Any season is a good season to take care of your heart. But as far as the monsoons are concerned you need to be a little more careful as you are prone to infections. The first welcome showers of the monsoon give you respite from the sultry summer heat. It gives you a chance to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather visit, visiting scenic hill stations, getting drenched in the cool showers, and go out and enjoy some mouth-watering street-side food. However, with all that is good in the monsoon, there are a lot of things to be wary of. Yes, health experts, heart specialist hospital in Hyderabad agree to this statement, monsoon is a perfect time or rather not-so-perfect time to get sick.
The hot and humid atmosphere of this season is the breeding ground for germs and bacteria to rule the roost. Well, cold and cough are common during this season but there may be more instances, of water-borne diseases. However, the right diet and lifestyle changes can help maintain good health in general and avoid heart attack. People, especially the elderly have low immunity and are prone to bacterial and viral infections. There are a few points to consider to keep healthy in the monsoon season.
Below are a Few Diet and Nutritional Tips to Keep Your Heart Healthy in the Monsoon
- Protect yourself from the rain:
Always keep umbrellas and rainwear handy to avoid getting wet in the rain.
- Wash your hands with soap and water:
The monsoon is the breeding time for bacteria and virus. Always remember to use antiseptic soap to wash your hands.
- Keep your feet dry:
Remember to clean your feet to keep fungal infections at bay.
- Shower if you must but with lukewarm water:
If you get wet, shower with warm water to gradually bring the body temperature back to normal and get rid of the germs.
- Avoid walking in the rain:
Walking in the rain may make you more susceptible to viral diseases (leptospirosis) and can also cause fungal infections especially at the feet and nails.
- Workout at home:
If you are missing your regular morning walks because of the weather changes, you can work out at home to keep yourself healthy and revving up your immunity. Yoga is a very good exercise to do right within the confines of your home, easy to do, and you do not need any equipment to do the same. If you want to do something more intense, you can try HIIT (high-intensity interval training) a sure shot way to bring your heart rate up and great for weight loss. You can try various workouts available online, all aiming to keep you strong and fit at home.
Diet Tips to Keep you Healthy in the Monsoons
- High water content foods are a strict no-no
While summer is the right time to consume more foods with high water content, things change in monsoon floods. You must avoid foods with high water content such as tomato, cucumber, watermelon, and muskmelon as they may cause swelling in your body. You can have more of drying foods such as chickpea, brown rice, corn, potato, and oats. You can also avoid foods such as tamarind and lime to beat water retention in the rainy season.
- Avoid high intake of sodium
The monsoons are the time when we want to indulge in salty and savory foods and calling to our taste buds are the numerous food stalls lining the streets. The piping hot bhajiyas, samosas are seasoned with generous doses of salt, no wonder they are so delicious. But did you know the intake of high salt foods can spike your blood pressure levels increasing your risk for heart attacks if you make indulging in these kinds of foods a regular affair? Know all about heart attack- men vs. women and avoid the heart attack triggers such as a high-sodium diet and a diet high in saturated fats.
- Don’t forget to add a generous helping of anti-inflammatory foods
Anti-inflammatory foods are the most popular way of fighting oxidative damage and help delay to age. Monsoon season is the right season to load your plate with plenty of greens to help increase your immunity levels. The foods that are rich in antioxidants include green leafy veggies, berries, green leafy vegetables, walnuts, turmeric, beetroot, and coconut oil. These are powerful foods to ward off infections, thyroid issues, gastrointestinal diseases, and heart disease.
- Drink packaged water to stay safe
If you are eating out at a restaurant always opt for packaged mineral water, as there is a high chance of water contamination in the rainy season especially if the container is sitting outside for long hours. There are water-borne diseases such as Jaundice, Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and it is largely seen in crowded city areas, so it is necessary to stay safe.
- Don’t eat raw foods outdoors
Avoid eating raw foods on the street, such as paani puri, street chaat, and vegetable sandwich. They may be contaminated and there are high chances of people falling ill. Stay away from so-called healthy foods such as lemon water and cut fresh fruit juices. Also, avoid the sweet or savory chutneys as they are stored for long hours and may get worse in the rainy season.
- Say no to spicy foods
Most monsoon favorite foods are laden with ginger, chili and peppers. Also, adding high amounts of oil to the food may spell trouble for you. Have them but do not go overboard on them as sometimes they trigger off skin allergies. Spicy foods may not be the right foods for someone who has a lot of digestive issues.
- Say yes to seasonal fruits
Seasonal fruits contain a treasure trove of nutrients. Choose from a plethora of seasonal fruits such as cranberries, custard apple, pears, and dragon fruit. Ensure the foods are high in water content and fiber. Papaya and bananas are high in fiber and are satiating.
- Consume dairy foods in moderation
Don’t you just love to devour the sumptuous chaas or milkshakes that look oh-so-tempting in all its delicious glory? But steer clear of them in the monsoon season as they may lead to water-borne diseases. Milk may turn bad in the fluctuating weather conditions and you consuming these foods can only mean stomach ache and other tummy issues. You can have yogurt in moderation.
Eat right to stay fit and keep your heart healthy in the changing seasons. Do a lot of pranayama or breathing exercises to keep stress at bay, and if you manage stress well, you will find it easier to beat most chronic diseases. Enjoy the monsoon season, just don’t forget to eat right and exercise.
