Health Tips: Dos and Don'ts during Monsoon Season

MAKE HEALTHY ADDITIONS TO YOUR DIET

Dos…

Experts say that with the right nutrition you can get through any season. Certain vegetables, spices and herbs help keep away infections by strengthening your immunity. Bottle guard, turmeric, garlic and neem should be some of the regulars in your dietary routine.

GO FOR HEALTHY FOOD SWAPS

Dos…

Eat seasonal produce over stored fruits and vegetables — swap milk for curd; cut on caffeine and consume herbal teas instead; and load up on wheat, barley, horse gram and oats.

TURN TO HOME REMEDIES

Dos…

Don’t reach for antibiotics until necessary. A concoction of ginger, honey and tulsi, made in boiling water, helps beat cold and cough; gargling with lukewarm saline water heals a scratchy throat; and taking bath with neem water helps fight skin allergies.

DON’T GO INTO THE SEASON WITHOUT A HEALTH INSURANCE

Don’ts…

A good plan always has a good back up, which saves the day! Entering monsoon season without a health insurance plan is like going out without an umbrella when it’s pouring. The season is prone to allergies and infections, and a health insurance plan safeguards you against any such contingencies. It doesn’t only cover the heavy expenses and immediate cash requirement with its cashless plans, but also provides professional assistance to help you get through difficult situations.

DON’T TAKE HYGIENE FOR GRANTED

Don’ts…

Wash your vegetables in vinegar water to clean them properly. This will also help the

produce last longer; wash your hands before eating and avoid using your fingers as

nails often serve as a home to germs; shampoo your hair every time you get wet in the

rain to avoid dry scalp and lice; and keep your house clean and pest-free. Use an insect-

repellent to keep mosquitoes away.