As soon as it rains, our first thought is to sit by the window with a bowl of Maggi or fritters (pakoras) and enjoy. But the question here is, is it really delightful for the gut?
Our gut consists of good bacteria, which are responsible for proper digestion. Intake of junk food or processed oil destroys the good intestinal bacteria, further causing leaky gut and leading to lifestyle disorders such as obesity.
In Ayurveda, Ahara, as in food, is one of the three sub-pillars that is responsible for better health. Healthy monsoon snacks can be a better alternative to fried food in order to have a healthy gut.
At Madhavbaug, we promote eating healthy alternatives and have developed kits for healthy food, which helps reduce weight, boosts energy, and promotes better health through balanced nutrition. We focus on holistic healing through food, regimen, panchakarma, and supplements, addressing the proper root cause.
Desire for food is usually regulated by the brain. During monsoon, there is a lack of sunlight. Studies suggest that lack of sunlight is interlinked with a hormone called “serotonin,” which is secreted by the brain (Lambert, G.W., 2002). A decrease in serotonin leads to a gloomy mood, which in turn leads a person to eat more spicy and tangy food in order to feel pleasant.
Due to rains, people tend to stay indoors, due to which snacking habits may develop more, leading a person to eat more than their regular appetite. With this, lack of physical activity leads a person to slowly gain weight.
Consuming more salt and sugar directly leads to weight gain. It not only disturbs the digestive system but also affects other systems such as the circulatory system and even the excretory system, leading to an impaired metabolism. Let us understand in detail:
High-salt diets are directly linked with an increase in the amount of fat cells in the body. It also makes the fat cells denser. (Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., 2009)
Kidneys are the organs responsible for the excretion of water along with sodium. A high-salt diet puts more pressure on kidneys. After a certain point, a threshold has been reached after which there is excess salt deposition and damaged cells. Since more sodium is excreted, less water is excreted, which leads to water retention, further leading to bloating.
Excess salt even hardens the arteries, which leads to a decrease in oxygen supply. Less oxygen means a decrease in metabolism and less fat burned overall.
Consuming excess sugar can lead to an increase in fructose in the body without decreasing the other sources of energy. This leads to an increase in the number of cells, leading to weight gain.
This may seem simple, but all the packaged and junk food and even beverages include high sugar levels. When the snacking habit increases during the monsoon, all these consumption increases causing weight gain and even obesity.
As you read, it becomes difficult to control cravings during the monsoon; a smart portion formula could be a rescue.
It is a formula designed to have balanced meals without weighing ingredients every now and then.
It can be followed in two ways:
Ayurveda is a holistic science that states that the body fundamentally comprises Vata, Pitta, and Kapha elements. Vata is the one that is, moreover, responsible for the overall regulation of the body and the transportation of substances within the body. Vata, along with Pitta, is responsible for digestion, and Vata, along with Kapha, is responsible for taste.
In Varsha Ritu, which is the monsoon, Vata naturally increases in everybody’s body due to increased wind and humidity. This leads to a natural aggravation of Vata, which affects the taste and the digestion of the body. This means since digestion is a bit difficult during this season, one should consume food that is laghu (easy to digest), such as boiled moong, and that is snigdha (unctuous in nature), such as ones that have unsaturated fats.
It is very difficult to control one’s cravings, but healthy monsoon snacks are a good solution to balance both health and taste. Let us see the top 10 healthy snack swaps:
| Unhealthy snacks | Healthy alternatives |
| Wrap
Contains: Maida Processed Sauces and Vinegar |
Moong dal chilla wrap
Contains: Moong dal (high protein and easy to digest) Freshly baked without preservatives |
| French Fries
Contains: Potato |
Healthy Fries
Contains: Yam/Sweet Potato/Carrot |
| Coke
Contains: Carbonated |
Dhanyaka Hima
Contains: Coriander seeds, which naturally cools down the body |
| Burger
Contains: Maida Potato patty Processed Sauces and Vinegar |
Healthy Burger
Contains: Millet bread Yam patty Fresh and sautéed vegetables |
| Maggi
Contains: Madia Preservatives |
Healthy noodles
Contains: Noodles made from millets (jowar or ragi) No added preservatives |
| Pakora
Contains: Oily |
Healthy Pakora
Contains: No oil (air-fried) or consume it in form of roasted chips |
| Cupcakes
Contains: Harmful sugar |
Narikela Khanda
Contains: Rock candy, which is healthy |
| White Paste
Contains: Maida |
Wheat Pasta
Contains: Wheat |
| Mayonnaise
Contains: Processed and preservatives |
Avacado
Contains: Fresh and no vinegar |
| Ice cream
Contains: Excess Sugar |
Oat meal
Contains: Natural sweeteners No added preservatives |
With this, there can be many Ayurvedic snacks for weight loss. Madhavbaug has created a swasthyam kit, which has meals that are easy to digest and help reduce weight.
