Monsoon health: Follow these dietary tips to increase your platelet count

Dr Prasad Kuvalekar, Consultant Physician Internal Medicine, DPU Private Super Speciality Hospital, Pimpri, Pune said there's a need to enhance the platelet count in the monsoon to fight the surge in viral infections. A lower platelet count can lead to bleeding in the internal organs.

If one suffers from a low platelet count, it is advised to immediately seek expert help to prevent the condition from deteriorating further. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

The monsoon has been wreaking havoc on both the roads and our health, with malaria and dengue cases rising all over the country.

In such a scenario, Dr Prasad Kuvalekar, Consultant Physician Internal Medicine, DPU Private Super Speciality Hospital, Pimpri, Pune said there’s a need to enhance the platelet count in monsoons to fight the surge in viral infections. “A lower platelet count can lead to bleeding in the internal organs. Hence, it is important to take care that platelets are not falling below the required levels.”

Especially for people suffering from dengue, Kuvalekar explained that it is vital to maintain the platelet count because if it goes below 20,000, chances are it will increase internal bleeding. Hence, optimum care needs to be taken to maintain the required platelet count.

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Kuvalekar suggested to keep drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining good hydration. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Eat immunity boosting foods

According to Karishma Shah, Nutritionist, Integrated Health Coach, eating immunity boosting foods is very important in maintaining a proper platelet count. She recommends eating foods laced in ginger, turmeric, garlic or amla. “You can also make an immunity shot or kadha with these items and drink it every day to ensure optimum health,” she said.

Consider taking supplements

Shah recommended getting your Vitamin D3 and B12 levels tested during the monsoon as they can go down due to rampant infections and illness. If they are lesser than what they should be, you can consider supplementing your diet with these minerals to make yourself healthier and fitter during this season.

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Only eat hot meals and never skip food

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Shah advised against skipping meals during the monsoon as your health is already prone to getting bad. Hence, skipping the nutrition your body needs is not a good idea. “Try to eat hot meals as that will keep your system grounded and keep you safe from infections,” she said.

Incorporate millets into your diet

Shah recommended incorporating millets into your diet to ensure you’re getting proper servings of complex carbohydrates, which are an important factor when it comes to maintaining good health and blood circulation. “Foods like aata (flour) and bread are not enough during this season to provide you with ample carbohydrates, so consider eating millets to give yourself a proper carbohydrate-rich meal,” she said.

If one suffers from a low platelet count, it is advised to immediately seek expert help to prevent the condition from deteriorating further. Kuvalekar suggested to keep drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining good hydration. If vomiting occurs, it’s better to be hospitalised and get intravenous hydration, he concluded.

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