Healthy food and lifestyle adaptation in summer for children

Food and lifestyle modification are must for children to prevent skin ailments, GI disorder, communicable disorders, heat stroke and dehydration during summer.

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Ayurveda, an ancient life science provides wide range of food and lifestyle adaptability based on different seasons, focusing on maintaining good health and preventing disease in children. As per ayurveda literature, whole year is divided into uttarayana and dakshinayana based on direction of movement of sun. Summer season termed as Greeshma ritu in ayurveda comes under uttarayana.

This season is intensely hot and reduces the strength of child causing lack of energy, exhaustion, dehydration. Child’s digestive fire, metabolism will be weak and appetite will be decreased during this phase. Hence, food and lifestyle modification are must for children to prevent skin ailments, GI disorder, communicable disorders, heat stroke and dehydration.

Ahara/food to be consumed by child

• Cereals: rice, wheat, jowar
• Pulses: lentils, polished green gram
• Grains: Barley, oats
• Milk and milk products: Churned curd with little of pepper, milk, ghee, buttermilk, paneer
• Fresh seasonal fruit: Jamun, muskmelon, pomegranate, watermelon, sweet mango, citrus fruit/ juice can be incorporated to sustain energy of child