Monsoon brings in some much-needed respite from the scorching heat of the summer. However, even though monsoon graces us with beautiful weather, it also raises the chances of falling sick with illnesses ranging from upset stomach, flu, cold, and cough.

It is largely due to a week immune system that our bodies play host to bacteria that cause illnesses. Moreover, with the humid climate, there is a rapid growth of bacteria in our food, water, and air, making situations only worse.

During such times, it’s wise to eat the right kinds of food to boost your immunity and prevent monsoon illnesses. Having said that, immunity cannot be built up in a single day or a week. But the good news is that by eating the right kind of food and by being physically and mentally fit, you can develop a strong immune system over a period of time.

Another great news is that you don’t have to look too far to find the ideal ingredients for your body. A quick search in your kitchen and you will find all the right spices that can fortify your immunity. Listed below are five essential spices you can add to your daily diet today.

 1) Turmeric

One of the most potent and easily available spices, turmeric originates from the root of a flowering plant of the ginger family. It has bee known for its medicinal properties for almost 4,500 years. It possesses an active compound known as curcumin that exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and can aid in boosting immunity. It can also relieve digestion and tummy issues.

Add a dash of turmeric to your dal, rice dishes, and curries or simply add it to a glass of warm milk to boost your immunity system.

 2) Pepper

Available either powdered, crushed, or whole, black pepper is an incredible spice, loaded with carminative properties. It can relieve intestinal gas issues and stomach ailments. It also has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, fever reduction properties, and will do a great job of strengthening your immune system.

From sandwiches, soups, salads, Kadha, curries, and masala chai, you can add this delicious spice to almost anything.

 3) Cinnamon

Found in the inner bark of the cinnamon tree, this is another spice that is rich in antioxidants and can provide your body with ample amounts of iron, fiber, calcium, and manganese. It has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties that can help fight infections and heal tissues that are damaged.

Add it in your pudding, rice dishes, or simply drink a glass of cinnamon tea to keep your immunity strong and body healthy.

 4) Ginger

One of the most ubiquitous spices in the kitchen all around the world, ginger is packed with nutritional properties that are great for building up your immunity. It has more than a hundred active compounds like zerumbone, sesquiterpenes, oleoresins, and zingerone to name a few. Ginger’s anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties can aid in digestion, treat infections, and infuse your body with immunity-boosting compounds.

Add it to almost all your lunch and dinner meals. Ginger, when added with honey, can also heal soar throat and cough. You can even make ginger tea by combining honey, lemon, and some fresh pieces of ginger. You will find this drink quite soothing, especially during the monsoon.

 5) Hing (Asafoetida)

Hing is another excellent spice that can boost your immunity system due to its antibiotic, anti-viral properties, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also great in relieving an upset stomach, which is usually a common illness during the monsoons. Furthermore, it can effectively treat other stomach conditions such as IBS, bloating, gas, and indigestion.

Make sure to add more than a pinch of Hing to your dal, curries, and other delicacies.

 Conclusion

I hope you have gained some valuable and noteworthy insights from this article. By making these appetizing spices a part of your everyday diet, you will keep your body healthy, immunity strong, and stay clear from infections during the monsoons.

Do you recall the last time you fell ill? Do you remember how it felt? Fatigue, weakness, a heavy head, loss of appetite; these are a few symptoms of illness. There are also quite a few side effects of illness that tend to appear such as mouth sores, nausea, acidity etc. We have put together a few easy-to-follow home remedies to help treat those annoying side effects and get you on the road to recovery in no time!

Nausea

a common symptom experience due to medicines. Chewing on black rains will not only give energy in the form of sugars but also soluble fiber which will aid in digestion and help give relief in nauseous feeling.

Mouth Sores

If one suffers from high fevers, such as in the case of diarrhea, nausea and food poisoning one tends to get dehydrated, resulting in mouth sores. You may also experience dryness in the mouth and find it difficult to swallow. Have warm soups, enough water and suck on some orange slices. This will help soothe the dryness, keeping you hydrated and take care of nutrient intake.

Loss of appetite

Eating is the last thing on your mind when you are sick.  The digestive system slows down; brain feels more fatigued and thus the hormones to signal hunger take a hit. Eating a big meal can be cumbersome but trying to eat every hour and in very small quantities will fulfill the purpose of refueling, thereby, giving energy to the brain and get the digestive engine moving and functioning well.

