Preventing Monsoon Illnesses: 3 Simple Health Practices

A healthy digestive system supports your immunity and builds resilience against illness during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 3.4 million people in India are affected by water-borne diseases. During the monsoon, your risk of getting sick increases by 200%, with hospitals reporting heightened diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, and other monsoon-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, cold flu, and typhoid. The goal is to stay wary of your health by following simple remedies to protect you inside and outside your home. Here are a few health practices to adhere to during monsoons to bask in its glory without falling sick:

1. Be Proactive In Destroying The Breeding Grounds Of Mosquitoes: As the monsoon season begins, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and malaria increases due to the accumulation of stagnant water. To combat this, it's essential to destroy mosquito breeding grounds proactively. Regularly inspect and clean areas where water can collect, such as flower pots, drains, gutters, and outdoor containers. Cover water storage tanks and dispose of unused water to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. These simple yet effective measures can significantly reduce the mosquito population and protect our communities from health risks during the rainy season.
2. Avoid Junk food, Stick to simple homemade meals, maintain an exercise routine and sleep well: The key to a healthy body and mind in monsoons is to avoid junk food at all times and try to whip up a homemade meal. Street food, freshly cut fruits in the open, and other food items should be prohibited. As the roads in monsoons are filled with potholes brimming with water, they become a perfect incubator for different kinds of bacteria and viruses that sit on food items exposed to open air. Even if filtered, home-cooked meals with ghee and boiling water can help develop immunity against illnesses. Also, sticking to a fixed exercise routine and sleeping for at least 7-8 hours daily can help you stay fit and healthy.
3. Increase the intake of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, zinc supplements and probiotics: Monsoon is a season when viruses and bacteria thrive, leading to increased viral fevers, allergic reactions, and other infections. During this time, the air is teeming with more bacteria than usual. To stay healthy, boosting your immunity is essential, and one of the simplest ways to do that is by increasing your Vitamin C intake. Incorporate foods like sprouts, fresh green vegetables, and oranges into your diet for a rich source of Vitamin C. In addition to Vitamin C and A, zinc supplements and probiotics are crucial in maintaining health. These beneficial microorganisms, primarily in the gut and digestive system, enhance your overall well-being. You can fortify your gut health, improve nutrient absorption, and strengthen your defences against potential stomach infections by consuming probiotic-rich foods such as curds, yoghurt, buttermilk, and homemade pickles.

Resolute determination to be healthy despite challenges is the only way to ensure a pleasant, safe, and disease-free monsoon!