Immunity: 10 Diet Mistakes You Must Avoid During Season Change To Build Immunity

New Delhi, 7-Oct-2020

1. Not drinking enough water - While you may not feel as thirsty as you did in peak of summers, but you'd have to ensure that you drink enough water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Dehydration can make you weak and may take a toll on your immunity. Avoid chilled water now.

2. Not cleaning of veggies before using - One should clean all vegetables or meat before preparing to avoid the risk of contamination.

3. Not eating enough properly cooked food - No, you need not deep-fry everything, but cooking food properly is known to kill pathogens. You can eat raw foods, but that should not constitute the majority of your diet.

4. Not eating meals at regular intervals - Skipping meals is not a good idea during this time. It could have a severe impact on your health condition which could further weaken your immunity in the long run.

5. Not having enough proteins - Protein is often called the building block of life. Turns out, this is a very important nutrient to keep our immunity intact as well.

6. Not cutting back on junk food - Excess consumption of junk food could lead to obesity, which can cause different metabolic disorders. Try to avoid foods that are high in trans-fats, salt to keep up proper health.

7. Not cutting back on sugary foods - Refined sugar is said to be one of the root cause of many health troubles. Treats like pastries, cookies, doughnuts tend to fluctuate blood glucose levels and only gives satiety for a short term. They do not provide any major nutrients you need to function, but instead, slowly start affecting your perfectly balanced immune system.

8. Not adding all food groups - Eating the same food day in and day out could limit your nutrition intake. Try to include all the food groups in your meals - you can do that by simply trying delicious food combinations with seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts and fried fruits. It not only adds variety to your meals but also helps in building immunity and brings along a range of antioxidants.

9. Consuming too much salt - Too much of salt can lead to high blood pressure, water retention that may lead to weakened immunity. Therefore, avoid foods that are high in salt (sodium).

10. Be mindful with spices - In small quantities, spices could do wonders for bolstering your immunity, but if you go overboard, you could be doing more harm than good.