speech on food habitat in rainy season
Answers
Raindrops are falling on our heads and while it may bring a smile on your face, eating and drinking the wrong things could play a spoiler to your mood. However romantic this weather may appear to the poets and lovers but physicians are not amused. For, monsoon brings with it the risk of various ailments and not all of them are water-borne.
“The digestive system of a human body is weak during the rainy season. So it’s always better to eat light food. Non-vegetarian food should be avoided though tandoori foods can be eaten in small quantities,” says Dr Priti Vijay, head dietician at Max Healthcare. Indeed, light is the buzzword this monsoon.
Foods like cereals, vegetables and fruits are advisable while oily, fried and the spicy food are a strict no no. Street food too is avoidable. The evergreen leafy vegetables should be consumed, as they build immunity and are light on the stomach. Nonetheless, most vegetables and fruits carry a risk of infection during monsoon and hence be washed properly before use. Gastro-intestinal problems are common during the moist months. One should therefore must not take cut fruits.
Bitter and astringent vegetables and cooling foods such as barley, brown rice and oats are the stomach’s best friends during the monsoon. In addition, plenty of ginger and onion should be used in food preparations as they help in exterminating the microbes in the stomach. Avoiding gaseous foods like soyabean, pulses like kidney beans and channa and other heavy food items is a wise thing to do in the rainy season.
While a meagre amount of turmeric everyday can keep the infections at bay, honey is an excellent tonic that helps in keeping the intestine sterile. Honey also assists in the digestion process to carry out its functions properly and effectively.
Similarly fruits that have high quantity of water such as watermelon should also be avoided. Dairy products should not be consumed in huge amounts as they have maximum propensity to get infected by germs. Since monsoon is mostly about water-borne diseases, water should be purified during the season. The season is the perfect environment for the breeding of bacteria and thus one should avoid eating junk and other spicy food from street vendors.
Eating salads from outside is also not a good option as germs might thrive in them during rains thus giving rise to various infections like diarrhoea. “During the monsoon, a person is more susceptible to diseases such as cholera, dysentery, acidity, food poisoning and many others. Therefore extra caution should be taken when it comes to water,” says Dr. Vijay.
Along with the diet tips, it becomes equally important to take care of the personal hygiene. To begin with, a healthy habit would be to wash one’s hands before eating. A regular shower everyday keeps the body free from germs and bacteria that may cause some skin problems. Also, dry the feet when they are wet to avoid fungal infections. A damp room is an invitation to ruin the monsoon mania. And diseases such as malaria and dengue can be easily avoided if the water is not allowed to stagnate near or in the house. So while you plan to enjoy the heavenly downpours, relieve your mind of all the worries as you take these precautions.
Answer:
1. leafy vegetables
It may seem counter intuitive because all our lives we have been instructed about the importance of eating leafy vegetables. However, in the monsoon, they are best avoided. The grime and dampness present in them makes them highly susceptible to germs. Say no to vegetables like spinach, cabbage and cauliflower this season. Instead, go for pungent vegetables like bitter gourd, ghiya, tori or tinda. Make sure all vegetables are thoroughly washed and cooked well.
2. Fresh Juice and Fruit from Roadside Vendors
Any fresh food items that have had a long exposure to the monsoon air should be avoided. Roadside vendors have the fruits cut up well in advance, which could have come in contact with contaminated air. Stick to fresh fruit juice prepared at home and consume it instantly.
Quick Tip: Even at home, make sure you don’t leave cut fruits out for very long. Any prolonged exposure to the air can cause contamination. Cut it fresh and consume immediately.
3. Sea Food
Monsoon is the breeding season for fish and prawns so they are best avoided this time of the year. Stick to chicken and mutton to satiate your craving for non-vegetarian food. However, if it absolutely essential to have sea food, make sure you only consume the freshest variety of it, taking extra care to cook them well.
4. Fried food
Yes, you read that right. Fried food is one of the food items you should absolutely avoid this rainy season and science backs me up on this too. The highly humid monsoon weather causes our digestion process to slow down. However irresistible that spread of pakodas, samosas and kachodi may seem, they could cause gastronomical complications like bloating and stomach upset. Extra salty food also causes water retention.
Dr. Simran Saini, nutritionist at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi, recommends, “I would strongly advise everyone to stay away from street food, especially items like gol gappa where water is used. The season brings with itself lots of bacteria and insects, which can cause severe infection.”
5. Fizzy drinks
Fizzy drinks reduce minerals in our body, which in turn leads to reduction of enzyme activity. This is highly undesirable with an already weak digestive system. Keep a bottle of water or nimbu paani handy or stick to warm beverages like ginger tea. Your digestive system will thank you for it.
Similarly, Dr. Saini also says, “This season renders our digestive system sensitive. I would advise everyone to go easy on dairy products too as they can take a toll on digestion. Instead, go for nimbu paani or shikanjvi. Plenty of boiled, clear water should be consumed.”
(Fizzy drinks as harmful as drugs for teeth)
To make the most of your favourite season, follow these quick but essential tips.
1. Forego a heavy meal and keep a light diet. The joy of eating that comforting plate of roadside chola bhatura will only be momentary because of a vulnerable digestive system during the monsoons.
2. Don’t let the rains make you lazy. Keep up that exercise regime and sweat out that extra moisture and potentially harmful bacteria.
3. Personal hygiene is paramount in this season. There is no chance you wouldn’t have stepped in a grimy puddle in the course of the day. Washing with just water is not enough. Use an anti-bacterial solution or soap to clean out all those germs.
4. The season brings with it infections galore! Cases of ear infections, flu, common cold and eye infections like conjunctivitis multiply in number and no signs should be ignored.
5. Keep drinking water, and then some more. You may not feel too thirsty but you should keep hydrating the body, otherwise it may lead to a drop in the immunity and make you lethargic.