Do you also feel nostalgic and excited in monsoon?

The arrival of the Monsoon season always tends to stir a feeling of nostalgia and excitement in our heart.

It’s lovely to wake up to an unexpected rainy day, when it seems like the rain gods have finally heard our prayers after a 2 month sweltering summer! The sheer delight of eating those piping hot samosas with sweet tea or a plate of sizzling spicy noodles makes it all the more enjoyable.

Rainy season is a time for celebration, life and passion. But at the same time, the disease factor is also well known and obvious. People become prone to suffer from low immunity and hence fall sick frequently when the monsoon arrives. That is why strengthening your immune system is a prerequisite for keeping various fatal ailments at bay.

Here are few tips to strengthen your immune system in this weather:

· Staying hydrated is vital to support immune system functioning. As compared to summer season, people tend to feel less thirsty during monsoon therefore do not consume sufficient amount of water throughout the day. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. Drink boiled or filtered water. You can also increase your fluid intake by having more of water-based fruits & veggies because increased humidity makes us sweat more and leaves our body dehydrated and more susceptible to fall ill.

· Add lime and honey to boost metabolic rate and immunity, assist in digestion process and help intestine carry out their functions effectively.

· Vitamin C is integral to proper immune function, citrus fruits have a lot more to offer than just one vitamin. It helps in boosting your immune system and fighting off colds and infections.

· Make a handful of almonds part of your daily diet to help ward off viral infections.

· Make smart food choices. Avoid spicy & salty food causes water retention which in turn results in bloating. Add more of green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and fibrous grains like oats, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds to your diet.

· Switch to light cooking oils as much as you love eating pakora during the monsoon season. Avoid deep fried food as they will make one feel heavy and difficult to digest. If you still want to indulge use light cooking oils like olive oil.

· Grandmaa’s wisdom: take a leaf from your grandmaa’s remedy which are natural immunity booster. Herbs such as Neem, turmeric powder, methi seeds, basil leaves boost metabolic rate and are natural antibiotics.

· Just like the battery of your mobile, the human body too requires recharging on a daily basis. Sleeping for at least 8 hours per day is the best way to revive the body in order to ensure that it functions properly the next day.

· Participate in some or the other form of physical exercise. Immune system certainly benefits from physical activity. Some studies have also indicated that increased blood flow while exercising helps in pumping antibodies throughout the body.

· Maintain a high level of personal hygiene. Infection and bacteria multiply at an alarming rate especially during rainy season when the surroundings are already polluted, dirty and contaminated.

· Stay calm & think positive. Studies have proved that chronic stress impacts every part of the body without sparing the immune system.