Healthy Food That Keeps You Warm
When the winter chill makes us shiver, eating or drinking something warm, besides cozying up in a blanket is our first instinct. “Healthy Food That Keeps You Warm” will make a huge difference in your ability to stay cozy through the winter. Bundling up in sweaters and thick socks doesn’t always cut it.
Some people are more sensitive to temperature than others.The food you eat affects your body. When the temperature drops and cold weather sets in.Your body needs more calories to support its work of staying warm. Still, you needn’t go off the nutrition rails, fuel your body with food that can help raise your body temperature and make you feel warm.
Healthy Food That Keeps You Warm
Thermogenesis and Body Heat:
“Healthy Food That Keeps You Warm”. In general, foods that take longer to digest can help raise your body temperature and make you feel warmer. The medical term for this process is thermogenesis, which is the process of your body producing heat caused by food metabolizing.
Look for food that’s high in healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Many of these foods are more complex and take longer to digest.
Here are some nutritious foods that can help keep you warm in cold weather.
1. Cereals:
Start your day with oatmeal, porridges and whole wheat preparations. Even though we often crave for pizzas, pastas, it’s better to eat them once in a while as they will not help in keeping our body warm and will only have a temporary effect since simple carbohydrates digest quickly.
You can have the porridges or oatmeal preparations enriched with vegetables. Kids can be given a whole wheat sandwich or they can also have hot milk with cornflakes .
2. Soups:
“Healthy Food That Keeps You Warm”. Soups are an excellent option as they contain a good amount of vegetables and keep our body warm inside out. Soups made out of pulses, gourds, barley are good options and can also be a major meal with carbs added in.
A dash of spices like cumin, cinnamon, and ginger and there you go as you have just had the healthiest meal of your day.
3. Fruits:
Fruits that are locally grown during winters often prove to be beneficial. Bananas, strawberries, kiwis, apples, plums, litchis, papaya, custard apple, and pomegranate are some of the best options.
Bananas being a good source of magnesium helps in regulating the body temperature.
4. Citrus Fruits:
Vitamin C boosts both your immune-system and your mood. Traditional sources include citrus fruits, like oranges, grapefruit, and lemons. Strawberries, mangoes, and kiwis are also high in vitamin C.
Add vitamin-C-rich broccoli, cauliflower, and bell peppers to any dish. If you can’t find them fresh, then buy them frozen.
5. Dry fruits and nuts:
Almonds, cashews, walnuts are a very good source of good fats and also help in regulating body temperature. Figs, dates, olives are also good options as they are often used in countries that experience severe chills. Dates are excellent sources of iron.
You can enjoy a fistful of dry fruits in a day.Kids who enjoy eating dry fruits can also be given a fistful daily. Powdered dry fruits mix can also be added to their milk or cereal mix.
6. Leafy Greens:
Leafy greens in winter? Yes.
Frozen spinach and kale are as good as fresh. They’re super sources of vitamin C, an immune-system booster; vitamin K, which aids blood clotting; and, vitamin A, important for vision. Of course, you’ll eat them warm.Stir-fries are natural vehicles for spinach, kale, and arugula. You can also add your veggie to smoothies.
7. Root Vegetables:
Root vegetables like beets, carrots, and turnips are plentiful during the winter months and packed with essential nutrients, including beta-carotene, and vitamins C and A, which give your immune system the boost it needs to protect you from colds and flu.
8. Vitamin D Rich Foods:
Vitamin D-rich foods are essential during the dark winter months. Salmon is a great source of vitamin D, as are egg yolks, fortified cereals, milk, red meat, and shitake mushrooms.
9. Beans:
Beans like chickpeas are full of protein and contain nearly all of the essential amino acids.Add dried or canned beans to soups or salads, or blend them with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, and salt to make your own hummus.
10. Spices:
Spices are a great way to maintain thermogenesis. Some of the superstars are cumin, pepper, sesame, and cinnamon. Cumin helps in keeping your body warm for longer periods of time. Hence, be generous in adding cumin to your preparations.
Cinnamon powder can be added in salads and hot chocolate or lattes as it enhances flavour and increases metabolism. Kids can be given very minimal spices as they would not find the taste appealing always.
11. Meat:
For non-vegetarians, meat can be a part of the diet as it raises body temperature during metabolism and is an excellent source of iron and protein.
Red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, is a good source of iron. Iron is an important mineral to help carry oxygen throughout your body. People with low iron may notice cold hands and feet or feel tired easily. Eating red meat can also supply vitamin B12, which contributes to healthy nerves and a strong immune system.
12. Honey:
The Honey standalone, or added in salads will also help in winter as they are traditionally known as a cure for cough and cold. “Honey” can be included in your diet as long as you do not have a history of diabetes. Kids can start having honey only after they turn 1 year old.
13.Hot Beverages:
This is definitely good news for the hot beverage lovers as consuming them in winter warms up the body from within. Coffee is a great option as long as not consumed more than twice a day. Hot Chocolate, tea or just a cup of warm milk will come to your rescue during this season. Kids can have hot chocolate and strictly refrain from coffee and tea.
14. Ghee:
Ghee helps in strengthening your immunity. It can be added in any of your preparations or you can combine or alternate vegetable oils with ghee in winters.
15. Coconut Oil:
Fats in general can help keep you warm as they metabolize, and aside from eating it, coconut oil is also really useful as a moisturizer. Dry, cracked skin lets heat escape more easily and is more sensitive to cold – especially when it’s windy.
If you keep your skin healthy and strong, it’ll be better at keeping the heat in. Before heading out into the cold, try rubbing some coconut oil on your legs, arms and face. You only need a little bit, and wipe your face lightly with a towel to get the excess oil off.
16. Drink Ginger Tea:
Hot ginger tea can make you feel warm inside on a cold day. Ginger is known to be good for digestive health and can stimulate thermogenesis. It’s also a diaphoretic, which means it will help your body warm from the inside out. Keeping you warm is only one of the many health benefits of drinking ginger tea.
17. Eat Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet potatoes and other root vegetables need more energy to move through the digestion process, which raises your body temperature. High in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium, sweet potatoes can add fiber and other nutrients to a warm winter meal.
18. Eat Butternut Squash:
Butternut squash are a nutritious way to warm up on a chilly day. This fall food is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other key nutrients. High levels of vitamin C and potassium offer a boost to your immune system and dietary fiber helps keep your digestive system healthy.
19. Drink Water:
A simple way to help your body stay warm this winter is to drink water. Water keeps your body functioning at its best and helps regulate your internal temperature.
Dehydration causes your core temperature to drop, which may lead to hypothermia. People are less likely to drink water when it’s cold outside because they feel less thirsty.
The last words
“Healthy Food That Keeps You Warm”. You can have a combination of all the above mentioned foods in adequate quantities in your diet during this season.Moderation is a key. Eat well, eat warm.
