Diwali or the ‘Festival of Lights’ is one of the biggest festivals of India and the most celebrated for millions of Indians living across the globe. Preparations begin weeks before when people start cleaning and de-cluttering their homes and keep them spic and span in wait for Goddess Lakshmi to visit their place on this auspicious occasion.
The festival being round the corner, everyone is busy shopping, decorating the house, making sweets. Since it is synonymous with loud crackers, gifts and lots of sweets, it becomes imperative to keep yourself safe from all kinds of unhealthy activities and enjoy the festival to the maximum without making any compromises.
Here are some tips to be followed to enjoy a safe and healthy Diwali without taking a toll on health:
Stay Hydrated
With festival season and delicious food all around, we might feel tempted and indulge in eating too many sweet and sugary things. The best and most effective tip in such a situation is to keep ourselves hydrated in order to avoid post-festival health problems. Keep sipping water or other fluids which are good for health. Drink plenty of water and keep control on your snack cravings. Staying hydrated will not only cleanse the waste materials out of your body but will also satisfy your hunger pangs.
Eat Healthy
Diwali is the time when people just gorge on all those fatty, ghee-laden foods, deserts and sweets and put on whopping extra kilos that later on affects their health. To make sure that the festival doesn’t take a toll on your health, avoid these fatty and fried foods and replace them with healthier alternatives like fruits and low calorie or sugar free sweets. You can also go in for dry fruits like almonds, dates or raisins and prefer eating homemade desserts like kheer, etc. Sweets are difficult to resist and we Indians are easily prone to diabetes. Avoid sweets with silver coating as these are often adulterated with aluminum which is very unsafe for your body. Snack wisely and do not overeat. It is not necessary to pile up your stomach with everything unhealthy you have. Just remember, that because its festival time, you need not ditch your diet. Avoid consuming sweets made of perishable items like khoya, etc. as if eaten post their expiry date, these food items can cause food poisoning.
Avoid Artificial Sweets
Avoid eating artificial sweeteners because they might contain aspartame in them which are supposed to cause cancer or brain tumor. Using chemicals in sweets also increases the risks of having asthma, liver or kidney damage. It is advisable to opt for sweets and deserts made from healthy alternatives like honey, jaggery or sugar.
Cut Down On Crackers
No doubt it is difficult to say “NO” to crackers but one must reduce the amount of crackers as it will help in cutting down the noise and air pollution. Burn the crackers from a safe distance and kids should not be allowed to do so in the absence of adult supervision
Limit Alcohol Intake
The alcohol intake should be controlled if it can’t be avoided as excessive alcohol results in dehydration, gives you a hangover and makes you feel tired and exhausted. Drunk driving might also increase the risks of accidents. So it is advisable to avoid alcohol and drink some soups or fresh juices.
Keep A First-Aid Kit Handy
With crackers and fireworks all around, it is recommended to keep a first-aid kit ready and handy on Diwali. The kit should also include inhalers, burn creams and eye-drops in order to provide immediate medical help in case of emergencies as delay might lead to major complications.
Wear Earplugs And Masks
Those who have asthma or lung problems should wear masks while going out to keep protected from smoke liberated from crackers as the air pollution increases the chances of breathlessness. One can also wear earplugs in order to keep safe from the loud sound. Bustling sound of crackers can damage the ear drums in some people or might cause cardiac problems in the elderly.
Other Safety Tips: Diabetic people should be extra careful and restrict their consumption of sweets. They need to keep a regular check on their sugar intake. One should wear cotton clothes and avoid wearing nylon or terry cot as these are highly inflammable. Avoid eating colorful and attractive sweets as they are made from adulterated and unhealthy preservatives. While lighting candles or diyas in the interiors keep them away from upholstery. Buy only good-quality crackers from licensed shops. Always wear slippers or closed shoes while burning crackers and use a candle for lighting them instead of a match-stick. Light only one firework at one time and that too by one person in order to avoid hustle bustle here and there.
So, follow the above mentioned tips to celebrate the festival with full fervor. Wish you all a happy, safe and prosperous Diwali!!!!
