Humidity can disrupt your gut and immunity. By making mindful changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can shield your digestive system (Image: Pexels)
Monsoon is a time of relief from the heat, but during this season you are likely to face more gastrointestinal ailments than any other time of the year, such as, bloating, indigestion, food poisoning and cramps. The increase in humidity can disrupt your gut flora and digestive health. Shift in climatic behaviours, developing and maintaining good gut flora and digestive support can be helpful. The gut acts like a barrier to the immune system and well-being which makes it even more critical for preservation – think seasonal bacteria and fungi in full bloom.
Listed below are 10 approaches to be mindful of gut health during the rainy season shared by Dr. Ramya Mishra, Senior Gynaecologist at Rudra Mind Global Hospital in Surat.
Also Read: Suffering from acid reflux? Here’s 10 ways to reduce digestive problems naturally
1. Cook is better than raw
Do not overdo salads and raw veggies, there can be germs from contaminated water and improperly washing. Lightly steaming or sautéing vegetables makes it easier for digestion in the rainy season.
2. Warm Clean Water
Warm to lukewarm if you need to have boiled or filtered to drink warm or lukewarm water to digest and flush out toxins. Don’t shock the system with iced drinks it’s best to skip them, hot meals and water gets your digestive fire hot.
3. Probiotic Foods
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Introduce curd, buttermilk, fermented rice, or other Probiotic supplements to improve the gut and replace healthy gut bacteria. They also increase your immunity and prevent infections.
4. Avoid Fried and Street Foods
Although the desire for bhajiyas and chaats may rise, it is important to note that these foods can harbor dangerous bacteria due to reused oil or unhygienic prep conditions. For the sake of your gut lining, this is something to restrict.
5. Use Natural Spices
Ginger, turmeric, ajwain (carom seeds), and asafoetida (hing) are all spices that may help to reduce bloat and encourage digestion. Use as much as you can in home-cooked food, and help cut down your gastrointestinal discomfort.
6. Choose Seasonal and Local Fruits
So our fruits of choice — papaya, bananas, or pomegranates. All of these are facilitating digestion and gut health, and are less likely to cause bloat. Those that have to wash their fruits should wash fruits before eating.
7. Avoid Excess Dairy and Cold Milk
Increased mucus is often produced with dairy, and this can aggravate a person’s indigestion during Damp weather!. Whole types of dairy like curd are preferred as milk bothers digestion and in general cold shakes or smoothies should be avoided with damp weather.
8. Small Portions
Heavy meals stress the digestive system and can be troublesome during monsoon. Eat smaller meals more regularly. If you restrict this it will likely help resolve indigestion, gas, or sluggish digestion with the right amounts by avoiding too much food too quickly.
9. Limit Sugar and Packaged Snacks
Processed sugars – sugary snacks, sweet baked goods, salty snacks that are shelf-stable – all can harm gut microbiota and treasured immunity. Instead, choose whole foods over shelf-stable snacks.
10. Good Hygiene for Hands and Food
Wash hands before meals, and wash kitchen utensils! Food with very little contamination can often lead to stomach infections and these are easily gone before it causes trouble!
By making these mindful changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can shield your digestive system and stay monsoon-ready — with fewer sick days and better energy levels.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis