Winter has finally arrived the temperature is dropping rapidly. Get to know the foods and edible ingredients that help to enhance body heat so that you can stay toasty from the inside.
In winter, when the temperature drops rapidly, only woolens and jackets alone cannot help you fight with cold rather you need to develop a food habit that can keep you warm from the inside. It is not about eating hot food but the ingredients that help to maintain your body temperature. Developing a seasonal food habit not only keeps you warm but helps to fight diseases.
The sinful hot drinks and beverages like tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are the favorites of many. But there are a lot of other foods to help. If you want to keep yourself warm and toasty this winter, here are the top 10 foods that can help you.
- Root Vegetables
Winter is the season of vegetables and you can find a variety of fresh vegetables in the market during this season. Root vegetables like radishes, turnips, and sweet potatoes are highly recommended as these winter veggies due to the benefits of the process called thermogenesis. It is basically the process of when your body produces heat by food metabolism. Therefore, the longer it takes to digest, the better it can raise your body temperature. Root vegetables usually take longer to digest and therefore, tossing them in your curry or soup might be a great idea to stay warm.
- Complex Carbohydrates
It is quite normal to feel hungrier in the winter days due to low temperature. But only eating more cannot help you stay warm. So, do not just eat more; eat smart as well. It is very tempting to munch on cookies, bakery items, chocolate bars, and other snacks but these simple carbohydrates are easy to digest, it does not produce much heat during digestion. Complex Carbohydrate options like oatmeal or porridge can help you stay full and warm for a long time. Some of the other complex carbohydrates are potatoes, lentils, and whole grains. Grain like brown rice, quinoa, barley, etc can offer you the warmth that your body seeks during the winter. So, makes it possible to cook more dishes by utilizing these ingredients.
- Eggs
Eggs are the go-to food for many they can be easily cooked a offer a pack full of rich proteins and vitamins. It is often described as the ‘powerhouse of energy’ as it can help to produce a lot of calories. Having eggs every day is also good for health and easy to digest. So, eggs can be a great option to heat things up. There are numerous dishes you can cook with eggs; starting from the Sunny side up, eggs benedict, or a fluffy omelet. Even if you just have whole-boiled eggs, each egg can offer you a potential dose of heat.
- Soups
Nothing can beat the power of a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day. Soups are one of the best choices to keep yourself warm during the winter. More than the ingredients, it is the broth that helps to stay warm for a longer time. Soups can offer you plenty of room for creativity so you can basically experiment with any kind of soup. Throw your favorite veggies in soup or add some pieces of meat; it will taste good and keep you toasty. You can also add some noodles to complement it and it will only taste better. You can make soupy ramen by adding noodles to your soup. Make sure to serve and eat while it is hot.
- Honey
Honey is also known as liquid gold for its paramount benefits. It can work as a great anti-depressant in the winter blues and is considered one of the best remedies for treating colds and coughs. Add it with tea, or warm milk or just spread it over the pancakes; honey tastes good in all forms. Not just its taste and medicinal value but honey is also well-revered for enhancing body heat. If you daily consume a spoonful of honey in a glass full of warm water; it can greatly improve your Immune system.
- Ginger Tea and Coffee
It is hard to imagine winter without hot tea and coffee that energizes everyone. Ginger Tea is a great option for winter as Ginger can stimulate thermogenesis. It has diaphoretic properties that warm your body from the inside out; basically, you can enjoy double warmth. It also helps to boost metabolism and keeps the system clear with better digestion. It also promotes blood circulation that keeps your fingers and toes warm.
Instead of having hot tea every time, you can also have hot coffee or even cold coffee to keep you warm. Yes, that’s right! Caffeine has the ability to enhance and retain body temperature. So, whether you consume it cold or hot; it can still offer you warmth. However, too much consumption of coffee can make you feel jittery. So, make sure to drink it on a moderate level or it will be addictive.
- Spices
Well, Spices are not technically foods but it has the potential to make or break your food. However, these tastemakers can also help in thermogenesis. The flavorsome five spices namely, cumin, cinnamon, sesame seeds, pepper, and turmeric are best known for keeping the body warm on cold winter days. A lot of people will search for chilies in the list but they do not really keep you warm; rather offer a strong taste sensation. It can make you perspire slightly which makes your body cool down.
Cumin, on the other hand; is capable of producing less intense heat and so, it can help you stay warm for a longer time. Similarly, turmeric can offer heat to food, milk, and herbal teas. Its anti-bacterial properties make it applicable to all kinds of food. Cinnamon is also best known for increasing your body temperature and metabolism. Whether it’s black or white, pepper can also offer warmth while keeping the winter flu away from you. Sesame seeds on the other hand can help fight serious respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma.
- Mulled Wine
Well, beverages work great in providing warmth and in this case; mulled wine is the best choice to proceed with. It is basically red wine fused with various mulling spices that taste amazing and offer a subtle punch of spicy warmth in the body. It is actually so tasty that it can tingle your taste buds and make you want more. However, it is better if you do not chug down a lot.
- Dry Fruits and Nuts
Dry fruits and nuts are the best snacks one can have at any time and any place. It is a better option to consume than the unhealthy chocolate bars with loads of sugar and no nutrients. Whether you eat these directly or sprinkle them over your breakfast; either way, it can offer you a pack full of energy and plenty of warmth. Starting almonds, peanuts, cashews, raisins to walnuts; each of these can help generate more heat in the body. It can also help people who are suffering from iron deficiency.
- Iron-rich Foods
if you suffer from cold hands and feet during the winter season, it is a symptom of iron deficiency or perhaps you are anemic. Iron is very important for your body as it carries oxygen to all parts of your body. It is recommended to eat iron-enriched food during winter that can offer you both iron and warmth. Red meat, lentils, spinach, black beans, etc are the greatest source of iron and also contain protein but no saturated fat. Thus, anyone can eat it and digest it easily. You can also eat iron-fortified cereals for this purpose.
Utilizing the aforementioned ingredients in your food can offer you ample heat to fight the cold of winter. Make sure to eat well, drink plenty of water, and do exercise on a daily basis that helps to channel that heat all over your body.
