Tip tip barsa pani...Yes! the monsoons are here and so is the craving for chai and samosa. Why not? Monsoons give respite from the scorching sun and dripping sweat.
But did you know that these delectable dishes could do a major locha with your health? Stay far away from your beloved pani-puri if you don’t want to catch infections!
Wait...pani puri is not alone. There are more:
1. Pani Puri
The mere mention of golgappas leads to monsoon ki barsaat in my mouth. But what to do? Rains and puchkas don’t get along too well. Ye saazish hai boondon ki to keep us away from our beloved golgappas, but for health’s sake, this all-time favourite food item needs to be avoided during monsoons. Think contaminated water, hovering dust and flies, and severe diarrhoea.
Why just in monsoons? Because this is the perfect time for the E Coli bacteria to breed, and they are responsible for most of the infections. Humidity levels are also high during the rainy season, which reduces the body’s digestive ability.
2. Fried Food
Pakoras
Pakoras come in all shapes and sizes and we love them. No discrimination. From bread pakora to bhajiyas, we could help ourselves to endless servings with endless cups of tea. Sounds heavenly? Except that the stomach doesn’t agree. Refrain from pakoras unless you want to nurse an upset, an array of infections, or a bloated stomach.
Chaat Tikki
Tikki, bhel puri, dahi bhalle, batata puri...the list is vast. No wonder how full we are, there is always room for more. However, monsoons are not a good time for eating chaat as the water from which it is made could be highly contaminated. The flies hovering above it along with the contaminated water make a perfect recipe for diarrhoea and jaundice.
Samosa-Kachori
Samosas are bae, quite literally. They came and stayed – and have only evolved for the better – from aloo to chowmein samosa and keema to pasta samosa. But bingeing on samosas during monsoons could lead to a series of gastronomical complications – all that oil is prone to going bad in the humidity!
Chole Bhature te Achaar
Ye dil maange more but for health’s sake, no more of the spicy, oily chole bhature and the achaar that accompanies it. The irresistible serving of chole bhature at your favourite stall can lead to a bacterial roller-coaster in your stomach, causing tummy upsets, bloating and even water-retention. Why put yourself through that?
3. Cut Fruits on the Roads
Prolonged exposure to monsoon air makes fruits vulnerable to contamination – thereby leading to stomach infections, flu and illness. Why would you take the risk? Stick to freshly cut fruits at home and consume them immediately. Be safe!
4. Sea Food
Monsoons are the breeding season for fish, prawns and other sea creatures. So these are best avoided lest they lead to a number of stomach infections or even food poisoning in extreme cases. As for the sushi cravings, there will be time! That time is just not now...
5. Leafy Vegetables
Do you hate those healthy greens? Tired of mum running after you for that dose of green veggies? Welcome the rains in that case because this might be the only time your resistance is right! Monsoons turn leafy vegetables damp, making them susceptible to germs. Mud, dirt and worms relish leafy vegetables during the monsoons and that should be reason enough to maintain distance.
6. Dairy Products
Why not milk, of all things? It is the primary ingredient for chai and is otherwise a great source of calcium and energy. But monsoons take a toll on milk, making it turn bad rapidly. The same applies to curd and other dairy products which have a propensity to attract bacteria – reducing their shelf-life and inviting a number of stomach infections.
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