Most modern medicines are available
over the counter in India but it is wise to have
your own small reserve stock. If prescription drugs
are required bring enough for the duration of your
visit . It is advisable, to keep a second stock
of these packed in a separate bag in case you lose
your baggage .A small kit should include a remedy
for 'Delhi-belly' (upset stomach), some antiseptic
cream, lip salve, mosquito cream , suntan lotion
for log days on Goa' s beaches, water purifying
tablets if bottled water is not available, elastoplasts,
etc. Many tourists develop problems on their second
or third day because of 'climate shock' (heat exhaustion
rather than contaminated food and water), ut if
a upset stomach persists seek medical advise (big
hotels have a doctor o call). Many people in India
advise drinking lots of fluids (boiled and filtered
water with a little salt ad sugar) and keeping to
a diet of rice and yoghurt for a couple of days.
Indian food is rich, colorful, aromatic and tasty.
Diversity can be found in India's food as well as
its culture, geography and climate. Spices are at
the heart of Indian food to enhance the flavor of
a dish. The people of India have adapted their cooking
to the erratic climatic conditions. Healthy Indian
food tend to contain more vegetables. Rice is the
staple diet and forms the basis of every meal for
South Indians whereas a typical North-Indian meal
would consist of rotis made from wheat flour. The
South Indian food like dosa (rice pancakes), idli
(steamed rice cakes) and vada, which is made of
fermented rice and dal, are now popular throughout
the country. Healthy Indian food is basically vegetarian.
A typical Indian lunch may consist of some dishes
with seasonal vegetables, a lentil dish, yogurt;
chutneys prepared from various herbs, pickles (oil
and water-based), papad, and rice or freshly made
unleavened flat breads (chappati) to scoop up the
foods. A non-vegetarian meal in India may consist
of a dish of fish, meat or chicken along with rice
or chappati, vegetables and lentils. North Indian
desserts are very similar in taste as they are derived
from a milk pudding or rice base and are usually
soaked in syrup. Desserts from the south include
the Mysore pak and the creamy payasam. Indian diets
tend to contain more vegetables, less meat and fewer
additives and packaged and processed foods than
the traditional British diet, said Dr. Britton,
of the Division of Respiratory Medicine at the University
of Nottingham in England. The findings were similar
for children eating vegetarian and non-vegetarian
diets. Indian children who ate the most Indian food
were least likely to have abnormally sensitive airways,
a sign of asthma. The study also found that the
more Indian food they ate, the lower their risk
of allergy. The results were similar even after
the researchers took into account other asthma triggers
such as living with dogs and cats or parental smoking.
Since only one white child ate an Indian diet, the
researchers could not adequately determine the effects
of an Indian diet on non-Indian children.
Yellow fever certificates must be shown by travellers
arriving from Africa, Latin, America and Papua
New Guinea. Other shots, although not officially
required, are advisable. Typhoid , Polio and tetanus
are important. A gamma globulin injection for
hepatitis immediately before departure is also
advisable. Many countries require arrivals from
India to have an up-to-datecholera vaccination.
A Vaccination against rabies is now available
but you must still visit the nearest hospital
immediately following any bite from a dog or monkey
for a further course of injections. Malaria is
still widespread in many part of India. Advice
as to which pills to take is constantly being
revised but at present one suggested regime is
Niva-quine (or Avloclor) twice a week and one
or two paludrine daily . both courses must be
continued for four to six weeks after leaving
an affected area. There are a few things to e
careful about in India health-wise. Drink plenty
of fluids but never drink tap water. the flask
in hotel rooms contains filtered water and bottled
water is now available almost every where. Avoid
fresh salads even in hotel, and do not eat street
food until you know how much you can abuse your
body for the sake of your palate. |
