The true Indian monsoon experience is incomplete without steaming cups of spiced tea and crispy pakoras. Won’t you agree? However, the monsoon in India is also the time when you witness a host of health problems. Cold, flu, infections, diarrhoea, food poisoning, and whatnot. To avoid falling sick in the monsoon, make sure to eat the right kind of food. Opt for balanced nutrition and immune-boosting food items. Meanwhile, buy health insurance from renowned insurers such as ICICI Lombard to stay protected in the face of a medical contingency.
At home, turn to these 10 foods to boost your immunity and stay healthy during the monsoon season:
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Green peppercorns
The piperine alkaloid in green peppercorns offers a wide range of health benefits. They also contain immunity-boosting vitamin C and vitamin K. Green peppercorns are a rich source of antioxidants that help in neutralising the damage-causing free radicals.
The nutritional compounds in green peppercorns reduce gas by increasing the production of hydrochloric acid. All of this goes a long way in improving food digestion.
Moreover, green peppercorns have anti-microbial properties. They lower the risk of food poisoning by killing the bacterial elements in food.
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Lemons
Lemons are rich sources of vitamin C. This vitamin is known to boost immunity. Moreover, from strengthening your bones and aiding digestion to fighting infections, lemons are good for your body in all possible ways. You can use both lemon zest and flesh in your food. Also, the combination of lemon pulp and lemon zest makes for a healthy treat as it is loaded with flavonoids and bioactive compounds.
Now, there are many ways of adding lemons to your diet. You can sprinkle lemon juice on your dishes or top them with ground lemon zest. Or, simply gulp down a glass of juicy lemonade to enjoy the rich citrusy flavour of lemons.
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Garlic
Garlic is another welcome addition to your monsoon diet. This wondrous bulb helps to improve your immunity levels by countering viruses and other microbes. Research has revealed that garlic boosts the production of T-cells in our blood, thus enhancing overall immunity. In addition, it has been found that the goodness of garlic lies in its alliin constituent. Also, when you bite into raw garlic, alliin transforms into highly potent allicin. All these compounds have curative properties and improve your body’s disease-fighting ability.
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Spinach
Spinach, a superfood, is a storehouse of nutrients. These include fibre, beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin A. These antioxidants and nutrients improve both the functioning of your body and your immune health.
Nonetheless, some people may caution you against having leafy veggies during the rainy season because of the mud and dirt on these foods. But, you can play it safe by washing spinach leaves thoroughly in running water before cooking.
While eating healthy is a part of ensuring good health, you must buy a comprehensive health insurance plan for a stress-free monsoon. Compare online health insurance plans offered by established names such as ICICI Lombard and choose the one that meets your needs.
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Probiotics
Probiotics help in keeping your gut flora healthy. In addition to fighting unhealthy bacteria, probiotic foods increase the count of healthy bacteria in your gut. All this reduces your risk of illnesses. Kefir, buttermilk, pickled vegetables, and curd are some common probiotics that can be added to your diet.
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Bitter gourd
Most people do not like bitter gourds because of their bitter taste. However, do you know that these veggies are good for your overall well-being? Yes, besides having antiviral properties, they contain vitamin C. If you dislike bitter gourd for its taste then try different recipes to find a preparation you like. You can boil or fry them to enjoy their goodness. Or, you can prepare stew with bitter gourd and other vegetables.
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Ginger
Ginger has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibiotic properties. Plus, ginger has a rich antioxidant value. These medicinal properties of ginger make it one of the best home remedies for body aches, sore throat, cold, cough etc.
Ginger also helps in boosting immunity. You can include ginger in your diet in the form of ginger tea. Simply steep a few ginger slices in hot water for some time and let the mix steep. Follow by straining the beverage. It is for consumption.
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Dried fruits and nuts
No matter what time of the year it is, you must munch on walnuts, almonds, and dates. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals and help in enriching your health. They help in strengthening your immunity as they are rich sources of vitamin B complex including niacin and riboflavin. More so, dried fruits and nuts contain vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties and is known for improving cellular health.
So, instead of indulging in junk food during snack time, devour dry fruits, seeds, and nuts to satiate your hunger pangs.
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Proteins
Adding protein sources to your diet is another way of boosting your immunity. Consequently, you can reduce your risk of illnesses. Chicken, eggs, soya products, lentils, dals and pulses are some good sources of proteins.
So, go ahead and include them in your diet to enjoy their health benefits.
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Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids have many immunomodulatory properties. It not only helps in improving your immunity against common monsoon-related diseases but also enhances your overall health and wellbeing. Chia seeds, flax seeds, oysters, shrimps, fish, nuts, pistachio and walnuts are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Remember, your diet plays a crucial role in determining your health status. What you eat affects your overall health. Therefore, by eating the right foods, you can give your body the right nourishment and enhance your immunity.
More importantly, make sure to renew your health insurance each year. By doing so, in the face of a medical crisis, you can cover your health expenses without having to dig into your savings. Many policies including ICICI Lombard Health Insurance offer No Claim Bonus benefits. Under this, if you do not raise a claim during the policy period, then you get a discount on your next policy premium. This way you enjoy the same coverage at a lower cost.
