The rainy season has arrived! Follow these expert-recommended monsoon tips for children to keep them safe and healthy.
With the arrival of monsoon season and the end of summer vacation, taking care of children’s health becomes a top priority for parents. Respiratory infections, fevers and sore throats become common health problems when heavy rains hit. Since most children tend to eat high-calorie, spicy and appetizing delicacies during the monsoon period, the chances of stomach infections also increase many times. Jaundice and typhoid fever are also common due to infected food and water. So, dear parents, here are some monsoon tips to keep your kids safe from infections and allergies.
From food and lifestyle to vaccinations, there are many ways to protect children from seasonal allergies and health problems. Let’s take a look at some basic monsoon tips that you can incorporate into your child’s daily routine.
6 Monsoon Tips for Kids
According to Paula Goel, Ph.D., pediatrician and adolescent specialist at The Face Clinic, here are some tips: Boost your child’s immunity Measures against monsoon infections and diseases.
1. Maintain a healthy diet
Children may often think that healthy food is unpalatable and bland. But as a parent, you can change that understanding by experimenting with healthy ingredients and recipes. Feed a healthy diet and avoid overconsumption of junk food. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet.
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2. Exercise
Sitting has become a bad thing in our lives. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle and encourage your child to exercise regularly. Outdoor activities should be encouraged whenever weather permits. Indoors, instead of spending screen time, try to keep yourself busy with cardio exercises like skips, hops, and duck walks that provide a moderate amount of energy expenditure.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is the sum of good eating, exercise and sleep habits. Reduce screen time and avoid gadgets at least an hour before bedtime. This will help you sleep better and wake up refreshed.
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4. Maintain good hygiene
Maintaining good hand hygiene is very important to prevent the transmission and spread of infectious diseases. Make sure children wash their hands regularly and bathe daily to prevent monsoon-related illnesses.
5. Reduce stress
With summer vacation over and school starting, students may be feeling stressed about their new classes. Try to make the transition easier by minimizing stress for your children and not putting too much academic or extracurricular pressure on them.
6. Immunization
Prevention is better than cure. So make sure your child has all the vaccines they need at their age and make sure they get their annual flu vaccine. Typhoid and hepatitis vaccines protect against typhoid fever and hepatitis A (jaundice) caused by infected food and water.
Also read: Planning a monsoon trip? Stay clear of dengue and typhoid with these health tips
Monsoon diet: foods that boost immunity in children
All of the above monsoon tips for kids are important, but diet plays a big part in keeping your child’s immune system stronger. A balanced diet should contain 20 to 25 percent fat, 10 to 12 percent protein, and 60 to 70 percent carbohydrates, says Dr. Goel. She recommends the following foods for boosting immunity. monsoon diet!
* Probiotics in yogurt help prevent bacterial, viral and fungal diseases. It is always recommended to consume yogurt without added flavors, sweeteners or colorings.
* Homemade soups mixed with vegetables such as carrots, beets, tomatoes, spinach, pumpkin, gourds and broccoli are healthy and a great way to boost your child’s immune system. It also helps reduce cough, cold and flu symptoms. The spices used to prepare the soup boost immunity, turmeric and ginger have anti-inflammatory properties, and garlic has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.
* Eggs contain nutrients such as protein, zinc, vitamins A, B, D, E, K, iron, magnesium, and selenium.
*The ideal growth environment for pathogenic bacteria is a moist environment. Broccoli is therefore an immune-boosting vegetable. It is a complete immune-boosting nutritional package as it contains Vitamins B, B2, B3, B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Vitamin C and Beta-Carotene.
*Vitamin C in lemons boosts immunity, so you can add lemons to your diet.
* Fruits such as watermelons, bananas, chickpeas, apples, pears, papaya, and oranges boost immunity.
* Beets help lower blood pressure levels, prevent anemia, reduce inflammation, and fight some infections. So, to boost your immune system during this monsoon, include beets in your diet.