Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Updated : July 1, 2014 3:55 PM IST
The monsoons are here, and with the change in seasons your body also goes through alterations in the way it works. According to Ayurvedachaya Dr Pratap Chauhan, Director of Jiva Ayurveda, Monsoons is a time for aggravated pitta (also known as the fire element).Pitta is one of the three main elements that govern the working of our body, and is responsible for metabolism and digestion of food. Due to a higher amount of pitta in the body, one's digestion becomes sluggish and can lead to several problems like indigestion, hyperacidity, skin disorders (like boils, eczema and rashes), hair loss and infections. Apart from that the higher amounts of humidity in the air leads to a lack of ojas (also known as the vital fluid) and the lack of oxygen in the air can also cause people to suffer from common ailments like breathlessness and weakness.
So to help you stay healthy this monsoon, here are some expert tips by Dr Pratap:
Tip#1: Give heavy foods a miss
It is best you avoid eating foods that are heavy (deep fried foods, foods that contain too much oil and junk food), spicy, acidic in nature or sour (like pickles, chutneys, yogurt, curries etc.). This is because foods with a lot of salt in them lead to water retention, indigestion, hyperacidty and bloating.
Tip #2: Eat light and digestible meals.
This is mainly to accommodate a sluggish and weak digestive system. Cooked or steamed vegetables like pumpkin, steamed salads, fresh seasonal fruits, moong daal, khichree, corn, foods made of chickpea flour and oatmeal are all great options to keep your digestive tract in check this monsoon.
Tip#3: Avoid eating green leafy vegetables:
Green leafy vegetables grow close to the ground and attract a lot of dirt and humidity. Apart from that they are tough to digest and are usually difficult to clean during the monsoons.
Tip #4: Pick your cooking oil smartly.
Lighter oils are better and easily digested by the body during the monsoons. Oils like ghee, olive oil and sunflower oil are better than mustard oil, peanut oil, butter etc. as these are heavy and lead to a generation of heat within the body.
Tip#5: Exercise right
No, this does not mean you stop exercising completely. It is just that during these months strenuous forms of exercise tend to increase pitta, put an excessive load on your body and lower an already weak immune system. Opt for low impact forms of exercise like swimming, yoga, stretching and walking instead.
Tip #6: Avoid eating out:
You've probably heard this advice a million times but it is definitely a good idea to give your local bhel or pani-puri wala a miss as these foods can lead to illnesses. Also foods exposed to the atmosphere tend to pick up germs and tend to loose their nutritional value.
Tip#7: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly:
During the monsoons it is imperative that you make sure you wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before you eat them. During the rains, the excessive moisture tends to help dust and dirt particles attach to the outer surface of the fruit or vegetable, so wash them well.
Tip #8: Bitterness thwarts pitta:
According to Ayurvedic principles, bitter tasting vegetables and herbs are great to neutralize pitta. So, this monsoon, gorge on bitter vegetables like bitter gourd (karela) and bitter herbs like neem, fenugreekandturmeric to help keep infections and the other ailments associated with a high amount of pitta at bay.
Tip #9: Indulge in a massage:
Give yourself a massage with sesame oil at least twice every week. This helps lower the amount of heat generated due to pitta in your body and keeps you healthy during the rainy season. In some cases sesame oil may cause too much heat, in that case they can use coconut oil as a substitute.
Tip#10: Keep your emotions in check:
Our emotions also play a vital role in keeping our body healthy. So, this monsoon try to keep negative (or heating emotions according to Ayurveda) like anger, irritation, jealousy and ego aside.
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