अनुष्का शर्मा
1. Increase vitamin C intake
Monsoon is the perfect time for viruses and bacteria to thrive. You will notice that it is this time of the year when viral fevers, allergic reactions and other viral infections are most rampant. Similarly, the air has more bacteria during this time than at any other point. 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. 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 carried home and help you stay healthy and fit. Washing your hands and feet, legs are advisable as you get back. Remember, use only clean water to wash your face.
3. Do Not store stagnant water
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. Similarly, take note to 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.
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, every time you eat your favourite junk food, you are more likely to contract a disease.
5. Get your clothes ironed
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.
6. Care for your fruits and vegetables
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. Do not forget to consume only cooked or boiled vegetables or you might fall prey to water-borne illnesses.
7. Get enough sleep
Don’t stay up late working or watching a web series. 7-8 hours of sleep bolsters immunity and prevent flu and the common cold conditions common in monsoons.
8. Exercise regularly
Exercising not only helps you lose weight or stay in shape, but it is great for your immunity as well. 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. Jumping rope, squats, planks, burpees are all excellent exercises.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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 repellent oil, coil or spray.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
15. 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.
