Tips on Weight Loss during Monsoons
Following a diet according to a specific season, works better for good health. Making small adjustments in planning the routine meals ensures you are safe from different ailments or infections. This is one way which helps you enjoy the season to the fullest along with the good health. Monsoon is one season when the immunity goes for a toss. The different germs you are exposed during this season leads to viral infections, flu and other ailments. Besides this, cravings for food which is hot and spicy, increases. Hot beverages or soups consumed during this season need to be full of the essential nutrients to ensure the immunity.
One such soup which works well during monsoons is the coconut and pumpkin shorba.
Pumpkin and coconut shorba:
Pumpkin is one of the vegetables which are perfect for those looking for weight loss as this is considered as ‘low calorie’. For every 100 grams of this vegetable you get only 26 calories. Enriched with Vitamin C and Vitamin A, this vegetable is perfect as the ‘immunity’ vegetable you need during monsoons.
The other ingredient, coconut milk used in this recipe, can also work wonders during this wet season. Coconut milk is known to contain MCFA’s (medium chain saturated fatty acids) and has anti fungal, anti-bacterial and antiviral properties due to the lauric acid.
The additions of spices in this shorba only add to the many benefits. This drink can help you in the weight loss program chosen. This shorba is a soothing agent especially when you are suffering from any cough or cold.
Making of Pumpkin and coconut shorba:
*Take chopped onions along with chopped pumpkin, grated ginger, grated garlic, star anise and fennel seeds in a pan and put water.
*Cook this on low heat till you find the pumpkin tender.
*Put the mixture in a blender and once blended well you need to strain this.
*Coconut milk needs to be added to this blend along with salt.
Tips on Monsoon Diet:
Following some tips during monsoons can help you with good health.
- Have food with low or medium salt. Too much salt can lead to retention of water or even high blood pressure.
- Avoid watermelons musk melon and other fruits with high content of water as these can lead to swelling in the body.
- Instead of milk, it is better to consume yogurt, almonds and curd.
- Stay well hydrated so that maximum of toxins can be flushed out.
- Bitter vegetables like bitter gourd and spices like methi seeds turmeric can help you fight infections.
- Drink herbal teas, specifically those with antibacterial qualities. This can be pepper, ginger, basil leaves, mint or honey.
- Choose fruits which are seasonal. This ensures that the fruits are fresh sans any worms.
Choose nutrition instead of taste as this ensures you can stay healthy in the wet season. Besides this, follow absolute hygiene which is a priority especially during monsoons. Finally, avoid all those fried foods or even the processed foods available.
