General food safety tips in monsoon | rainy season

Monsoon showers are welcome as a relief from the scorching heat of the sun after the summer season. The season is also accompanied with a number of health problems. Most water and food borne diseases occur in the monsoons when the atmosphere is polluted and dirty. They are the cause of different viral, bacterial and fungal infections affecting the skin, respiratory system and digestive system. Common diseases like cough cold, fever, diarrhea, and indigestion are constantly troubling the people. The immune and digestive system is highly affected by the dampness and humidity of the weather.

Monsoon is the season when the food becomes really poisonous. The water borne and air borne diseases takes its extreme turn during this season. Thus, it becomes really important for all of you to be really cautious about your diet. It is always better to have foods that are ideally prepared at home. The street foods are to be avoided completely. Monsoon is the season when you would like to consume something tasty and spicy. Normally people have such food stuffs from the streets. But, this is the most wrong decision they take during this season.

Food safety tips during the monsoon season

Water

Top foods for monsoon

Water Sufficient water need to be consumed during rains to avoid dehydration. Switch to boiled or filtered water during the rainy season. Avoid dipping dirty hands in drinking water and drink water in safe places where it is filtered or boiled. If filtered water is not possible take coconut water or mineral water.

Food

Food taking the right food during monsoon plays a very important role in keeping the body healthy during monsoon season. Special care is required in selecting, cooking and storing the food stuff during monsoons.

Tips to eat healthy in monsoon

• Monsoon is the time to eat freshly cut and cooked food in a hygienic manner. Do not buy cut fruits and vegetables from the market or even eat salads in places where large scale cooking is done like in parties and restaurants.

• Raw vegetables, meats and other raw material must be washed carefully in water before cooking.

• Best vegetables to include in the diet during this season are bitter gourd (karela), neem, haldi (turmeric) and methi (fenugreek) to avoid bacterial infections.

• Other vegetables like cabbage cauliflower, spinach and beans should be washed in salt water before cooking to kill the germs thriving on them.

• While travelling it is advised to opt for whole fruits like peaches, pear bananas and litchisor dry fruits andof course home cooked food.

• Large quantity of fruits and vegetables should not be stored in the fridge and they tend to rot in a day or two.

How to choose right food for health

• Cooked food must be refrigerated as doom as possible after cooking. Leftover food should be kept covered and must be consumed soon.

• Lentils, chickpeas, oats and corn are the safest option during rains.

• Light home cooked foods prevent the body from several water and food borne diseases and boost the energy level in the body.

• Special attention must be given to storing of foods. Lentils and other food grains must be stored in dry places as there can be growth of fungus when stored in damp places.

• Take care about the protein mineral rich food in monsoon.

• Deep oil fried items are tempting in this monsoon .So avoid to take them regularly.

• Take the Moderately hot food instead of cool and too hot food.

• Choose grilled sandwiches instead of cold ones.

• Opt for hot foods like soup and cooked meals instead of cold and raw foods.

• Separate raw and cooked food both when preparing and storing.

• Street side food must be avoided specially in monsoon.

• Wash your hands while you handle the food items.

• Keep chopping blocks and worktops scrupulously clean.

• Keep food items in hygienic dry places. Not store the drinks with food items

• Cover all seeds and grains with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties during the monsoon. At the same time make sure to wash them well before consuming to avoid flatulence and discomfort.

Top health tips during monsoon

• Meat should not be stored in the fridge above other foods so that it does not drip.

• Foods should not sit in the room without the lid as it attracts bugs.

Follow these guidelines to remain safe and healthy during monsoons! Remember, prevention is better than cure.