Healthy monsoon: Overall health tips everyone must know

New Delhi: Monsoon brings good rainfall, offering much needed relief to people from the scorching heat of the sun. But the rainy season is the also the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, which in turn lead to vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, chikungunya and malaria, affecting a lot of people.

Similarly, the onset of monsoon also leads to a spurt in water-borne diseases, including, cholera, typhoid fever, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, etc.

Moreover, the oppressive humidity and rains in monsoons make it easier for viral infections to be carried from one person to another. The season could be even more harmful for those who have low immunity power or asthmatic patients as they are more prone to these problems during this time.

Perhaps, the sudden change in temperature and humidity during monsoons can bring havoc to your skin and hair as well.

Taking precautions during rainy season is important to stay healthy and happy throughout the monsoons. Here are some overall health tips to help you protect yourself from getting sick in monsoon:

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet to keep you fit and other infections at bay.
• Eat fruits, like apples, mangoes, pomegranates, and pears are best suggestible. But avoid having too many mangoes as this may cause pimples. Always go for seasonal fruits.
• Go for bitter veggies like bitter gourd, and bitter herbs like neem while avoiding vegetables like spinach, cabbage and cauliflower during this season. Make sure that all veggies and fruits are thoroughl washed and cooked well.
• Avoid raw vegetables as they contain active bacteria and virus that cause bacterial and viral infections. Instead opt for steamed salads.
• Avoid eating fried food that is difficult to digest. Also, the highly humid weather in monsson can cause digestion process to slow down.
• Avoid too much of fish and meat this season. Go for light meat preparations like stew and soups.
• Drink enough water, regardless of your physical activity levels. Drink plenty of herbal teas, including, ginger, pepper, honey, mint and basil leaves, that have antibacterial properties.
• Limit intake of caffeine and tea that dehydrate body fluids.
• Avoid walking in the rain that makes you prone to a host of viral diseases such as leptospirosis, while also making you more vulnerable to numerous fungal infections at the feet and nails.

Following these guidelines can help you stay safe and healthy during the rainy season.