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Monsoon and Tea! Sounds like a match made in heaven, right? Well, not always. With many of us pairing it to make the most memorable and enjoyable experience, tea does come with its pros and cons. Tea or even coffee, too mich of it can lead to various gut issues, especially during monsoon, when immunitty is at an all time low.
So, what is the solution? Leaving the tea altogether, in monsoon, seems like a cruelty and having it in guilt also doesn’t feel right. However, as per Manjushree Das, Certified Nutritionist at Atomm Fitness Club Mangalore, moderation is the way to go when it comes to tea and monsoon. Learn more about mindful consumption below.
Healthy Foods to Have In Monsoon
Whenever we drink tea or coffee, the first choice to have is the pakoras (fritters), French fries, biscuits, khari, samosa, kachori, etc. But these accompaniments do contain more calories, trans fat, refined flour, salt or sugar. These items just add to the weight gain and cause stomach issues like bloating, acidity and diarrhoea or vomiting in some people.
According to Das, healthier alternatives to pakoras would include:
- Murmura (puffed rice)
- Makhana (fox nuts)
- Corn: sweet, boiled or roasted.
- Boiled Chickpea: as chaat or hummus, accompanied by pita bread or baked crackers.
- Poha (Flaked rice): as kanda poha or chivada, poha cutlet, beetroot cutlet.
- Sweet Potatoes: as sweet potato cutlets or sweet potato chaat.
- Roasted peanuts, Roasted chana or chana dal, moth beans
- Idli with coconut chutney, idli-sambar, dosa-chutney, dosa-sambar, appe-appam chutney: Good for the gut as it is fermented before cooking in less oil.
“While choosing snacks for tea time, always make sure to choose something low in oil, moderate to low calorie, with some nutritional value. Also, maintain a small portion size to complete the requirement for an hour or two,” suggested Das.
ALSO READ: Monsoon Detox Alert: 7 Fruits to Add to Your Diet to Boost Immunity
How Can Multiple Cups of Tea Impact Your Body?![Bloating due to tea]()
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Few people have the habit of having tea/chai multiple times in on a single day. They become either nutrient deficient or have stomach issues like bloating, acidity and gastritis or insulin sensitive.
“Habits like having tea along with meals are again the reason for disruption in nutrient absorption. The tannins present in tea do act as antioxidants, but again, they combine with the iron and calcium ions and form other compounds, which get removed through urine or faeces, thus disturbing the absorption of iron and calcium ions in the gut,” explained Das.
ALSO READ: Why Is Immunity Low in the Rainy Season? Tips to Build Immunity Ahead of Monsoon
What is the Best Time to Drink Tea or Coffee During Monsoon?
Tea, while it acts as a good source of a wake-up alarm, multiple cups can disrupt your gut health. According to Das, the tannins found in tea are good, but multiple cups of it only take away the antioxidants it can provide. Some points to keep in mind while consuming tea during the monsoon, as per Das, include:
- Never drink your tea or coffee with or between meals.
- Tea between meals can disrupt the essential nutrient absorption, mainly iron and calcium and also cause bloating.
- The best way and time to drink tea or coffee is 1/2 hour to 1 hour before or after meals.
“To have tea with snacks, the ideal time is mid-morning or evening, to fill the gap between lunch and dinner,” advised Das.
ALSO READ: 5 Foods to Boost Your Child’s Immunity in Monsoon
Should You Add Tulsi, Ginger, or Mulethi to Your Tea for Seasonal Health Benefits?![Ginger tea]()
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“Well, we do consume adrakwali chai or ginger tea in our households early morning, evening, monsoon or winter. Also, we can have tulsi tea as a core ingredient or in combination with ginger or dry spices, making it as kahwa/kashaya/kadha. This helps in relieving sore throat and cold, which mostly happen during monsoon and winter. Also, the same items can be added to the black tea, green tea or lemon tea. Mulethi mostly works better when added as a core ingredient in the tea.”
Who Should Avoid Tea?
People with stomach issues, inflammation, diarrhoea or hot flashes when consuming milk tea should avoid drinking tea to further aggravate these conditions. Instead, have black tea or lemon tea with black pepper or ginger or tulsi,” advised Das.
ALSO READ: Indian Superfoods You’re Ignoring: Here’s What to Add
Conclusion: Tea in Moderation
With rain pouring and the clouds all dark and gloomy, it is easy to turn to a comforting cup of tea or coffee. However, it is not all good. Sometimes, an honest cup of tea turns into a nightmare, causing problems like constipation, diarrhoea and stomach pain. But the good news is that, when it comes to tea, moderation is key! So, sip mindfully and eat consciously.