As the temperature drops and winter comes the body becomes lethargic. The body needs more energy to keep warm unlike in summer it needs to get rid of the excess heat. There are certain foods that create a warming effect because they contain diet –induced thermogenesis.
The body uses more energy to digest foods that are rich in protein and carbohydrates. This improves the process of metabolism that produces more heat.
Winter is the season to healthy foods that are loaded with nutrients. Experts advise that one should opt for seasonal foods, since they are found to give more strength to the body and help to keep the winter problems affecting the body at a distance.
During the winter season, people have to take different types of precautionary measures to beat the extreme cold climate. Along with the warm clothes, you also need to concentrate on your food during the winter season to beat the climatic condition.
Many people have a tendency of getting their blood pressure lower during the winter season. Their blood Ph tends to become more acidic in such climate.
Such people might put on more sweaters during the season, but putting warm cloths one after another is not the solution. Those people need to feel warmer from inside.
Best heat generating foods for winter
By consuming the food item which makes your warm from inside, winter will become very favorable to you. This heat producing food will make you feel cozy and warm during the winter season. Some of them are as follows:
Garlic
People having high cholesterol level are asked by doctor to consume garlic as this reduces high cholesterol level.
But, another important benefit of garlic is keeping individual’s body warm during the winter season. During the winter season, you can get affected by flue and suffer from cough.
Since, garlic has antibacterial properties; it helps in treating diseases that spreads due to bacteria and virus. If you are suffering from throat irritations during the winter months, chewing 2-3 garlic cloves would heal proportionately.
Honey
Whenever you get cough and cold during the winter season, grandma would prescribe a spoon of honey. It is a natural way to fight with cold and build an appropriate immunity level.
If you consume one spoon of honey everyday during the winter season, this will help you stay away from the extreme winter climate.
Honey is a natural sweetener and can be replaced with sugar as consuming more sugar in diet will be very unhealthy. You can easily reduce your extra calorie intake and get yourself warm internally with honey.
Ginger
In many Indian kitchens, ginger is available as it is one of the spices that make the food delicious. Now, it can also be used in keeping your body warm during the winter season.
Since, ginger contains thermogenic, gingerols and shogaols properties which are proven to keep your body warm from inside.
If you are consuming ginger in dried or raw form along with salt, this will help increasing your body metabolism during the winter season. You can also drink tea with ginger twice or thrice in a day to keep your body warm.
Cinnamon
Another spice readily available at Indian kitchen is Cinnamon. This has a sweet taste along with a heat that builds up inside your body to fight with cold weather during winter.
The baked food that you are consuming can be combined with some extract and flavors of Cinnamon. Even in the warm beverages such as tea and coffee, individuals can use this Cinnamon stick.
Nuts
Different types of nuts are available in the market. Walnut, peanut and almonds are advantageous to add vitamin, fiber and heat inside your body.
Fenugreek/Methi
It is a green, leafy vegetable that is rich in iron and folic acid. It helps to boost the production of red blood cells in the body.
Methi is a common winter vegetable which can be used in different ways. It can be used to make snacks, parathas and also be cooked with other vegetables like potato, carrot and peas.
Fluids and beverages
Winter is the time for hot fluids like soups, coffee, tea and masala tea with ginger, clove and cinnamon. These help to keep the body hydrated and improves the blood circulation in the body.
Add honey or jaggery in tea instead of sugar because jaggery is rich in iron and has a warming effect on the body.
Dry Fruits And Nuts
Dry fruits like dried apricots, dates, raisins, almonds, cashew nuts, peanuts and walnuts serve as small doses of energy to face the cold. They are rich in Vitamin E magnesium and zinc which help to get rid of anxiety, depression and lethargy.
Sesame, Flax seeds
Sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, iron and Vitamin E. They also contain Omega 3 fatty acid which are great for the skin, hair and heart. The easiest way to consume them is to grind and add them flour, milk and curd.
Spinach
Spinach is another popular leafy vegetable which is a good source of folic acid vitamins and minerals.The Vitamin C in spinach helps to build immunity against flu and colds.
It can be cooked with several other vegetables or used to make breads and rotis. A warm cup of spinach soup is an excellent source of strength during winter.
Oatmeal
The perfect time to consume oatmeal is the winter when the weather becomes cool.
Oats are whole grain which contains fibre and plant-based protein to stop hunger in a small dose. It also contains a powerful starch called beta-glucan which help to reduce the bad cholesterol levels.
Other whole grains like hot rolled oats, brown rice, millet and other whole grains give instant warmth and provide the required complex carbohydrates to supply energy to the body.
Apples
Apples are packed with soluble and insoluble fibre which helps to give more strength and reduce appetite as it takes time to digest.
They can be taken raw or made into baked desserts or stews and juice. Apples contain a large amount of water which helps to keep the body hydrated.
Cumin seeds and other spices
Cinnamon, cumin seeds, paprika, nutmeg and cloves help to increase the metabolism of the body and generate heat.
