Don't let your stomach suffer this summer

"Summer brings a majority of digestion related illnesses. Considering the rise in temperature every year, it is very important to manage our food habits to avoid stomach illnesses," say experts.

Keep yourself hydrated, always: Drinking good amount of water helps in fighting 90% of the diseases. Fiber present in the body pulls water into the colon and helps the body in creating softer, bulkier stools. This makes the passage of the stools easier without causing fissures or piles.

Increase fiber intake: Including elements to your diet that's high in fiber and rich in whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits can improve your digestive tract. A high-fiber diet helps in avoiding constipation which is a leading cause of fissure.

Avoid spicy food: Stomach inflammation during summer is common. So, avoid spicy food in the summer diet. This prevents stomach inflammation which is caused to due to a weak spleen. Have beans, lotus root and carrots to dispel pathogenic heat and strengthen the spleen and stomach

Avoid Fatty food : Fatty foods, generally, curb the digestive process. It is advisable to avoid intake of fatty substances in your diet during summers.

Limit coffee: Limiting excessive intake of caffeine as it can give rise to trouble with the smooth functioning of your digestive system, and lead to problems like stomach ulcers, acidity, and heartburn.

Avoid eating food from outside during summers. Carry your own water whenever stepping out of the house.

Eat freshly prepared food. If the food has been cooked prior either boil it or fry it before consuming it.

Use digestive spices/herbs: To improve digestion and prevent summer digestive problems, have spices or herbs. Coriander, fenugreek, fennel seeds, cardamom, cilantro, cumin, ginger and parsley in your summer diet.

Probiotic: Probiotics are the live micro-organisms that may be able to prevent and treat some illnesses. Promoting a healthy digestive tract and healthy immune system are its most important and primary function. These are also commonly known as friendly, healthy and good bacteria. People can get a healthy dose of probiotic in foods like yogurt, kefir and kombucha, which provide numerous health benefits including strengthening the immune system, preventing urinary tract infection, allergies and cold.

Gastroenteritis: This is the most common stomach infections seen across all age groups. Vomiting, blood in motions, watery motions with froth, dehydration, severe pain in the abdomen are the first symptoms and when not treated initially can cause severe damage like dehydration and sometimes even unconsciousness due to weakness.

Jaundice: A very common infection of the liver which shows symptoms like nausea, itching on skin, bitter tongue, pale look of the face with a yellow coloration of the eye. The Hepatitis A virus attacks the liver which starts producing extra bile. Contaminated water or unhygienic food is the main reason for this infection.

Typhoid: A high-grade fever with fatigue, weakness, pain in stomach, vomiting and loose motions, headache and rarely body rashes are all symptoms of the Typhoid Fever. This is a water-borne disease, seen very commonly in summers.

Food Poisoning- This is a typical infection which happens within 6-8 hours of eating contaminated food kept in low levels of hygiene.

If you face any 2 signs of the above-mentioned symptoms, start with lots of fluid like ORS prepared at home with boiled water, coconut water etc. Increase your intake of water and lemon. If the condition worsens, consult your doctor. Get your stomach tested.