Get Ready To Take On The Monsoon Season – Tips to Stay Healthy

The monsoon will soon be here to relieve us from the scorching heat of summer. Although we would welcome the change in temperature, monsoon also brings its share of woes. It is often accompanied by health problems like flu, cough, cold, poor digestion. Also, with the monsoon, there is a sudden increase in the number of flies and mosquitoes exposing us to diseases like Malaria, Jaundice, Dengue, Dysentery Typhoid, Cholera, and Leptospirosis etc…

So, be alert and stay careful during this monsoon season with these healthy tips:

• No Outside Food

Stay away from the street, junk foods like sandwiches, pakoras, bajjis, panipuri, etc, as they have bacteria that may cause indigestion. Keep a safe distance from any kind of pre-cut or raw foods/fruits as they could contain germs that may lead to food poisoning. Do not ever drink water from outside as contaminated and impure water can cause water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, etc.

• Eat Green and Coloured Fruits & Vegetables

Green and coloured fruits and vegetables are mandatory to maintain a healthy diet and avoid diseases in monsoon. These foods offer all the nutrients required to increase your immunity and keep you healthy during this disease-prone season. However, you have to be extra cautious while washing all your fruits and vegetables (especially those being used for salads) during this season. Ideally, it is better to wash them with warm salt water to remove the dirt.

• Avoid Food Stored or Served at Room Temperature

Avoid food that’s stored or served at room temperature. Steaming hot foods are best. And although there’s no guarantee that meals served at the finest restaurants are safe, it’s best to avoid food from street vendors as contamination is more likely. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed during a power shut down— food will stay fresh up to 8 hours.

• Keep Mosquitoes at Bay

These are the first to come soon after the monsoon starts as there is pooling of fresh water in and around the habitats. Mosquito nets and mosquito net shield to the windows and doors is the better way than keeping a mosquito coil beside you and sleeping.

Application of mosquito repellent creams is also a good idea along with clothing minimizing the area of skin exposure.

• Keep your house and surroundings clean and pest-free

Make your house a pest-free zone. Check out for any clogging or leakage. Scan for stagnant water through the water coolers, flowerpots and other places. This may prevent mosquitoes from breeding and hence, would protect you from mosquito-borne diseases.

By far the preferred approach for managing mosquitoes is to keep them out of tanks and other water sources. Furthermore, do not allow rainwater to pool in containers or on surfaces underneath the tank outlets or taps, as this can become a breeding site. Most of the mosquito species stay very close to where they hatch and breed.

• Drink and stay hydrated

Despite the weather being cool, you still have to drink plenty of water during the rainy season. Due to high humidity, our body does not sweat much that is why it is important to drink more water to flush out toxins from our body.

However, you need to be extremely careful about the water you drink as most illnesses are waterborne during the monsoon season. You can boil the drinking water to kill harmful microbes and eliminate other impurities. Drink clean boiled water and if not possible, drink bottled water.

• Got Drenched in Rain? Take a Shower Immediately

Go for a relaxing warm water bath to disinfect your body, as skin and fungal infections are quite common during this season. Choose an herbal shower gel, if possible, to keep you infection-free.

• Vaccination for Typhoid and Hepatitis A

Typhoid and Hepatitis A outbreaks are common during the monsoon rains. The public health goals that can help prevent and control these diseases— safe drinking water, improved sanitation and adequate medical care — may be difficult to achieve. For that reason, some experts believe that vaccinating high-risk populations is the best way to control these diseases. A vaccine is recommended if you’re traveling to areas where the risk of typhoid fever and Hepatitis A is high.

• Exercise indoors

Exercising indoors is recommended during the monsoon season. If your workout routine includes jogging or walking, try Pilates or practicing yoga or any free-hand exercises inside indoors.

• Protect your Eyes

Avoid touching your face and eyes with soiled hands. Wash your hands as frequently as you can with warm water and disinfecting soap. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you for times when water is not available. This will keep you safe from common eye problems like conjunctivitis, etc.

The Bottom Line

• Avoid having a street or junk food.
• Try having well boiled and cooked items whenever you are planning for a meal outside the home if you have to.
• Avoid taking regular water at restaurants or hotels. Shower immediately after getting wet to avoid infections.
• Include more vegetables and fruits in your diet and be sure that they are properly washed before consumption.

So, move ahead, with a healthy diet and lifestyle, make this monsoon season truly magical for you and your loved ones.