Madhavbaug has a unique approach for obesity that works on root causes rather than just losing weight. Their holistic approach includes a combination of Panchakarma, diet, and exercise. With this, we have an integrated approach, including the MIB app, which is helpful for regular monitoring.
Through Panchakarma procedures, the toxins of the body are flushed out, and a natural detox is done. Procedures like Udavartana, which is a powdered massage, are performed against the direction of the body hair to create friction, which promotes fat metabolism and helps reduce weight. Along with this, Svedana (heat therapy) leads to sweating, which causes further detoxification. In addition, other procedures like Basti (medicated enema) and Virechana (purgation) can further help a person lose weight.
This diet kit is a perfect savior since it works on three main principles: calorie control, balanced nutrition, and carbohydrate management. With this, each patient receives personal attention since there is a personalized diet plan made considering the individual’s prakruti (vata, pitta or kapha) along with its age, body type, etc.
Golekh and Mednox are two of the capsules used to treat obesity. They contain herbs like Triphala and Guggulu, which have lekhana properties, which means they promote scrapping of the fats and lead to a healthy metabolism.
Not only exercise or medicine or even diet individually can help lose weight. So, Madhavbaug has developed this integrated and holistic approach to help combat obesity, which addresses the root cause. Ayurveda believes in “purusham purusham vikshya,” which means every individual has unique characteristics. Madhavbaug, following this principle, has a personalized approach towards every patient, leading to successful results. To book a consultation, visit your nearest center now.
Q.1 Which is the best snack for weight loss?
The best snacks for weight loss include protein and fiber. This helps regulate digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and keeps you feeling full longer.
Q.2 How can I lose weight in the monsoon?
With exercise and diet, taking ¼ teaspoon of ginger with warm water before meals promotes healthy digestion and reduces bloating.
Q.3 What not to eat in the rainy season?
In the monsoon, your digestive system is highly vulnerable to the humidity and moisture. Avoid raw foods, street eats, and heavy or stagnant items to prevent stomach infections, food poisoning, and bloating.
Q.4 What is the worst carb for belly fat?
The absolute worst carb for belly fat is added sugar
Q.5 What is a 0 carb snack?
True zero-carb snacks are mostly made of pure protein and healthy fats. Because they contain no carbohydrates, they provide steady, lasting energy without spiking your blood sugar.
Lambert, G.W., Reid, C., Kaye, D.M., Jennings, G.L. and Esler, M.D., 2002. Effect of sunlight and season on serotonin turnover in the brain. The Lancet, 360(9348), pp.1840-1842.
Lyssie Lakatos, R.D., Shames, T.L., Lakatos, L. and Tammy Lakatos Shames, R.D., 2009. The Secret to Skinny: How Salt Makes You Fat, and the 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size and Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps. Health Communications, Inc..
Moosavian, S.P., Haghighatdoost, F., Surkan, P.J. and Azadbakht, L., 2017. Salt and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 68(3), pp.265-277.
Drewnowski, A., 2007. The real contribution of added sugars and fats to obesity. Epidemiologic reviews, 29(1), pp.160-171.
Parwe, S., Mohan, M., Bhagwat, P. and Nisargandha, M., 2021. Effect of Rodhradi Gana Udavartana in the Management of Sthaulya (Overweight) with Special Reference to Obesity.(2021). Int. J. Life Sci. Pharma Res, 11(3), pp.L30-37.