We all know that eating street food is a big no-no during the monsoon. But, eating raw food is a bigger risk. Gargi Bansod tells you what you need to avoid
During the monsoon, we stay away from street food, but we ignore the concerns about eating raw food. Monsoon showers bring various diseases such as food poisoning, diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. During the monsoon our digestive system is at its weakest. Raw foods contain enzymes which our digestive system does not have the strength to process. Also, raw foods absorb moisture very fast, making them an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
Salads & leafy vegetables Chopped, raw vegetables get contaminated quickly during this season because of their damp nature. This causes germs to thrive on them, leading to various infections. Choose steamed vegetables instead.
Fruits Avoid raw and cut fruits, especially if they are kept out in the open. Restrict your consumption of cucumber, watermelon, musk melon and other watery fruits. There are more chances of bacteria attacking these fruits due to their moist nature especially during the monsoon as the amount of bacteria is high.
Non-vegetarian food Seafood and raw eggs are best kept at bay during this season. You should be careful about the fish and prawns you consume, since it is their breeding season. If you consume the wrong fish, you could end up with a stomach infection. So, be careful when you’re buying fish and make sure it is fresh. Avoid eating raw fish such as sushi during this season.
Fruit juices Try to avoid drinking fruit juices or vegetable juices, especially if they have been kept outside for a long time. Don’t drink from roadside juice stalls and if you drink juices at home, make sure you consume them immediately after juicing. It is also advisable to stop drinking buttermilk, as waterborne diseases are rampant during this season.