Dos and Dont's of Monsoon: Your Ultimate Guide Is Here!

Sakhi Bhotika
September 05, 2016
Views : 16126
Dos and Dont's of Monsoon: Your Ultimate Guide Is Here!

"I hear thunder, I hear thunder, oh don't you?" Quite aptly timed, my niece was singing this poem while it rained heavily the other day. Don't we just love the pitter-patter sound of pouring water, and the smell of wet earth after it has rained! Monsoon comes to us as a relief from that sweaty and sultry summer. There is a different kind of cheerfulness that comes with the showers. Well, I agree that the traffic scene is too messed up in our country, with a lot of time spent waiting for the cars to move, with flooded roads, yet we still love monsoons.

With a cool breezy weather, monsoon comes with a lot of cons as well. The chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes infected with Dengue, Chikungunya or Malaria increases, as they get plenty of places to breed in. Water-borne bacteria and viruses are at an all-time high in places where flooding is a major concern. Everything around us; air, water and food, gets contaminated during monsoons. The immune system of the body also takes a toll, and gets prone to catching fever and flus. Children are on the higher risk zone of catching fever, or getting down with the mosquito-borne diseases; their digestive system also gets weak. You can also check out our article on tips for child care during monsoons to be prepared beforehand.

We need to take immense care of our daily routines, especially our eating habits. Roadside food should be strictly avoided, as the water with which they cook the food might be contaminated. Our skin also feels an impact of monsoons; rashes, irritation, oily skin are some of the troubles we face during this season. Read our article on skin care tip, for a better understanding about tackling skin woes on the basis of your skin; also checkout our article on face packs for monsoon to feel rejuvenated throughout the showers! This article will give you basic tips to keep in mind when it comes to skin care, hair care, foot care and the most importantly our diet.

Following is a list of do's and don'ts to follow this season!

monsoon guide

Food and Diet

Do's

  • Drink boiled water throughout the monsoon season. Water gets easily contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Hence, boiling the water first before consuming or cooking is a must to avoid all sorts of diseases. Make sure your child carries only boiled water, as their immune system tends to work slowly in monsoons.
  • Keep yourself hydrated. It is a must to drink at least 9-10 glasses of water throughout the day. This is because our body tends to lose water due to humidity, which will lead to dehydrations. Therefore, drinking water is a must!
  • Eat green leafy vegetables. Vegetables like spinach contain a lot of vitamins and iron which is good for the body. Fruits and vegetables are an amazing source of nutrients which is very beneficial for the body. Try to make some unique dishes with these fruits and vegetables so that the children feel excited to eat the "boring veggies".
  • Always eat steamed or grilled vegetables. Eating raw vegetables during monsoon is not good for the health
  • Always wash the fruits and vegetables properly before cooking.
  • Drink warm beverages like tea or coffee.
  • Include mint leaves, tulsi, ginger, garlic etc. in the diet. These ingredients help in boosting the immunity. Make everyone in the family either drink one spoon of honey or drink a glass of honey water every day; honey helps in preventing the infections, keeps fever and flu at bay.

Don'ts

  • Avoid outside food. Reason being, we are not aware of the kind of water they use to cook the food, hence stay away from outside food.
  • Although drinking fruit juices is very good for health, avoid drinking juices from road stalls.
  • If you're going to a restaurant for a meal, avoid eating raw salads, curd and non-vegetarian dishes.
  • Fried food items are a big no no!
  • Also avoid raw or semi-cooked eggs.
  • Do not store pre-cut fruits, as the nutrients get destroyed due to oxidisation and moreover, it can be contaminated as well.

Travelling

Do's

  • No matter where you go, be it to your office or to another city, always carry an umbrella. You cannot predict the weather, so carrying an umbrella is a must.
  • Carry a raincoat, waterproof bags and jackets while travelling.
  • Always wear light and airy clothes
  • Make sure you have valid car insurance, so that situations are not tough for you if your car breaks down.
  • Always keep a stock of snacks in your car, as we experience a lot of traffic during monsoons, throughout the country.
  • Always keep a first-aid box in the car.
  • Carry a mosquito repellent everywhere.

Don'ts

  • Avoid wearing heavy clothes that would block the passage for air ventilation. Moreover, if you get drenched in rain, it becomes difficult for you to move around in the heavy clothes.
  • Avoid wearing shoes that retain water. Leather and suede shoes are a big no no, as it may grow fungus during the monsoon.
  • Don't drive fast during rains, no matter where you drive; be it on plain roads or hilly roads.
  • Don't go unprepared for any vacation; always do your homework.
  • If you're going to a beach for vacation, plan your vacation well as seas can be dangerous during monsoons.
  • Don't go to places with heavy rainfall for a vacation. If you have a conference or a meeting in one of the heavy rainfall cities, try to postpone it if possible.

