Top 10 Diet Hacks that works best for Monsoon

Monsoon is the most favorite season for all. While it relieves us from excruciatingly-hot summer, the atmospheric conditions during monsoons can get you into troublesome gastrointestinal issues. The humidity, rainfall, and an unhealthy food choice during monsoon, can upset your digestive tract and make you susceptible to infections and discomforts. Monsoon is also followed by several illnesses such as malaria, dengue, typhoid, cold and cough, and diarrhea. Therefore, it is significant to be aware of appropriate food choices, to relish the monsoon savories.

DrTrust knowledge circle recommends these 10 diet hacks to enjoy a healthy monsoon:

1. Include light, fresh, hot meals prepared from barley, rice, and wheat.¹

2. Chumble a small piece of ginger with rock salt before every meal. It will ease your bloating, speed up the movements in the gastrointestinal tract and protect your gut.

You can also have a small cup of ginger tea after a heavy meal.

To make ginger tea, use ¼ teaspoon of coarsely powdered or dried ginger root or a ginger tea bag per cup of boiled water. Let it infuse for 5 minutes.

Alternately, boil 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped ginger in 250 ml water for 10 minutes, strain, and add honey and lemon as per your choice.

A cup of green tea/herbal tea with a few drops of lemon can also soothe your stomach instantly.

3. Include more Bitter and astringent vegetables. These decrease water retention and are the stomach’s friendly during the monsoon.

Highly recommended for those experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, acid reflux, or heartburn. These encourage healthy gut flora and also triggers an immune response.

Avoid raw, uncooked, fermented, and stale food items due to the probability of bacteria germinating during monsoon.

4. Drink plenty of water/ Detox water to get rid of toxins, infections, gut, and kidney issues and to build a robust immune system.

The adults with midlevel physical activities are recommended to drink 12 glasses of water a day, while the kids and old adults are recommended 4-5 and 9-13 glasses of water a day respectively.²

5. Avoid food items that take extended hours to digest. The proteins and fats in meat and fish can take as long as 2 days to fully digest. In contrast, fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, and also quick to digest.

Also, monsoons are the breeding season for fish, and chances of contamination during the rainy season are high. So avoid having fish during monsoons.

6. Having curd during monsoon is a notion. Curd is a naturally fermented milk product obtained from cow or buffalo milk and rich in Lactobacillus Bulgaris (good bacteria). These bacteria already flourish in the gut and aid digestion. Hence, having a curd will encourage digestion and relieve the gastrointestinal tract during monsoon.

7. Avoid or reduce food items that cause intestinal gas. These include soybeans, chickpeas, kidney beans, and a few pluses. These tend to induce flatulence and cause stomach discomfort.

8. Include more herbs and spices such as basil, spearmint, cloves, ginger, garlic, and turmeric in your food. It will boost your health and immunity during the monsoon. Moreover, herbs and spices are low in calories, sodium, and fat and are devoid of cholesterol.

The complementary health benefits include reduced inflammations, blood pressure, Cholesterol, free-radical damage, and even pains.³

9. Lemon is the superfood that must be added to drinks or food during monsoon to aid digestion. It is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants that help strengthen the immune system against the germs that cause the common cold and the flu.⁴

A glass of hot water with whole lemon juice and a large spoonful of honey will not only kick start your day but also sustain your immunity and prevent you from an illness during the monsoon.

10. Avoid or limit eating streetside or deep-fried items during monsoon. These can cause indigestion, bloating diarrhea, or stomach infections. Instead, relish homemade hot and steamy snacks. These will satisfy your monsoon cravings without disturbing your digestion.

Try these Low-calorie Healthy Monsoon Recipes

Remember, your health and body’s immunity depend on what you eat. So being wise with your diet choices can save you from unwanted discomforts.

For more healthy hacks, connect to DrTrust360 health plans and customize your diet plans. Also, track and share your daily progress with our nutritionists for undisrupted weight management.