Highlights
- Monsoon rains also usher in change in season
- Most of us get susceptible to seasonal ailments
- Add these ingredients to your diet for a rock solid immunity
Monsoon rains also usher in change in season making most of us susceptible to a host of ailments starting from cold and flu to viral fever, congestion and even fatal diseases like malaria and dengue. While a strong immune system can withstand this change in weather, most of us fall prey to the seasonal turn. Health experts vouch for the efficacy of traditional home remedies that can be had as healing potions to strengthen immunity and prevent us from falling sick. Before we could talk about natural ways to fortify immunity, let us keep in mind few tips that can save us from getting sick this rainy season.
- Hydration is important.
- Avoid eating out and keep a track of hygiene.
- Too much of junk food or aerated drink consumption can mess with the digestive system.
- Try not to use heavy cooking oil or spicy food items.
Herbs and spices can go a long way in creating remedies that can not only fight but also prevent you from falling prey to seasonal ailments. Take a look at some of the herbal ingredients that can be added in your daily diet to beat monsoon health woes.
Turmeric is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory in nature and boosts immunity. It also checks loss of fluid in the body. One of the easiest ways to add turmeric in your diet is through milk. You can mix water and milk in equal quantity, add in turmeric along with pepper, saffron, nutmeg and some jaggery. Let it boil till it goes down to half of its quantity and enjoy.
Fennel is excellent for digestion. It can be teamed with a range of other ingredients to arrive at herbal drinks that benefit the body. A teaspoon of fennel (saunf) can be teamed with carom seeds (ajwain) and boiled in water. Add honey for taste and consume after your meals.
Peppermint is a refreshing way to boost your health. It has the ability to improve digestion, reduce pain, eliminate inflammation, relax the body and mind, cure bad breath, aid in weight loss, and boost the immune system. Boil two cups of water, let it sit for 3-4 minutes and heat two-three cups of water separately, add crushed mint leaves. Combine the two and drink.
Ginger and garlic, together, work magic for immunity. "Their super anti-inflammatory properties bring relief to those horrid body aches. They help soothe away nausea too," notes Shilpa Arora ND, a renowned Health Practitioner, Nutritionist and certified Macrobiotic Health Coach. You can try making juice out of a thumb sized piece of ginger, 2-4 cloves of garlic, carrot and juice from a lemon. Drink this to strengthen the immune system; it is antiseptic, anti-fungal and have a bevy of nutritive properties.
Tulsi, or the holy basil, needs no introduction. It has long been touted as one of the most easily available ingredients that is also one of the most powerful in checking and strengthening weak immunity. You can simply clean and boil tulsi leaves in water, add few other ingredients like cloves, ginger, pepper, et cetera and sip on it to get a health boost. Team it with your daily cup of green tea or simply drop a few leaves in your drinking water along with some lemon juice.
Inputs from IANS