Keep your gut healthy this monsoon with these tips

by CMRI | Published on 22/06/2022

Overview

After the scorching heat of the summer, the monsoon comes with occasional showers and chilly winds! And to enjoy such weather, you might feel that craving to binge on pakoras and street foods too. However, this is the time when you need to eat clean and healthy foods. High moisture content in the environment during this time can cause infectious and water-borne diseases. It can also weaken your digestive system, causing bloating, acidity, and indigestion as well. As per our gastroenterologist specialist in Kolkata, making healthy food habits can keep your digestive issues at bay. Here we’ve discussed some tips to ensure good stomach health during this monsoon.

• Watch the portion of your meal - During the monsoon season, avoid eating big meals, especially at night. According to many studies, humid weather slows digestion and eating big meals only exacerbates the situation. It can cause constipation as well as other side effects such as bloating and gas. You can eat foods like rice, daal, khichdi, green vegetables, soups, fruits, and so on because they are light on the stomach and easily absorbed.
   
• Take a sip of herbal tea more often - Most Indians begin their days with a cup of tea, but what if your morning tea could not only refresh and revitalize you but also aid in keeping your gut healthy? Here are some herbal drinks to help keep your digestive tract flowing smoothly.
   
  • Ginger tea - Ginger is a spice that aids in the synthesis of digestive enzymes and gastric fluids in the body. These enzymes and gastric juices aid in digestion and metabolism by aiding in the breakdown of food, which alleviates digestive problems such as bloating.
     
  • Chamomile tea - A drink that aids in the treatment of digestive issues such as colic, stomach acidity, hyperacidity, diarrhea, acid reflux, and irritable bowel syndrome.
     
  • Cinnamon and ginger tea - A herbal spice tea that is beneficial for congestion and digestion. Cinnamon and ginger tea improve digestion by lowering carbon dioxide levels in the stomach, which lowers the body temperature and aids digestion, while ginger speeds up the metabolic process.
     
• Have a properly cooked meal - During the monsoon season, raw foods become vulnerable to bacterial attacks. Humidity and wetness frequently foster a favorable environment for bacterial and fungal growth. As a result, you should always pick cooked foods over raw foods since cooking assures that the prepared food has a "bacteria-killing" impact.
   
• Add ginger to your diet - Ginger and garlic provide a variety of health benefits that are supported by Ayurveda. They act as prebiotic foods and are extremely beneficial to gut health. Furthermore, they are known to have antibacterial and antifungal effects, which can help protect the body from infections. 
   
• Limit sugar intake - Avoid refined sugar since it can cause inflammation and increase the growth of harmful bacteria, causing the gut flora balance to be upset.
   
• Probiotics are good for gut health - Probiotics are microorganisms known for providing health benefits to their hosts. They are known to keep your gut healthy by lowering pH levels and easing protein digestion in the body, which results in treating digestive problems such as Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, constipation, and colitis.

However, if you have any concerns relating to your meal planning during the monsoon, consult our best gastroenterologist doctor in Kolkata. They will help you to keep your digestive system on track.