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The rains and chilly winds of winter have finally arrived in Bangalore. While the cool and damp weather can be a welcome relief from the scorching sun of summer, it brings its own health complications and risks. The rainfall and stagnant water on the streets tend to facilitate the breeding of mosquitoes bearing diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Winter is also a time when colds, coughs, lung infections, fever, and pneumonia find prevalence. Here are some self-care steps to ensure that you don’t fall ill and have a healthy and cozy winter.
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Make good use of insect repellents: This is to prevent mosquitoes from invading and breeding in your home. This will reduce the risk of you contracting malaria. Anti-malarial medication is also advised during this season.
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Keep your surroundings clean and dry: Stagnant and dirty water is a breeding place for bacteria and germs that can lead to severe diseases. Further, they can also lead to fungal infections. Make sure your home is kept clean and dry.
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Abstain from having street foods: Fried street food is a winter favorite, however, rainwater often mixes with the frying oil and gets contaminated with unhealthy microbes. Also avoid roadside juices, soft drinks, and other beverages. Stick to bottled mineral water to minimize your risk of infection.
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Keep hydrated: Drink plenty of water as this detoxes your body. Alcoholic, caffeinated, and carbonated drinks have a lot of preservatives and should be replaced with water. Herbal tea is also a suitable drink for winter due to its various antibacterial properties.
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Avoid salty foods: Have medium to low salt foods as high salt content in the food is responsible for hypertension as well as water retention.
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Avoid watery foods: This includes lassi, watermelon, and muskmelon, as these foods create swellings in the body. Foods that are dry such as peas, gram, flour, etc are better suited to winters and rainy weather.
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Have plenty of fruits: Fruits are a vital component of a winter diet as they help restore energy to the body. Go for mangoes, pomegranates, and pears etc.
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Exercise: You might not have much motivation to exercise during cold weather, however, keeping active during winter is vital to maintaining your health. Exercise indoors as this will help you keep warm during your routine. Make sure to spend some time warming up before you exercise in order to loosen up your joints.
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Maintain the health of your skin: The cold can have adverse effects on the skin, causing it to dry out and leading to the development of itches, and eczema. This can be due to several factors, including lack of proper hydration and lack of humidity in the air as well as reduced blood circulation. Moisturizers and vitamin supplements help in maintaining circulation and keeping the skin moist and supple. Eczema can be relieved with the help of fish oil as they provide omega-3.
Winter and its rains can be quite refreshing and enjoyable. Remember to take all the precautions you can to ward off the illnesses and infections that come with the season, and you will be on your way to a healthy and happy winter.
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