Constipation

Pain medications and certain antibiotics can cause delayed emptying of bowels and hence constipation. Have lots of fruits, vegetables to increase the fiber content and consume lots of water. Include whole grain cereals like rice, oats, and wheat but avoid millets as they are very rich in fiber and require more water to digest. Your body is in a dehydrated state and digestive system a little sluggish, so digesting millets will require more energy and your body is deficient on enough energy at this time. Cut down on caffeine.

Acidity

with a slow digestive system, dehydration and imbalance of electrolytes, heavy medications acidity is very common. Have soft foods which have been pureed or ground and avoid spicy foods. Switch to bland foods for some time, as this will help in releasing less acid. Avoid cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, over consumption of greens like spinach. These vegetables are rich in oxalic acid and oxalic acid is irritating for the intestinal tract.

Weakness & Fatigue

One does fall low on certain hormones like selenium, beta-carotene coming from vitamin A. Vitamin A helps in preventing infections. Low levels of selenium leads to more vulnerability to viruses.  Vitamin C helps fight against infections. With your body’s requirements being higher, having a multivitamin is very essential during illness.

It’s not easy to eat healthy when you don’t feel well but illness is basically a state of poor health. A nourished body will always be able to fight back all the odds of illness and help you lead a healthy life. Health gain and not weight loss should be your motive during illness.

Don’t let the harsh winter stop you from looking your best this festive season! Keep those annoying winter-related skin issues at bay by simply adding these foods to your daily diet!

SKIN RASHES

Food to consume: Carrot Juice

If you have a history of skin problems, such as skin rashes or suffer from skin psoriasis, adding carrot juice to your daily diet will surely help improve your skin. Carrots contain vitamin C, which has healing properties and helps fight skin rashes. The beta-carotene in carrots also reduces skin inflammation, which speeds the healing process.

ACNE

Food to consume: Fresh Amla

Amla helps remove acne marks and keeps pimple problems at bay. To treat your acne-affected skin, apply freshly prepared amla juice on the affected area and leave it on for about 30 minutes. After thirty minutes up wash it off with lukewarm water. If you have sensitive skin, make sure you dilute the juice with water before you apply it onto your face. To enjoy effective results from this treatment, ensure you are consistent with this treatment.

DRYNESS

Food to consume: Beetroot

If you’re healthy from within, it reflects on the outside. Beetroot juice acts as a great blood purifier, which is key to keeping your skin glowing and healthy. Beetroots are also rich in Vitamin C which helps in clearing blemishes and evens out your skin tone while giving it a natural glow.

DULL SKIN

Food to consume: Green Tea

Green tea is an effective treatment for dull skin. It helps prevents cell degeneration and naturally improves skin texture. It can also help reduce that helps to reduce pores and get rid of blackheads and breakouts without serious side effects.

Often as a result of our unhealthy lifestyle we become prone to common health problems such as hair fall, constipation, acne and other such lifestyle and food-related disorders. But instead of turning to vitamin supplements, medication and serums to solve these problems, we can easily treat these health problems by resorting to the right diet and eating the right kind of food! Here are a few wonderfoods that can help you gain freedom from common health issues.

Gain Freedom from Cramps

Bananas are loaded with magnesium which help relax muscles and are rich in fiber and which help ease your bowel movement. Eating bananas will help you feel less bloated and ease your pain. Apart from this, they are also great for skin and high in potassium content which boosts heart health and keeps a check on blood pressure levels.

Gain Freedom from Headaches

Got that annoying headache that just won’t go away? Chomp on a few almonds to gain quick relief from your headache! A magnesium deficiency is usually the most common cause behind a headache. Almonds are loaded with magnesium and are known to help relax blood vessels which in turn help provide relief from headaches.

Gain Freedom from Acne

Foods that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids such as chia seeds, walnuts, almonds, and seafood help fight acne by lowering sebum production and fight inflammation. These foods are also known to fight off depression, promote brain and eye health in children, as well as adults.

Gain Freedom from Hair fall

Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A and are a great source of beta-carotene which helps aid sebum production and in turn speed up the rate of hair growth and fight off hair fall! Sweet potatoes are also a healthy alternative to regular potatoes as they pack fewer calories, fat and are loaded with fiber, minerals and iron making them a healthy and yummy food indeed!

Gain Freedom from Constipation

Feeling constipated? Well here’s a quick nutritional fix for you! Dried fruits are full of fiber and sorbitol which acts as a natural laxative. Load up on a handful of dried fruits such as black raisins, cashews, walnut, and cranberries at least 2-3 times in a day to gain quick relief from constipation.