5 Ways to keep your Immunity High in Monsoon

After the long humid summer months, monsoons bring much-needed relaxation and a cool breeze in the form of a heavy downpour. The weather gets exceptionally cool and we all can see a lot of greenery around us. India has a tropical climate, making the monsoons even more magical and lifts everybody’s mood instantly.

But along with this refreshing weather comes havoc on our immune system because in this damp and humid weather viruses and microbes grow and thrive very easily.

Prevention is better than cure so, it is best to avoid monsoon related illnesses like cold, cough, flu, rashes, or fever by building up your immunity by making the following choices:

• Foods rich in Vitamin-C: Vitamin-C strengthens the immune system by enhancing the functions of phagocytes (cells that fight against infections) and also increases the production of immune-boosting lymphocytes. Include foods rich in Vitamin C such as lemon, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, and green leafy vegetables.
• Protein-rich foods: Protein plays a key role in determining the strength of your immune response. The immune cells like phagocytes, lymphocytes, and cytokines are made up of protein. So, infections can put your body under stress so you need a good amount of protein to recover better. Protein can be obtained from various food sources like dairy products, lean meat, eggs, lentils, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
• Hydration is the key: Hydration is crucial for the body. It helps to clear out wastes and toxins from the body, ensure oxygen supply to cells which will help in boosting our immune system. Water-borne diseases like cholera and diarrhea spread at a huge rate during this time of the year. So, one should drink clean drinking water to keep these diseases at bay, make sure that the water you drink is filtered or boiled and drink lots of water and squeeze a few drops of lemon juice to keep yourself hydrated.
• Take Probiotics: Probiotics help in boosting your immune system and protects against the growth of harmful gut bacteria. They promote the production of natural antibodies in the body and also boost immune cells. Probiotic food sources like yogurt give a boost to your immunity and thereby improving your ability to fight infections, during the monsoon season.
• Hygiene is very important: Skin is an important part of our immune system as it acts as a barrier between germs and your body. It is the easiest part of the body for the virus to stay for a long period and lead us to infections resulting in poor immunity. Monsoon is the season when infections spread at a huge rate. So, it is better to avoid them by washing your hands thoroughly, make sure that all your surroundings are neat and clean, and use disinfectants to clean surfaces to kill all the viruses.

Footnote:

Monsoon is the season of fresh atmosphere with positivity all around but does not forget that your immunity needs more attention and utmost care at this particular time. Eat healthily and stay active!