Staying healthy in rapidly changed weather

Fahmida Hashem :In Bangladesh, we are passing time in glorious summer weather. Sunshine during the day, rain in the evening; morning breezes, nighttime storms. Yes, the weather is alternating between hot and cold. It is constantly fluctuating, and the changing temperatures throughout the day are making many of us ill. People are most at risk of becoming ill during periods of seasonal transition. Different seasons mean different weather, different seasonal fruits available. The best way to stay healthy amid these sudden and dramatic changes in the weather and the temperature is to eat a balanced diet and to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is advice is all to find foods and drinks rich in Vitamin C. So perhaps squeeze some fresh fruit juice from fruits that are green or yellow in colour to start everybody’s morning. If you have a sore throat or a cough, try adding some honey to your fresh fruit juice. The winter holiday season is the perfect time to evaluate current health and healthy habits and set goals for the year ahead starting with a nutritious diet. From an energetic angle use root vegetables to provide our complex carbohydrates instead of leaning on too much stodgy, heavy food. Perfect winter vegetables include carrot, celery, broccoli, pumpkin, spinach and sweet potato, cauliflower, cabbage etc. The best fruits to eat are grapefruit, lemons, kiwi fruit, oranges, apple, Amlaki, limes and pear. Also, there are lots of junk food items that are overwhelming us and these are at times quite irresistible too. Try to limit or avoid beverages that are caffeinated, carbonated or high in sugar level. Summer diet should be based on increasing intake of raw fruits and vegetables. Here is some health and diet tips for staying healthy and fit in changing weather; Eat 5 – 6 meals, If you eat more times a day, you will end eating less than if you take less times as this result in huge portions at a time. Also, avoid very cold drinks, ice creams as they can cause stomach cramps. Increase the intake of fresh fruits, Try to start your day with fruits and if possible take only fruits in breakfast. Take watermelon, pears, apples, plums and pineapple or seasonable fruits. Have a light lunch, Prepare mixed fruits with little olive oils and mix some spices. With some variations you can cook the same food many times a day. Refreshing subsequent meal, The next meal can be a slice of cheese or yoghurt or you can have buttermilk or salad with a few drops of lemon juice. You can also have coconut water or lemon juice. Evening meal, Have very light meal in the evening too. In the evening take whatever you like but bake that in the oven with slight olive oil, garlic, tomatoes. Make sure that you eat at least two hours before going to bed. Follow Diet Rules, You can keep fruits separated with vegetables or other food items. Also, try to drink water sometime after taking your meal. Drinking between meals should be completely avoided. Lastly, do not get stick to any hard and fast rule. We Bangladeshi like to eat Bhuna. Avoid it during hot weather. Don’t take stale foods, long time frozen foods etc. Try to take fresh cooked foods every day. Keep your energy up by limiting sweets and fatty foods and focusing on fresh summer fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy lean protein. In Bangladesh, you can get a lot of fresh juicy fruits in summer like: watermelon, wood apple, mango, pineapple etc. Take these fruits naturally or by making juice. Have a quick look at some health tips for staying healthy during summers; Use tulsi seeds in your drink, this has good cooling effects, Yogurt and other low fat dairy products will also help you remain cool and provide you with calcium and protein, you should avoid taking hot and spicy food items as far as possible as the fruits and vegetables have organic salt in them and they are sufficient for the body in summers. The above mentioned tips for healthy diet which will help you maintain a good health during season changing. A little change in your everyday life will make you healthier and fit. As the seasons change, lasting success occurs when you change too. That’s why it’s important to stay as flexible and willing to try something new in order to stay healthy from one season and one year to the next. These weather changing tips are not a substitute for medical care but may help you recognise and respond promptly to waming signs of trouble. So from now be inspired and get healthy in every season.