Monsoon brings with itself the promise of rain, new life and an escape from the heat and humidity of summer. However, it is not just humans who love the rainy season. Plants, animals, bacteria and viruses enjoy it just as much.
As a result, while we might love walking in the rain, diving into a puddle in the field or just enjoying freshly cut fruits on the road, it certainly isn’t entirely harmless.
To stay safe and enjoy the rains to the fullest, we prepared a list of simple health tips.
1. Increase vitamin C intake
Monsoon is the perfect time for viruses and bacteria to thrive. You will notice that this time of the year when viral fevers, allergic reactions and other viral infections are rampant. Similarly, the air has more bacteria than at any other point during this time. To remain healthy, you need to increase your immunity. One of the easiest ways of doing that is increasing your Vitamin C intake. Eat sprouts, fresh green vegetables and oranges to have a Vitamin C-rich diet.
2. Drink clean water
We all drink less water during the rainy season, but our body needs to stay hydrated to remain healthy. During the monsoons, ensure you are drinking clean and purified water, whether at home or outside. If you drink beverages outside, ensure that only pure water is used (including ice cubes). Taking your bottle of water with you is best to be on the safe side.
3. Increase probiotic intake
Probiotics are healthy microorganisms that support your health; they typically live in the gut and digestive system. Make a point to increase your intake of probiotic foods like curds, yoghurt, buttermilk and homemade pickles. These can make your gut health significantly more resilient and improve nutrient absorption. Not only will you be making your digestive system healthier, but you’ll also be building your strength against any potential stomach infections down the road.
4. Avoid junk food
Street food, freshly cut fruits and other kinds of food items sold on the street should strictly be avoided. The road is usually filled with potholes full of water and mud. These form perfect incubators for various kinds of harmful microorganisms. The longer the food items are exposed to the open air, the higher they are likely to become home to them. So, whenever you eat your favourite junk food, you are more likely to contract a disease.
5. Destroy breeding grounds for mosquitoes
One of the worst issues of monsoon is the breeding of mosquitos. These nasty little insects are perfectly capable of making you miserable. However, fear not! With a few precautions, you can easily find your way to a mosquito-free residence. Ensure that there is no open water storage in your home. Ensure that they are always in covered pots and vessels. Similarly, ensure that the drains are not clogged and there’s no rainwater held stagnant in your nearby areas. Mosquitos are born in stagnant water, so removing sources of stagnant water will help a lot.
. Add a disinfectant to the bathwater
Most people love taking a stroll in the rain. It is refreshing and one of the wonders of human life. However, remember to bathe with a disinfectant like Dettol, Savlon or Betadine, every time you get wet. It will save you from the millions of microorganisms you carry home and help you stay healthy and fit. Washing your hands and feet and legs are advisable as you get back. Remember, use only clean water to wash your face.
7. Iron those damp clothes
It might seem like a strange tip, but the monsoon is perfect for moulds. Closets, wardrobes and almirahs are generally used to store clothing, bedsheets and linen. These places stay cool and start to get damp as the rains progress. With wet moisture come moulds. Since, there’s seldom any sunlight to warm your clothes, getting them ironed is the next best thing.
8. Care for your fruits and vegetables
Prefer clean, freshly cooked food when eating outdoors. During the monsoon, it is imperative that you thoroughly scrub your fruits and vegetables under running water because germs live on the skins of fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating raw cut fruits/salads from street vendors- you never know how well they have been washed and cleaned.
9. Get enough sleep
Don’t stay up late working or watching a web series. 7-8 hours of sleep bolsters immunity and helps to reduce the chances of flu and cold-like conditions common during monsoons.
0. Exercise regularly
Don’t let the rain wash away your exercise routine. Jumping rope, squats, planks and burpees are all excellent exercises that can be done indoors. Exercising not only helps you lose weight or stay in shape, but it is also great for your immunity. It gets your heart racing, improves blood circulation and triggers serotonin (happiness hormone) production, all of which fortify your immune system against viruses and bacteria.
11. Hand hygiene is crucial
Wash or sanitize your hands carefully before you eat something when you are away from home and after you come back home. Practising good hand hygiene kills almost all microbes that may exist on the skin of your hands and as we know, the population of harmful germs expands during the monsoon.
12. Enter an air-conditioned room only when you are dry
if your office or home is air-conditioned and you get drenched during your commute, wait before entering. Carry a towel to dry yourself as much as possible. Air conditioners blast drafts of cold air that will give you a terrible case of common cold if your skin and clothes are wet.
13. Take all precautions against mosquitoes
Caution against mosquitoes does not end with clearing our stagnant water. They can bite you anywhere and anytime. So make sure that you generously apply mosquito repellants when you go out. Even in your home, make sure you are using mosquito repellents, mosquito nets etc. Take regular health checkups and consult your doctor if you feel unwell.
14. Care for your nails
Even if you are not in the habit of tending to your nails, you must, during the rainy season. Clip your nails regularly and wash them underneath them so that germs and bacteria do not accumulate there.
15. Protect yourself against the allergens
Allergies can become severe during the monsoon. So if you know that you react badly to dust, vapours or pollution, you must wear a mask when you go out. Keep your doctor-prescribed anti-allergy medicine with you at all times.
16. Keep a safe distance from sick people
Since a lot of people contract the flu or common cold during the monsoon, you have to be extra alert. While you are travelling, make sure you distance yourself from visibly sick people so that respiratory particles from them do not enter your system.
17. Say no to wet shoes
It is almost impossible to go to work and come back with your shoes clean and dry during the monsoon. If your shoes are mud-spattered or drenched, clean them properly and let them dry completely before you wear them again, otherwise, pathogens will grow in them. Make sure you have a dry pair of shoes or you can opt for special rubber shoes.
The monsoon is a beautiful and spirit-uplifting season, but it does make your health vulnerable. With the simple measures we suggested, you can enjoy this season without worrying about your health.