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How to beat the blues

Don't let the muggy weather get to you. Here are a few dos and don'ts for the season

PLAY IT SAFE In the rains PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

Singing or romancing in the rains is stuff that celluloid stories are made of. For lesser mortals like us caught in the daily drudgery of home to work (or college) and back, even lazing in the balcony watching the rains while gorging on some hot pakoras and chai is a luxury we can afford only on Sundays.

Moreover, monsoon blues can make us sluggish, anxious and at times depressed. Here are things you need to note to be in the pink of health despite the grey weather.

* If you've been drenched in the rains, shampoo your hair when you get back home. The rainwater deposits atmospheric pollutants on your mane.

* Soak your damp feet in a tub of warm water for a few minutes. Add a dash of lime to the water and rinse your feet with soap. Wipe your feet dry. Damp, dirty feet can lead to growth of fungus in between your toes.

* Damp homes, too, are a breeding haven for mosquitoes. Open the doors and windows when it's not raining to let some fresh air and warmth in. Similarly, air dry damp clothes.

* Wear open-toed shoes that will let the water drain out.

* Clear your balconies of any clogged rainwater.

* It's an oft-repeated advice but let's get this clear one more time.

Stay miles away from the street-side chaat and paani puris. If you must gorge on them, choose eateries that serve paani puris with mineral water.

* Wash your vegetables and fruits doubly clean. Vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower need to be washed in piping hot salted water to remove worms that are common during monsoons.

* Wash cherries, plums, jamuns and grapes for a few minutes in lukewarm salted water. This way, you'll cut down the risk of common colds and other ailments.

Watermelons and muskmelons are still doing the rounds at some vendors' but give those water-rich fruits a break.

* Don't leave your raincoats and umbrellas behind while your step out. Wear synthetic clothes so that they dry quickly even if you get drenched.

* Finally, reach out to a fine brew of green tea, ginger tea or lemon tea with a dash of honey to beat the blues.

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