As six days ahead of schedule, reports show a spike in dengue, malaria, swine flu, Zika virus and respiratory infections. Health Minister Dinesh Rao reported a 42 pct rise in dengue cases in Karnataka, while Maharashtra is on alert after a Zika virus case was detected in Pune. Health experts advise caution, especially for pregnant women and children.
. Even as we deal with these illnesses, food and nutrition become two crucial pillars our immunity rests on, during this time of the year. Small tweaks in a regular diet can enhance antibody production and boost immunity against rising pathogens.
Expanding on simple , veteran nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar outlines a holistic guide to staying healthy during monsoon. ADVERTISEMENT Sipping chai by the window is a monsoon ritual. Rujuta recommends 5 key spices you may consider infusing in rotation: 1.
Add ginger and tulsi for improved digestion and immunity 2. Add lemongrass to prevent bloating and congestion 3. Add black pepper or cinnamon to improve insulin sensitivity The soil during the rains is not suitable for growing green leafy vegetables and therefore we can switch to creepers like dudhi (bottle gourd), pumpkin, karela (bitter gourd), gilka (ridge gourd) and root vegetables like sweet potato, and konfal (purple yam), shares Diwekar.
The exception to this rule is the wild and uncultivated greens that shoot up during the season - ambadi (roselle plant), shevla (dragon stalk yam), lingri (fiddlehead fern), to name a few...
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