Boosting Immunity This Monsoon With The Right Diet Choices

We are pretty tempted to binge on crunchy, piping hot bajjis, pakodas or manchurian with chai this monsoon. This idea sounds great, and we are not asking you to stay far away from this yumminess. We just want to help you make healthier choices by adding certain spices or herbal teas into the mix, along with a sprinkle of our Indian spice mix pantry essentials- like turmeric, pepper, mint, jeera, ajwain, ginger, garlic, etc. Read on to see why eating the right foods this season can help make you less susceptible to infections and improve immunity.

Foods To Boost Immunity This Monsoon

The chill in the air, the howling winds, the dampness – makes us just want to curl up in our blankets and have a good nap. Naps are good for you too, but your diet is much more important. The idea of hot garlic rasam with potato roast and rice with some ghee drizzled on top, hot spicy curries and rotis, herbal teas are all super enticing, and are actually great for our system. So, let us make a simple list of all the ingredients you could incorporate:

• Turmeric: Anti-inflammatory in nature, this golden yellow spice is an essential in our pantry.
• Black pepper: When combined with turmeric, the functional components are better absorbed by the body.
• Ginger: The intense grassy and pungent root is great in teas, soups, curries, or stir fries.
• Garlic: A flavouring agent we all love to include wherever possible and anti-inflammatory in nature.
• Vitamin-C rich foods: Help with healing and reducing oxidative stress.
• Mushrooms: full of minerals and vitamins, they are good for you. Add them to rice, soups or curries and you are all set. They also taste great and impart yummy umaminess to any dish.
• Light peppery soups: Like drumstick leaves, chicken, mutton, veggie rich options too obviously
• Curd and butter milk:Probiotics for the gut
• Fresh fruits: For the antioxidants
• Fresh and good quality greens and vegetables: Remember to wash them well and clean them before you consume them. The rains can make them slimy and unfit for consumption.
• Nuts: Like almonds, walnuts, pistachios contain good fats and proteins.

How To Avoid Infections During Monsoon

Sip on some spicy and delectable masala chai which is brewed with a blend of spices- peppercorns, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, bay leaf, etc. and some warming ginger, while you read this.
These tips are golden, in our opinion:

• Stick to homemade food now.
• Do NOT consume food from outside- especially street food, or cut fruits which have been exposed to the air for a long time.
• Pani puri sounds great, but you may not know if the water quality is decent. Don’t risk getting typhoid.
• Spicy foods sound great, but are not good for your tummy now. So use flavours like ginger or pepper or garlic which can warm you up, and also make your food a little spicy.
• Consume dairy products well before expiration dates.
• Fried foods may cause bloating. Metabolism is generally slower now than before, so you may feel heavy.
• Seafood- try to avoid it as it is breeding season now, and stocks may not be fresh.

Herbal Teas To Boost Immunity In The Monsoon

Making a wonderful smelling cup of tea or tisane with ginger, cinnamon, lemon and honey, green tea, tulsi, mexican mint (karpooravalli leaves) etc. are great, inexpensive options to try at home, as these grow in abundance or are easily available now.

Conclusion

Eating nutritious food this monsoon can help you stay healthy and alert, and eating at home will make sure you don’t fall ill due to unexpected infections or tummy bugs. Light kanjis and soups are great for your gut. Make sure to get good quality produce, and spend some time trying to clean and store them in the right way. Storage is also an important concern as excessive humidity can cause mold spores to grow quickly and cause food spoilage.