Rainy Season, Covid-19 and Natural Immunity Boosters

The Rainy season brings lot of changes to the climate & eventually to the overall health. The drastic fluctuation in temperatures during rainy season makes the body susceptible to various infections. Hence it’s important to protect our body in this season by having highly nutritious food and immunity boosters. This can help to fight infections by producing antibodies against the released toxins.

With the onset and the rapid spread of the global pandemic, Corona or COVID-19, one who are most likely to be affected could be seniors and also risky for the people with low immunity and chronic health conditions.
Hence, everyone, specially older adults must pay more attention to improve their immunity. A better immune system would reflect the better chances of preventing this virus with greater chances of recovery even if the disease has been contracted.

What is Immunity?

Immunity is an ability of our body to provide protection against diseases and infections caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or other harmful micro-organisms.
One of the easiest way to improve your immunity is to have a healthy and wholesome diet. Some healthy changes in your diet and routine can act as great immune boosters for your body.
There are lots of foods, fruits, vegetables or supplements that can help us to increase this ability to fight against illnesses.
Measures and Natural Immunity Boosters given below can help you get protected against Covid-19 and other types of infections.

Preventive Measures for Covid-19 and other Infections (specially in rainy season)

General Measures
DO’S :

1. Drink warm water throughout the day.
2. Daily practice of Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation or any other form like Aerobics for at least 30 minutes. Exercising increases the level of endorphin (hormones that help reduce pain & triggers a positive feeling in the body), also helps with stress management. So, It is the best way to boost immunity.
3. Consuming adequate amount of vegetables, fresh fruits, dry fruits including dates & nuts, milk, whole grains, beans & lentils, herbs and spices on a daily basis will offer necessary nutrients to the body to ensure that your immune system is strong enough to protect you against infection.
   (Spoiler Alert: Immunity Superfoods coming soon. Please follow this blog to get notification.)
4. Spices like Haldi (Turmeric), Jeera (Cumin), Dhaniya (Coriander), Lahsun (Garlic) and Adrak(Ginger) are recommended in cooking on daily basis.
5. Adequate sleep of 7-8 hours is highly necessary for a healthy immune response as our body is constantly working, it needs to heal and regenerate while we sleep. *(according to Ayurveda, avoid sleeping in the afternoon but you can take a nap of 15-20 minutes on your left lateral side.)
6. Avoid eating outside, have freshly cooked homemade unprocessed food with less amount of oil, salt and sugar. *(Have a breakfast like king, lunch like Prince and dinner like pauper. Understand that breakfast is most important meal of the day for the healthy digestive system and the immunity).
7. Stay at home, avoid crowded places, keep distance of at least 1 meter from others, wash your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands and use multi-layered masks whenever it is necessary to go out.
8. Keep stress under control. Stress can wreak havoc on your body by boosting cortisol levels, which can block the immune system and makes it weak.

DON’T

1. Avoid having cold water/ cold drinks/ ice-creams.  
2. Avoid eating fried food items.
3. Avoid smoking and heavy use of alcohol which weakens the immune system & thus reduces the ability to cope with the infection.
4. If possible avoid using A.C.(Air Conditioners)
5. Avoid being in crowded places.
6. Avoid close contact with anyone.
7. Stop spitting on roads.
8. Do not touch your face, nose and mouth often.

Easy and Natural Immunity Promoting Measures

1. Take Chyavanprash in the morning, helps in immunity boosting.
   Dose:- Adults: 1-2 teaspoon.
   Children: from 3 years of age onward. 1/2-1 teaspoon.
   (Diabetics should take sugar free Chyavanprash)
   
   
2. Golden Milk - Half tea spoon Haldi (turmeric) powder in 150 ml of hot milk at night.
   
   
3. Amla (Indian Gooseberry) Powder : Natural source of vitamin C, helps in boosting your immunity naturally.
   Dose:- 1 teaspoon with lukewarm water on empty stomach in the morning
   
   
4. Steam inhalation with Tulsi (Holy Basil) or fresh Pudina (Mint) leaves
   can be practiced once / twice in a day.
   
   
5. Ginger & Pepper Milk: Boil the milk in a bowl. Add the crushed ginger and 1/4 tsp of black pepper powder to the milk and boil it for another 5 minutes. Now filter the milk and pour it into a glass.
   One can add 1/4th to 1/2 tsp of sugar if needed.
   
   
6. Turmeric-salt-warm water gargling is advisable twice a day.
   
   
7. Drink herbal tea/decoction (Kadha) made from :
   
   
   
   Tulsi (Holy Basil): 4 leaves
   Dalchini (Cinnamon): 1/2 inch stick
   Elaichi (Cardamom): 1
   Kalimirch (Black pepper): 2
   Haldi (Turmeric): 1/2 teaspoon
   Shunthi (Dry Ginger) / Adrak : 1/2 inch
   Water: 4 cups
   Jaggery: as per taste
   In a pot, put all above ingredients & add 4 cups of water. Boil the content until about 1 cup of solution is left. Strain it. You can add lemon twist as per your taste. 
   Consume hot sip by sip for best results.
   (Cardamom and black pepper are helpful in flu and different allergic problems. Cinnamon and ginger also aid digestion, which directly impacts our immunity, as our first line of defense is in the gut.)
   Have it once or twice a day
   
   
8. Dalchini (Cinnamon): 1 part e.g. 10gms
   Elaichi (Cardamom): 2 parts e.g. 20gms
   Pippali (Long Pepper): 4 parts e.g. 40gms
   Yeshtimadhu/Mulethi (Liquorice): 5 parts e.g. 50gms
   Mishri (Rock sugar): 50gms *Diabetic should avoid.
   Make fine powder of all above herbs in the said proportion, mixed thoroughly & store it in an air tight container.
   Use 1/2 tsp of above powder, mix it in 1/2 to 1 tsp of honey and consume twice a day.

If you are suffering from a common cold, cough, continuous fever, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath and fatigue make it a point to consult a doctor at the earliest.
Practicing hand & respiratory hygiene is important at all times and is the best way to protect others and yourself.

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