It is the time for monsoons. If you’re a rainy season person then you might be looking forward to tucking in with a hot cuppa while in bed as it thunders and storms outside or going for a long walk with the drizzle for company. But this change of weather brings with it a lot of cause for concern.
But before you slip into your rain wear and pick the next hike in the mountains, watch out for a few things. The monsoon looks like a fun season, but it brings with it the danger of a lot of diseases and health effects. There is a higher risk of allergies and infections and the spread of water-borne diseases is much higher. Also, since there is minimum sunlight, bacteria and viruses thrive in this weather, attacking our immune system.
So just at the onset of the monsoons, we thought we would prepare a short checklist of things that you need to go through to make sure you’re weather ready. Right from your diet, clothing and exercise your routine would need to be modified slightly to accommodate the season of the rains.
1. Rain proof your clothes:
It is time to pack up your summer dresses and pick out the tough monsoon wear at your departmental stores. For rain protection, make sure you have a sturdy raincoat for heavy showers that covers your hands and feet. Boots are ideal if you stay in places where water logging/flooding is common. It is important to wear light, loose clothes that dry easy to prevent the risk of catching a fungal infection. Pay attention to your feet as they stand the chance of staying wet. It is the quickest and the surest way to catch a fever. Keep your hair as dry as possible. You could catch a cold quicker than you realise if you sport wet hair for long. Keep a change of dry clothes and a towel handy at your workplace.
2. And your house:
If you’re staying in an older building check to see if the walls of the building are damping. If they start becoming slightly moist ever time it rains, or the house starts smelling a little musty, you have the wet walls problems. It’s not just the walls that will deteriorate though. Soon, fungus and mould will catch on to your clothes, food and furniture. If your walls are turning moist, call for help and get the plaster or wood repaired before the downpour.
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3. Watch what you’re eating:
The rainy season keeps your vegetables from staying clean of larvae and worms along with all other sorts of bacteria. If you wash your fruits and vegetables regularly otherwise, make sure you wash them extra carefully this time. Though all piping hot street food looks super tempting in this weather, avoid fried and oily food. Your body’s immunity as well as its digestion goes down in this season due to the excess of humidity.
Your immunity will be slightly challenged in this season 4. Beware, the bite:
Stagnation of water becomes a major cause for concern especially in cities such as Mumbai and Pune. Stagnant water becomes a breading ground for mosquitoes. The rainy season is infamous for illnesses such as dengue and malaria, cases of which shoot up after heavy rain. Keep your house and bathrooms clean and dry. Hunt down areas in your house where water might collect and dry it out. Whenever possible, keep your windows shut or use a mosquito repellent.
Dengue and malaria are rampant during the monsoons 5. Increase immunity through fluids:
Drink (safe and clean) water regularly and keep hydrated. Other than water, warm liquids will help balance your body temperature. Stock up on lots of types of herbal teas and make milk with a pinch of turmeric your best friend. Any allergies, cold, cough or fever possibilities will be beaten down by this traditional health potion.
Keep yourself hydrated 6. Secret ingredients:
Just like turmeric, there is a list of secret ingredients that our mothers and grandmothers have advised us to pay attention to. Use these quick and effective home remedies by adding them to your food/beverages. They’ll help you combat cold and fever, increase your immunity and not to mention make your meal wholesome, healthy and delish. They are: cloves, ginger, pepper, basil, mint, eucalyptus oil, green tea. Hot chocolate and chicken soup work too.
Drink herbal tea or soup in the monsoons If you keep these safety red flags in mind, there’s no reason you can’t have a safe and fun monsoon. While you need to keep yourself healthy, don’t miss out on the fabulous weather. Whip up a plate of hot onion pakodas and team it up with a piping hot cup of masala chai. Don’t forget to add the ginger.