Tuesday Brief

With all preparation of  laying of foundation stone of Ram Temple in Ayoydhaya going on in full swing for the ceremony scheduled for tomorrow (5^th Aug 2020),all over the world Hindu devotees  of Lord Rama  are in up beat mood. But in India there are certain so called secular leaders of Congress and other regional parties who are not happy with this happening. I do not know what is their grouse now, when even Supreme Court has given verdict, and as per the verdict things are happening. Some of them are saying at the time of Covid Pandemic this function should not be held, as if govt is only allowing work relating Covid pandemic. Then some other are saying that Prime Minister should not attend this function of  Hindu community, as our country is secular one. This statement was repeated by one leader of minority community , who earlier kept on saying that I do not consider Narendra  Modi as my PM. My only submission to all these leaders are that when President/PM/CM or any other political leader hosts the Iftaar party during Ramzaan that leader is branded as secular, but if some political leaders attend any function of Hindu community then they are labelled as communal. What double standards.

Now coming to my other topic of the day:

Monsoon is now set over the country. With the monsoon, there are so many diseases which appear, and some of them are viral fever, Dengue, Malaria, diarrhea and food infections, cold and cough etc .However, if one takes certain precautions, many of these diseases can be avoided/prevented. Like taking care of mosquitoes, can prevent malaria related diseases.  One should also  pay special attention to diet during this season. A good, healthy and balanced diet can keep you healthy. Here are few tips for MONSOON DIET.

Avoid outside food

To the extent possible, avoid taking outside food, especially from roadside vendors. Water also should not be had from unknown source, and also included are all kind of fresh juices etc from outside. The water these vendors may use can be contaminated, which will result in you falling sick. These vendors may also keep the cut fruits exposed to cold weather for long, which is also harmful. Even at home, you should avoid cutting fruits and keeping it aside for long. Consume fresh, after washing the fruit thoroughly, if required with little lukewarm water.

Avoid greens

Most of the people are advised to include greens in the diet, however during the monsoon months, it is advised to avoid these, as the dampness in them is more susceptible to all kinds of germs. However, much you wash them, some of it will be left behind and this when consumed may lead to some illness.. So it is better to avoid vegetables like cabbage, cauluiflower and spinach during monsoon. Include more vegetables like bitter gourd (Karela), bottle gourd (louki/dudhi), ridge gourd (Turai) and apple gourd (Tinda). All these are  highly nutritious and are good for health. Care should be taken to wash them thoroughly and then cook. It is best to avoid eating raw salads in the monsoon.

Fried foods

It is normal tendency to reach for fried foods like pakodas/bhajias and samosa during this season. But sadly they are not good during this season, as they take lot of time to digest, and can cause intestinal discomfort like gas, bloating, pain , cramps etc. May be once or twice during the season is ok to have fried items, but do not make the practice of eating them regularly.

Seafood

Generally seafood is good  for  health as it contains Omega 3 fatty acids. However during the monsoon, it is best to avoid seafood, as it is the breeding season. The fish you eat might contain an eggs and they are not good for health. Also fish may have been around in muddy  and sewage water for long time, and this can be harmful. If you want to eat fish, ensure that it is fresh fish and not frozen one In most of the places in India fishing is banned during heavy monsoon period, but supply of fresh fish is generally very limited and hence it is better to avoid sea food during monsoon.

Apart from the above, it is highly advisable to ensure that to drink only filtered or boiled water. Also you can have warm or hot foods like soups, broths etc. Stay hydrated, even if you do not feel thirsty, include citrus fruits that help you fight infections, and also include spices like ginger, turmeric, pepper, cumin etc in cooking, and use some anti toxins like tulsi while preparing tea.

Hope these few tips on monsoon diet will help you.

Awaiting your comments/views/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

4^th August 2020.