As the rain pours, your monsoon diet needs some changes too. Avoid eating these 4 vegetables during the rainy season. Monsoon brings cool showers with it and refreshes our senses from the summer lethargy. It is the season of new growth and nourishment. And with nourishment, we mean that you need to focus essentially on your monsoon diet.
The rainy season is the time for gourds like bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ash gourd, ridge gourd, snake gourd, and other veggies that are available in plenty.
Other than gourds, monsoon bounty includes cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, and okra too. Adding these veggies liberally to your regular diet plan aids to foster good gut health and immune activity. Whereas, eating some vegetables may weigh heavily on your immune response during the monsoon season.
# Green leafy vegetablesMonsoon is the perfect time for breeding of various microbes and bacteria, which can easily contaminate these green vegetables. The soil in which they grow could be highly contaminated too, and then it is very easy for them to leech into the leaves of these veggies. The leafier the plant, the easier it is for them to find home. Hence, avoiding them would be a good option, but if you still want to eat them, make sure you boil and then cook them for at least 30 minutes to kill the bacteria.
# EggplantThe purple bulb-like veggie contains a group of chemical compounds known as alkaloids. These are the toxic chemicals that such vegetables develop to protect themselves from insects and pests. Since the infestation of pests is highest during rainy seasons, the consumption of eggplant or baingan should be limited. The symptoms of alkaloid allergy include hives, itchy skin, nausea, and skin rashes. So, keep that baingan bharta for later, ladies!
# Bell peppersBell peppers are a very popular vegetable in summer. They are delicious and full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, bell peppers can cause problems when included in your monsoon diet. They contain chemicals called glucosinolates that break down into isothiocyanates when they’re cut or chewed. These chemicals can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and breathing problems when eaten raw or cooked. The symptoms usually last for several hours after eating the food. Thus, it is best to avoid them altogether.
# CauliflowerCauliflowers or phool gobhi has high moisture content and its leaves are similar to those of the cabbage family. This makes it very easy to confuse with cabbage, which is another member of the same botanical family as cauliflower. The main reason why we should avoid cauliflower in the monsoon is because it contains compounds called glucosinolates that can cause problems for people who are allergic or sensitive to them. The best way to avoid these chemical compounds is by not eating them at all!