In India, you will find food for every season. While summer calls for light and cooling meals, winter is all about rich, warm, and decadent goodness. Likewise, monsoon too has its share of foods that go well with the vibe of the season. Besides the rhythmic downpour and clean and green nature, the rainy season also brings along a range of vexing diseases, making us more conscious about our health and wellness. After all, no one wants to spend the season lying in bed and visiting doctors! This is where monsoon-special foods come into play. Experts always recommend hygienic, homemade, and nutritious foods during the season to boost immunity against several diseases - and one such popular option is khichdi. Let's elucidate further.
What Makes Khichdi A Popular Monsoon Food?
Khichdi is undoubtedly the ultimate comfort food in India. It is easy to make and has an uncomplicated mix of flavours, making it a perfect dish to prepare on a lazy monsoon afternoon. Khichdi usually contains a hearty mix of dal and rice, which makes it tasty, and wholesome, and enriches you with essential nutrients. According to macrobiotic nutritionist and health coach Shilpa Arora, "Monsoon brings along several gut problems, and khichdi helps soothe our tummy instantly. Rice, dal, along with the tadka of ghee, makes it a complete meal, packed with all the macronutrients. Besides, it also helps balance all the three doshas - pitta, vata, and kapha - aiding healthy metabolism and digestion." She further stated that you may also add some seasonal vegetables to the recipe to elevate the goodness of khichdi, making it even healthier.
Also Read: 7 Popular Varieties Of Khichdi From Across India You Must Try
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Here Are 5 Reasons Why Khichdi Is Good For Digestion:
1. Loaded With Fibre:
Dal and rice, used in khichdi, are a storehouse of fibre. It helps regulate metabolism and aids healthy bowel movement, preventing indigestion, bloating, constipation, and other digestive issues.
2. Keeps You Full For Long:
Khichdi is also enriched with protein that makes you feel satiated and full, preventing untimely bingeing. This may further help prevent various foodborne diseases.
3. Helps Flush Out Toxins:
Traditionally, khichdi includes a tadka of ghee, which is known for its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. These factors help flush out toxins and promote healthy blood and oxygen flow in the body, preventing any kind of stress that leads to digestive troubles.
4. Produces Healthy Gut Bacteria:
Khichdi is usually paired with achar or dahi - both of these are potent sources of probiotics. This automatically means a complete meal with khichdi also helps produce a healthy microbiome in your gut, further boosting digestion and immunity.
5. Prevents Viral Infections:
The turmeric and spices like hing, cumin, etc., used in a khichdi recipe contain antiseptic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent viral and bacterial attacks and heal the digestive system.
Now that you have all the good reasons to include khichdi in your monsoon diet, we say, try different variations in the recipe to make it even more appetising. Click here for some of our favourite versions of khichdi.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.