10 Rainy Season Foods You Can Include In Your Diet
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After the scorching summer, rain, unarguably, is a pleasant experience. However, these pleasing moments might be spoiled by non-desirable health conditions like cough, cold, diarrhoea, and flu. You can now enjoy those beautiful moments without compromising on your health by paying some extra attention to the foods you consume. If you are already following a healthy eating style, make some modifications to your standard diet by including foods that are light on your digestive system, at the same time peps up your metabolic rates.
10 Rainy Season Foods You Can Include In Your Diet:
1. Garlic
Packed with antioxidants, these cloves are rich with immunity boosting properties. Plus, they ease your digestive system while ensuring that your metabolic rate does not spiral down to a snail pace. While you can add crushed garlic pods to any food of your choice, one of the tastiest and healthiest ways of enjoying garlic is garlic rasam. A spicy concoction enriched with the pungent flavors of garlic and black pepper, it can be enjoyed along with rice or as a hot cup of soup.
2. Ginger
Ginger tea – this is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about rain! The fiery nature of ginger verves up your mood and at the same time boosts your metabolism. Grate some fresh ginger into a mug of warm water and squeeze in a lemon. Mix 1 tsp of honey. Your daily dose of immune boosting supplement is ready!
3. Pears
Not much is talked about the immunity boosting potential of pears. However, it is really amazing to know that this crispy fruit is a treasure trove of assorted vitamins and minerals, all which actually shield you from diseases commonly floating around during the monsoon. Along with being a good source of fiber, the crunchy off white fruit contains a good quantity of copper, vitamin C, and vitamin B12. Pear is a natural antipyretic agent as it helps in cooling the body and thereby easing the fever. So, just make sure you drink a glass of freshly squeezed pear juice or munch on some fresh fruit to get relief from fever.
4. Turmeric
This golden yellow hued spice powder is a well-accepted immunity boosting agent. It is a natural antiseptic and antibiotic agent too. And, that is one of the reasons you are forced to drink turmeric infused milk when you get a bout of cough or fever! Turmeric is also known to keep the levels of blood sugar under control. You can drink a glass of milk with ½ teaspoon milk with 1 tsp honey in to safeguard yourself from monsoon illnesses.
5. Black Pepper
Just add a zing of black pepper to your omelette or soups or even to your khichdi! These fiery black beads are not just tasty, but come with an awesome dose of good health. A natural antidote for fever, cough, cold, muscular pain, flu, and various respiratory conditions, black pepper is a must include rainy season food. Make a spicy pepper soup with a tamarind base or just mix ½ a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper powder with equal quantities of turmeric powder and 2 tsp honey to milk and drink for healthy monsoon.
6. Almonds
The crunchy, brown skinned nuts are good sources of protein. Quite low on fat, almonds are packed with various nutrients that are beneficial for your health. This tasty nut enhances your digestive fire, keeps your sugar levels under control, and offers a powerful shield from various diseases. Plus, it is a great snack to munch on while you are on your weight loss regimen plus ensures that are at the pink of your health.
7. Apples
The saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away is perfectly applicable in this scenario. Munch an apple everyday as a part of your balanced, healthy diet. Available in countless variants – Washington, Shimla, Fuji, Granny Smith – apples contains various elements that offer a good cover for you from various health conditions that are always on the prowl during the rains. It also makes sure that your digestive system is functioning properly.
8. Pomegranate
I love this ruby like nibbles! A perfect inclusion in a healthy diet, it is packed with vitamins, especially vitamin C, that ensures that the protein in your body is properly metabolized. This, in turn, ensures that your digestive system is healthy and clean. It also peps up the immunity power, thus helping you combat the various illnesses.
9. Beetroot
Just stir fry grated beets with grated carrots and season it with a little cumin seeds and freshly ground black pepper! You can add 10 to 12 toasted almonds to it and your perfect meal is ready! Packed with the goodness of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, including potassium, fibre, and folic acid, beets are amazingly low in calories. It is an ideal veggie when it comes to detoxifying your body. You can have a glass of beetroot juice everyday during the monsoon to revive and revitalize your stamina and keep you healthy during the monsoon.
[ Read: Magnesium Rich Foods You Should Include In Your Diet ]
10. Water
Last, but never the least, it is very essential to keep yourself hydrated during the monsoon. There is a natural tendency to cut down on water consumption due to the cold environment. This can put you at the risk of various infections and diseases that are quite common during the monsoon. Ensure you drink at least 8 glasses of water, with each glass measuring 150 ml. Opt for warm water to ensure that you are not compromising your metabolism.
What to Eat and What to Avoid During Rainy Season:
1. Include fruits such as pears, pomegranates, mangoes, guavas, apples, and pears.
2. Enjoy low sodium diet to thwart off hypertension and water retention.
3. Opt for dry foods such as corn and chickpea instead of water-rich foods such as rice and watermelons.
4. Include barley, whole wheat, and oats in your diet.
5. Include curd and buttermilk in your diet.
6. Include bitter veggies and herbs such as Neem and bittergourd.
7. Cut down on tomatoes and tamarind to prevent water retention.
8. Cut down the intake of meat and fish.
9. Include pungent and astringent foods.
10. Drink herbal teas like the ones infused with ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and cardamom.
11. Cut down on caffeine intake.
12. Avoid veggies such as potatoes, cauliflower, ladies fingers, pigeon peas, sprouted grains, kidney beans, and cluster beans.
13. Avoid green leafy vegetables such as spinach and fenugreek.
14. Opt for steamed vegetable salads.
15. Avoid pre-cut fruits.
16. Drink warm water infused with honey, ginger, and black pepper to pep up immunity.
17. Avoid frozen foods such as ice creams.
18. Bid adieu to fruit juices.
19. Avoid raw vegetable salads.
20. Drink plenty of hot homemade soups.
[ Read: Rich Protein Foods You Should Include In Your Diet ]
Along with following these guidelines, don’t forget to exercise. Walking alone will not suffice your exercise needs; opt for some gentle stretches to avoid unwanted stiffness. Yoga and Tai Chi are two wonderful stretch routines you can try.
Eat healthy and clean. Include the rainy season foods and enjoy a healthy, marvelous monsoon!
What are your choices when it comes to the best food for rainy season? Is there any special diet you follow? Why don’t you share your experience and thoughts with us? Just scroll down and start typing.
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