also hear your mother asking you to heed your health during the monsoon season by not getting wet in rain, wearing warm clothes, and following a balanced diet.
We bring you six common mistakes which you must avoid during the monsoon to stay healthy.
1. Indulging in oily and fried foods
Every time it rains during the monsoon, your tummy starts to grumble. A cup of hot tea with tempting pakoras can seem like a perfect snack combo during a monsoon evening. But it can only give you acidity and gastric problems. Because eating oily and fried foods can cause bloating, indigestion, and other stomach problems.
There are certain foods that you should avoid eating during the monsoon season. They are Pakoras, chaat, samosa, Indo-Chinese, Seafood, roadside juices, and carbonated drinks.
2. Drinking less water
As the temperature is not that high during the monsoon seasons no one tends to feel thirsty. This makes you skip drinking enough water. But the increase in humidity during the monsoon season takes away huge amounts of water from the body.
Therefore, you need to drink an adequate amount of water, at least 2 to 3 liters of water daily, to keep your body hydrated.
3. Consuming pre-cut or peeled fruits and vegetables
Purchasing precut fruits and vegetables can add more convenience to your eating. But they are more susceptible to contamination. Pre-cut or peeled fruits and vegetables can attract bacteria and germs and can ultimately lead to health issues.
Furthermore, cutting or peeling the fruits and vegetables opens their insides to light and air. This creates oxidation, which affects the texture, color, or taste. If the cut or peeled fruits or vegetables are kept open for a while they tend to lose nutrients.
4. Skipping exercise
The pleasant monsoon season not only prompts you to binge on ‘samosas’ and ‘chai’ but also makes you too lazy to head to the gym.
But do you know skipping your exercise can make your body more exposed to infections and allergies?
Here’s how. As already stated, the air contains different strains of bacteria and viruses during the monsoon season. The only way to get rid of them is to sweat it out.
If you can’t afford to hit the gym, do some light exercises, yoga, and stretching for a while. Practicing yoga is the best way to stay fit while staying indoors. It also helps in building immunity, reducing respiratory problems, and enhancing mental health.
On the whole, daily exercise is crucial to boost the body’s immunity and will eventually help you ward off illnesses.
5. Oversleeping or sleeping less
When there is less sunlight during the monsoon season, the body produces less melatonin that makes our body gets confused about the day and night. This is why you feel either more sleepy or sleep less during the monsoon season. However, both are detrimental to your health.
Oversleeping or sleeping less could make you fatigued, create indigestion, and lower your immunity. So ensure you follow a sleep routine irrespective of the season.
6. Not Maintaining Personal Hygiene
Maintaining maximum hygiene is one of the most effective practices to stay healthy during the monsoon. Washing your hands and bathing with soap and clean water is the best way to protect you and your family from monsoon illnesses.
Not just your hands, you also need to clean your feet with an antibacterial solution if you step into a puddle.
7. Ignoring signs of infection
The extreme fluctuation of temperature during the monsoon season makes the body more prone to infections both in children and adults alike. Do not delay visiting a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of infections. If not treated immediately, they can turn to be life-threatening.
The Bottom Line
You must be extra cautious when it comes to your health and hygiene during the monsoon season.
It is important that you should focus on healthy practices to maintain good health and safety apart from just thinking about what to avoid during the monsoon.
Take the necessary steps to boost your immunity and ensure that you don’t repeat these common mistakes as you go through seasonal shifts.
