Rainy Season Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid for Optimal Health

Everyone feels a rush of relief from the summer’s oppressive heat as the monsoon clouds roll in over India. However, as you celebrate the rain, keep in mind that the monsoon also carries with it a number of health issues. Your body is more susceptible to numerous infections and illnesses during the rainy season due to the higher humidity levels. During rainy seasons, you may have cravings for tasty snacks or street food, but this enjoyment may be short-lived due to intestinal diseases. Numerous gastrointestinal issues, such as cramps, stomach aches, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or watery stools, can be brought on by the widespread presence of countless germs and viruses during the rainy season. You must, therefore, be mindful of your rainy season diet in order to prevent these health problems.

Dr. Sheetu Singh, a well-known pulmonologist, shares a simple guide for keeping your lungs healthy during the rainy season. She recommends eating fresh fruits that support healthy lungs, such as pomegranates, apples, and pears. Incorporate ginger tea, turmeric milk, and warm vegetable soups to strengthen immunity. Avoid street food and cold drinks as they can increase the chances of infections in this season. To keep your lungs clear and your body hydrated, drink plenty of warm water. Dr. Sheetu Singh says ‘Eat light, stay warm, and maintain hygiene to protect your lungs and breathe healthy during the rainy season.

Cough Specialist, Chest Specialist, Sleep Apnea Specialist, Asthma Specialist, Lung Specialist

Foods to Eat During the Rainy Season 

In addition to pleasing your palate, your monsoon diet should fortify your immune system to fend against diseases and ailments brought on by the season. The following are some meals to eat during the rainy season to maintain your health and fitness: 

• Seasonal Fruits

Do you want to boost your immunity this rainy season? If so, your diet should be rich in vitamins and minerals. Your body’s growing needs for vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants can be efficiently met by seasonal fruits, including apples, pears, jamun, plum, papaya, papaya, pomegranates, cherries, lychees, bananas, and cherries.

Additionally, the low water content of these fruits lowers the risk of illnesses and diseases linked to water. These seasonal fruits also help maintain intestinal flora, stimulate the immune system, and aid in better digestion. 

• Vegetables

During the monsoon season, the vegetable market is brimming with gourds, including bitter, bottle, ridge, ash, and others, as well as other vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and okra. You may promote the best possible gut health by including a lot of these fresh vegetables in your rainy season diet. To boost your immunity and stave off diseases brought on by the monsoon, include herbs like fenugreek seeds, neem, and turmeric.

• Sprouts

In any season, but especially during the monsoon, sprouts can help you stay healthy.  These high-protein sprouts strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off infections, making them the healthiest breakfast and snack options.

• Soup

Are you craving too much food from the street when it’s storming outside? Try a bowl of hot soup instead of this unhealthy snack when you’re hungry. Soup is nutrient-dense, satisfying, and easy to digest. Hence, it will keep your stomach happy. Any vegetable or chicken will work well for a bowl of hot soup, and adding ginger, black pepper, and garlic as garnishes will enhance the flavor. Eating a cup of soup will help you stay hydrated all day. 

• Dry Fruits and Nuts

A great approach to stay away from processed snacks and junk food this monsoon is to eat dry fruits and nuts like cashews, dates, walnuts, and almonds. These foods, which are high in vitamins, minerals, iron, and riboflavin, can help maintain healthy cells and boost immunity.

• Probiotics

Consuming foods high in probiotics, such as yoghurt and almond milk, is another great strategy to avoid stomach infections and diseases during this rainy season. These foods will strengthen your immune system in addition to improving digestion. These are a nutritious substitute for regular milk for people who experience indigestion or bloating after consuming milk during the monsoon season.

• Herbal Tea

Herbal teas, like tulsi tea or ginger, are the best thing you can feed your body this monsoon. They will increase your immunity while keeping you warm and protected from the flu or cold. Additionally, to benefit from honey’s antibacterial qualities, it is advised to add a few drops of honey to your herbal tea instead of sugar.

• Spices

In addition to the meals to consume during the monsoon, you should look at the spices to have throughout the wet months. Spices and herbs having antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting qualities include ginger, garlic, turmeric, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, and cinnamon. 

By controlling immune cells like T-cells, these herbs and spices will help your body defend itself against infections. So, during the rainy season, liberally season your food with these spices to improve your general health.

Foods to Avoid Eating in Monsoon Season 

The following list of foods should be avoided during the monsoon season since they may jeopardize your health:

• Street and Fried Food: Even though fried and street food may be alluring in cool, wet weather, they can be bad for your digestive system. These food’s high fat content may cause bloating, discomfort, and food poisoning by slowing down digestion.
• Unhygienic Food: Food that has been improperly prepared or partially prepared from outside, along with fruit. Street vendors make juice, milkshakes, and other cold drinks. Such food or drink consumption could expose one to bacteria that cause waterborne disease.
• Spicy Food: Consuming spicy meals might disrupt your digestive tract, exacerbating digestive issues such as constipation, indigestion, or acidity.
• Salt: During the monsoon, adding too much salt to your food might lead to bloating and water retention. Avoiding or consuming less salt might help prevent needless health issues and preserve fluid balance during the monsoon.