6 Ways to Beat the Monsoon Blues

After the prickling summer heat, the pleasant monsoon weather is much-awaited. Though refreshing, the season brings a host of health concerns that we must be mindful of, leading to the highest hospital admissions for diarrhea, food poisoning, flu, fever, and the like. The risk of illness from virus infections is 200% higher during the monsoon than in any other season. You can avoid it by improving your immune system.

Sleep for 7/9 hours:

Sleep is Mother Nature's cure to reduce inflammation and increase immunity. There is a reason why every 16 hours Mother Nature puts us to sleep.  And yet, we humans ignore it. Sleep is your biggest weapon against monsoon illness. Sleep for 7 to 9 hours every night, but immunity for free. A study showed that less than six hours of sleep tends to disrupt your immunity and consistently increases your risk of cold by 300%.

Exercise, move more:

Exercise is an immune system adjuvant that improves defense activity, blood circulation, and metabolic health. Even at home, you can stay active with daily indoor exercises like push-ups, sit-ups, squats, stairs, star jumps, or yoga.

Eat More At Home:

Monsoon season creates ideal conditions for bacteria, mold, and other pathogens, necessitating a balanced diet. Consume only freshly cooked home meals in ghee, your best weapon for immunity. Include nuts and seeds and probiotics like yogurt, buttermilk, and fermented foods in your diet to enhance gut health and immunity. Incorporate ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cloves in cooking as they have anti-inflammatory properties. Add mushrooms like reishi, shiitake, and maitake to your soups or curry. Drink green tea packed with antioxidants.
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Photo Credit: Pixels

Take care of your respiratory health:

Avoid respiratory tract infections by soothing your throat with sips of warm water and regular gargling, covering your mouth while coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals. Inhale steam infused with essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, or tea tree oil to clear nasal passages, reduce inflammation, and support respiratory function.

Quality of water matters:

During monsoons, ensure water safety by consuming only filtered or boiled water at home and opting for sealed bottled water when outside to prevent stomach infections like typhoid, diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and jaundice.

Maintaining personal hygiene during the monsoon is crucial. Wash and sanitize your hands before meals to avoid gastrointestinal, respiratory, and skin infections. Also, it is advised to use effective mosquito repellents to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses.

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About the Author:

Prashant Desai, The Longevity Sherpa-  a financial professional, leader, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience across diverse sectors. He has dedicated his life to understanding and promoting longevity through nutrition, fitness, sleep, and stress management.