The monsoon season is underway with occasional showers that are making every Mumbaikar happy. However, the rains bring with them different kinds of sicknesses and they cannot be taken for granted, as it can often lead to something worse. Even as we deal with these illnesses, food and nutrition are the two pillars our immunity rests on during this time of the year. Nutrition plays a very important role during season change; it is a vital factor that determines the health of a person. Varsha Gorey, clinical nutritionist at Apollo Hospitals in Navi Mumbai, sheds light, “Nutrition plays a very important role during season change.

It is a vital factor that determines the health of a person. Be prepared for the monsoon as this season increases humidity and varying temperatures which are known to cause more infections and digestion complications.”

Even though gastroenteritis, typhoid, dysentery, leptospirosis along with fever, cold and cough take over almost immediately, avoiding timely attention can lead to worsening health. “The monsoon season affects one`s nutrition needs by increasing the demand for immune-boosting nutrients to combat the heightened risk of infections and illnesses. The damp and humid weather creates an environment conducive to the spread of waterborne and airborne diseases, making it essential to focus on a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants,” Gorey adds.

With the monsoons here and sicknesses on the rise, mid-day.com spoke to Gorey and Sweedal Trinidade, chief dietician, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC to dissect the importance of nutrition during the rainy season. They not only stress the simple steps that people can take to ensure eating a nutritious diet but also share steps on how to carry it out over the next few months.

What is the importance of nutrition during the monsoon season?