Hair Care

Dos

  • Keep your hair dry. Dry hair gets damaged easily, and a chance of breaking is high. Moreover, rain water is acidic because of the various environmental changes earth is experiencing. Acidic rain water can mess up your hair and scalp big time!
  • Just like our skin gets oily during monsoons, our scalp also gets oily and thus attracts more of dirt, pollution and dirt. It is necessary to wash your hair on a regular basis.
  • Make sure you use a mild shampoo according to your scalp and hair; mild shampoos will not damage your hair or scalp if used regularly.
  • Don't forget to combine it with a conditioner as well.
  • If your scalp is itchy, then cleansing is a very important thing to do.
  • Use comb with wide gap between the teeth; this helps in combing properly without much hair fall.
  • Try out various hair packs that can be easily made at home. Read our article on healthy hair hacks as well.
  • Drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruits and veggies.
  • Oiling is a must for your hair; but make sure you do not let your hair stay oily for long as the scalp is already oily during monsoons.

Don'ts

  • Don't get drenched in rain. Carry an umbrella every time you go out.
  • Avoid using hair dryers to dry your hair. It makes the roots weak. Dab your hair with a towel, and let it dry naturally.
  • Don't use hair products during monsoon. With humidity present everywhere, the chemicals in the various hair products can create a huge damage to your hair. Hence, say no to hair products during monsoons.
  • Avoid using strong shampoos.
  • Do not tie or comb your hair when wet.
  • Do not use hair brushes or combs with very little gap between the teeth.
  • Avoid heavy and oily food.
  • Don't resist going to a dermatologist if your scalp gets very itchy. It can be a sign of a fungal disease.

Skin Care

Dos

  • Prefer taking warm showers instead of cold water showers. Warm bath is a must specially after getting drenched in the rain.
  • Always apply a moisturising lotion after bath. Sunscreen is also a must before leaving the house.
  • Wash your face with a face wash at least 2-3 times a day. Clean and clear skin reduces the chances of acne.
  • Do yoga and meditation to relieve yourself from all kinds of stress. Lower levels of stress mean lower chances of skin woes.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day. We tend to sweat a lot during monsoons, so drinking fluids keeps you hydrated.
  • Always remove your makeup before sleeping. Make it a habit which needs to be done all round the year.
  • Use waterproof or gel based cosmetic products.
  • Avoid applying heavy makeup; not only will it lead to skin woes, but your makeup might also get ruined if you get drenched in the rain; so say no to heavy makeup.
  • Scrub at least twice a week.
  • Don't forget your neck! Make sure you moisturise and scrub your neck as well.
  • Eating healthy fruits and veggies like green leafy veggies is good for the skin.
  • Get your beauty sleep. Sleeping for at least 7-8 hours is a must. Chances of dark circles and other skin woes reduce.

Don'ts

  • Avoid getting drenched in rains. This increases the chances of falling sick because of dampness in the body.
  • Don't take bath with cold water; this increases the risk of catching flu.
  • Don't stress out. It is a given that taking a lot of stress lead to skin woes like acne, wrinkles etc. So, try not to take the work load too seriously.
  • Avoid coffee and alcohol.
  • Avoid heavy fried food items and sea food.
  • Avoid using alcohol based cosmetic products; it leads to dryness of skin.

Foot Care

Dos

  • Keep your feet dry at all times.
  • The moment you enter your house after a day out of home, give your foot warm sake. Add any antiseptic liquid to clean your feet properly.
  • Always keep your nails short. Dirt and germs accumulated inside the nails can lead to fungal infections.
  • Always apply talcum powder between the toe nails.
  • Moisturise your feet after cleaning. Apply mild lotions or coconut oil all over your feet and in between your toe nails. If you have to go somewhere, then apply the lotion/ oil 15 minutes prior to leaving.
  • Always wear open shoes like floaters, crocs or flip flops. And just in case your foot gets wet, wearing open footwear lets the water evaporate. Wash your feet when you return home.
  • Always wash your footwear.
  • Scrub your feet when you have time. Scrubbing helps in better cleansing, and also removes all the dead cells.
  • Clean the wounds on your feet (if any) with antiseptic liquids and do not let it go unattended.

Don'ts

  • Do not let your toe nails be unattended. Long nails are a big no no.
  • Don't forget to apply talcum powder.
  • Don't wear high heeled shoes, adds to your discomfort.
  • Don't wear footwear that is closed. Sweaty feet can lead to infections and irritations.
  • Do not avoid any cut or scratch on your foot. Cuts and scratches if unattended can lead to infections. So, do not avoid any cuts on your feet.
  • Avoid wearing socks; but if you do not have any other option, then carry an extra pair of socks and change when your foot feels damp.
  • Don't forget to wear gum boots if you live in a region prone to heavy rainfall and floods.
  • Do not avoid any type of warts or minor infections. Consult a doctor as soon as possible.
  • Avoid going to salons for foot spa like fish treatment; we do not know which water they use.

With the above list of dos and don'ts on skin care, foot care, hair care, travelling and diet, you can survive the monsoons very easily. I agree there are too many things to keep in mind during monsoons, but for a healthy lifestyle we need to look into each and every aspect that requires our attention. Be it keeping your environment clean to avoid mosquito breeding, or keeping your skin healthy; everything is important. Make sure you incorporate these tips and also teach your near and dear ones to do the same. There is no point in neglecting these points and invite the plethora of infections and diseases that are associated with monsoon. Always keep in mind that "Prevention is better than cure".

Sakhi Bhotika

Sakhi Bhotika

Hi, I'm Sakhi, and I love to meet new people and learn new things from them. I strongly feel that make-up can make you look pretty on the outside, but eating healthy keeps you pretty on the inside!

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