Don't Forget Your Health on Diwali!

   





Diwali exposes you to fire, smoke, heavy doses of artery-clogging fats, sugar quantities much, much higher than your daily recommended intake. If you drink, there's the 5 days of fighting hangover with even more alcohol.

This dangerous traditional recipe can be overcome.
Pay attention to the following health tips - these are the bare minimum you need to stay fit, happy and healthy enough to party into the New Year.


Burning Up the Air 

Respiratory ailments are going to see a jump in city folk. These include allergies, asthma and pollution, caused not only by firecrackers but the number of people driving around delivering Diwali goodies. Asthma patients should avoid firecrackers - especially those that emanate smoke. If you have to, organize a aerial-firecracker display early in the evening (9-ish), before the air gets clogged with sulfurous smoke. Keep your inhaler and asthma medication nearby before and after Diwali.

Practicing Mithai Safety

More than avoiding binging on the mithai, the increase in food adulteration around Diwali is what will hurt your health more. There is reportedly an increase in misbranded, substandard and unsafe sweets during Diwali.

To keep yourself safe, remember to check the manufacturing and expiry dates, along with license number of packed products, and always get a bill against your purchase. Kaju and besan sweets are the safest - they have the least chances of adulteration. Avoid 'chhena' and 'khoya' sweets, along with sweets and milk products from roadside shops.

Diwali, Snacking and Weight Gain

A sudden shock to both normal meals and regular sleep patterns comes from late night parties binge-eating, 'tanking' up on alcohol and lack of exercise. Instead, undertake a military-like mindset towards practicing moderation, especially towards friers food, alcohol. Replace oily snacks with a combination of fresh fruits, curd dips, raw salads, roasted food items and nuts like almonds and pistachios.

And, since being a monk during Diwali is socially frowned upon, the drinking and eating out needs to be balanced with a post-Diwali detox.  This requires a change in diet, as will as Ayurvedic massages and steam bath to leach out toxins.Replace carbohydrates and proteins with fibre and vitamins in your diet, and take more water.