PANAJI
Spring is yet to arrive and it’s still mid-March, but apart from cool nights, the days are becoming increasingly hot, complain people in Goa.
The heat begins at 11 am and till about 4 pm, the temperature remains high. These signs point to a hot summer this year.
There’s still a fortnight for the summer season to begin, but Goa has already been hit by a heatwave, and the public must take precautions to safeguard their health, cautioned senior health officer Dr Utkarsh Betodkar.
“Since the temperature has risen to a level that seems unbearable for the body, the public, especially the elderly, should avoid going out from 12 noon to 3 pm unless it’s urgent. Stay indoors,” advises Dr Betodkar.
He further deliberates, “Students should drink a lot of water after reaching home in the afternoon. Those who suffer heat and feel dizzy should stay in the shade. Consume oral rehydration solution (ORS) to keep the body hydrated.”
Advising on the appropriate diet in summer, Vaidya Krupa Naik states, “As the summer begins to advance, the cough (phlegm) saturated in the body begins to melt, and due to this increased cough in the body, the digestive fire gets affected. People tend to feel less hungry and the digestive system remains less active. Therefore eat light food.”
Stating that old grains (rice, wheat, jowar, ragi) are lighter to digest, Vaidya Naik says that those who are not able to procure old rice, should roast the grains to make them light.
“Cook the food well. Eat seasonal fruits. Avoid non-vegetarian foods. Drink water treated with Vaala or Chandan which gives a cooling effect. Apply Nagarmotha, Bhimseni kapur, Sandalwood powder as body packs."
Fresh fruit juices of watermelon, mashmelon, grapes, oranges, mosambi, sugarcane and coconut water, buttermilk, lime water etc help keep the body hydrated.
