The Monsoon Guide for Better Gut Health

By- Samyati Mohanty

Along with some relief from the oppressive heat, the rainy season increases the danger of compromised digestion, allergies, and food-borne illnesses. During this period, the urge to feast on fried delicacies from the outside can become unbearable. Additionally, the humidity levels have a negative impact on general health. Most health professionals advise avoiding heavy and greasy snacks as they may cause upset stomachs because high humidity levels impair the body's capacity to digest at its lowest levels.

Humans constantly exist in a changing environment. Our diets, the climate, our routines, and a plethora of other things all change frequently. Similarly, changes in the environment or season can have an impact on the microbial composition of the gut, even in otherwise healthy individuals. This is especially true during the monsoon, when the weather's humidity greatly boosts the amount of disease-causing bacteria. It is critical to maintain our stomachs' happiness and health throughout this monsoon because they play several vital responsibilities in maintaining and safeguarding the general health and wellness of our bodies. We offer some advice for maintaining intestinal health during the wet season.

Contrarily, the activity of the gut enzymes is paradoxically lower in the wet season than in the summer, which has an impact on the digestive process. Sluggishness and indigestion could result from this.

Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to what we eat.

• Despite being very alluring, fatty or fried food is best avoided because it is difficult to digest due to the monsoon's sluggish digestive system.
• Avoid dairy items because they are more difficult to digest. Instead, choose a variety of fresh handmade soups.
• For obvious reasons, avoid eating raw or green veggies.
• Fresh fruit juices made at home are preferable than processed drinks or juice sold on the street.
• There is some proof that specific foods, such as fenugreek (methi) seeds and bitter gourd (karela), can boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and enhance gastrointestinal health. Methi seeds can be used to a variety of vegetables, soups, and curries after soaking for a while or overnight.
• Use the fresh ginger, juicy lemons, and fresh tulsi leaves that are readily available right now to make your favourite pleasant medicinal tea in your own house. One could also drink milk with turmeric to prevent sore throats.
• Consume homemade buttermilk rather than processed varieties to boost the number of healthy bacteria in the gut.

Dos-

1. Eat in moderation and stick to lighter, gut-friendly foods that are simple to digest.
2. Drink a lot of herbal teas to help with digestion and immunity, such as chamomile tea, green tea, or even ginger lemon tea.
3. Consume extra yoghurt, buttermilk, cheese kefir, cultured veggies, kombucha, and natto to increase your intake of probiotics (fermented soybeans). Good bacteria found in probiotics interact with our digestive tract to improve nutrient absorption and the immune system.
4. Pick easily digested cooking oils that are lighter in flavour. Use fats that can control your digestive system, such as olive oil or sunflower oil.
5. To help your body rid itself of pollutants, drink a lot and lots of water. Additionally, drinking water might improve your digestive system.
6. Increase your intake of bitter foods, which are important for maintaining the health of your digestive system, such as bitter gourd or karela, bottle gourd or lauki, neem, methi seeds, etc. They assist in boosting your immunity as well.
7. Eat cooked or steamed vegetables rather than raw ones because the latter may contain germs and viruses that could worsen gut health by causing stomach illnesses.
8. Consume less refined sugar as it can lead to inflammation, encourage the growth of harmful bacteria, and disturb the equilibrium of the gut flora.

Don'ts-

1. No matter how tempting they may be, avoid eating heavy foods. Our digestive process tends to slow down during the extremely humid monsoon season, which can result in issues like bloating, gas, acidity, and indigestion.
2. Even while you may adore gol gappas, the water used to make them may be a breeding ground for germs that can lead to serious stomach infections. Additionally, refrain from consuming water from any source besides sealed bottles and water purifiers.
3. Throw away your  carbonated drinks because they lower our body's mineral content, which in turn lowers enzyme function. Mineral loss is undesirable when the digestive system is already compromised.
4. Avoid dairy items like milk because they are hard on your intestines and take a long time to digest.
5. Verify that you don't consume a lot of seafood. Water tends to become contaminated during the rainy season; eating fish could potentially result in cholera or diarrhoea.
6. Making fresh juices at home is ideal, especially during the rainy season. Fruits are frequently prepared in advance by roadside merchants, yet they still come into touch with contaminated air.
7. Although all vegetables are good for you, you shouldn't buy leafy greens. They may be particularly prone to bacteria due to the dirt and moisture they contain.

Children are particularly susceptible to illnesses and viruses during the monsoon season. These quick ideas will help you keep your kids healthy this season. Even though you can avoid them, monsoons can be very damaging to your skin.

Use these practical suggestions to make monsoon less of a nightmare and more of a pleasant experience. Monsoon health and happiness!

Disclaimer: Because every patient is unique, you are encouraged to see your doctor if you have any questions before acting on the suggestions included in this article, which are fairly standard pieces of advice for everyone.