How to combat seasonal changes

Take adequate rest and follow a liquid-rich diet to boost your immunity and keep illnesses at bay

With the weather fluctuating between high temperature during the day and rains at night, city hospitals are seeing an increase in cases of viral fever. In the first five days of this month, there were as many as 1,724 such instances in Mumbai. Experts elaborate the reasons for the same and share handy tips to boost immunity.

- Why are seasonal changes the harbinger of illnesses? 
According to general physician Dr Vivek Tilwani, the seasonal transition from monsoon to winter causes fever, cough, cold and fatigue in children and adults alike. He explains, "During this phase, the sun transitions from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. It passes through areas that produce excess heat. As a result, we experience weather that is seen in tropical countries. This kind of a phenomenon is called equatorial season. It is ideal for germs, which cause viral fever, as they thrive in extreme hot and cold temperatures."

- Symptoms to watch out for 
Dr Tilwani states that our body shows signs of illness as early as a week before we actually fall sick. He says, "The duration between the germ entering our body and spreading the infection is called the incubation period. We usually experience loss of appetite, nausea, slight fever and fatigue in this phase."

- Recuperative measures 
Adequate rest and having a liquid-rich diet ensure that you recover from viral fever. Nutritionist Rachna Dharamshi suggests one should also consume rajma (red kidney beans) and fresh curd. She says, "Rajma provides necessary proteins to the body and boosts immunity. They are also rich in soluble fibre content which helps to maintain blood sugar levels. Likewise, curd helps to replenish the good bacteria in our intestine that are killed due to consumption of antibiotics."

- How to boost immunity 
Both the experts agree that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the easiest way to boost immunity and keep diseases at bay. Adequate sleep (6-7 hours for adults and eight hours for children) and consumption of fresh fruits and home-cooked food is essential. "Squeeze fresh lime juice on your food as it's rich in vitamin C and good for the skin, hair and body. Green leafy vegetables are a rich source of Vitamin-B complex and help in the functioning of certain enzymes in the body. When we sweat, we lose electrolytes. Non-consumption of water for long intervals dehydrates the body. Drink adequate water, lime juice and buttermilk to replenish the electrolytes and hydrate yourself," concludes haramshi.

Source : Times of India