|
| |
|
| |
Temperature in Delhi rise to 47º
June 9, 2007
Summer has made its presence felt, in every way it could have. What
do you do - give up or fight back? If you prefer the latter; way to
go and here's how. Every season beings with it certain do's and don'ts.
So does summer. There are certain things you must avoid and certain
you must not.
Here's what not to do and what to do in
this summer:
Avoid fried food: Eating excessive-fried
food leads to lethargy. Go for grilled, steamed and roasted food instead.
It's not just healthy but also keeps you feeling light all day.
Reduce intake of coffee and tea: Consuming
excessive coffee and tea causes increased urination, which leads to
water loss.
Avoid consuming stale fruit and vegetables:
Fruit and vegetables cut much earlier lose water and are prone to
degradation. It's always advisable to eat freshly cut/peeled fruit
and veggies. Also, avoid eating stale food. Food that is more than
one day old might be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Do not overeat: Overeating is bad in
any season. Chew your food properly and never eat in a hurry. In the
summer, have light meals, especially at night. Heavy food may cause
indigestion and lead to loose motions and vomiting.
Hot Tip: Avoid long gaps between
meals. Eat three times a day, interspersed with frequent snacks like
salads, sprouts and fruit. By doing so, you avoid overeating at meal
times.
Avoid excessive smoking and alcohol intake:
Avoid both alcohol and cigarettes, as they take away oxygen from the
blood and cause suffocation in the lungs. They also dehydrate the
body and raise its temperature.
Avoid carbonated drinks: Avoid these,
as they produce gas in the body and lead to poor digestion as well
as gastrointestinal distress.
Don't wear tight-fitting clothes: It
goes without saying that tight, skin-hugging clothes will impede circulation,
increase sweating and cause discomfort. Wear loose and light-coloured
clothes to stay cool all day.
Common Heat-related Ailments
Constipation: During summers, as the
body loses excessive water, the chances of suffering from constipation
rise. Apart from drinking as much water as you can, maximize fibre
in your diet. Consume oatmeal, raw fruits, bran, wheat flakes, etc.
Dehydration: Of course, summer and
dehydration go hand in hand. Excessive sweating causes an electrolyte
imbalance in the body. Include adequate salt and potassium in your
diet, by consuming lemonade, lassi, jaljeera and mango punna.
Hot Tip: Yoghurt, if consumed with
salad, gets fermented in the body and produces acids, which are not
easily digested. But that doesn't mean you stop consuming yoghurt.
Take it with sugar instead as it reduces and acid produced in the
body.
Gastroenteritis: Gastroenteritis is
a general term that refers to infections (bacterial/viral) of the
gastrointestinal tract. It leads to several problems such as stomach
aches, diarrhea and vomiting. To avoid it, include yoghurt in your
diet. Avoid eating food in places where you aren't sure it's prepared
in hygienic conditions.
Heat Stroke: Avid too much exposure
to the sun. If you must go out, wear a hat/scarf, drink lots of water
before you start and carry a water bottle and an umbrella too.
Hot Tip: Consume mango panna or onions
to keep heat stroke at bay.
Feeling Hot Hot !! Major Problems/Diseases
associated in summer season:
Cramps: Heat cramps are painful muscle
contractions. They happen due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
in the body.
Exhaustion: General lethargy is a surefire
sign that the summer is overwhelming you.
Heat Stroke: This is the most common
and serious problem in summer. Patients suffer from fever, dizziness,
headache, nausea, absence of sweating and may even slip into a coma.
Don't Suffer this Summer. Take Precautions:
Come summer and we end up complaining about various food-borne diseases. Here are the common sources:
- Non-pasteurised dairy products
- Raw meat
- Stale food
- Unhygienically prepared street food
- Unpackaged drinks from street vendors, like mango panna,
lassi, jaljeera
- Not washing hands before eating
To avoid these:
- Use processed milk.
- Use cooked meat
- Avoid eating leftovers
- Avoid eating out in unhygienic places.
- Make sure you wash your hands.
- Consume packaged drinks.
On That Prickly Heat?
Bathe twice daily. Grind neem leaves in water and apply an affected areas. Dip a cloth in a mixture of 1 tsp backing soda per coup of cool water and apply for instant relief.
Source: TNN
|
|
