You are what you eat. This quote justifies every food you eat, and whatever you take inside your body, as it directly affects your body. You need to be extra careful what you are taking inside your body when it comes to the peak of any season, namely summers as well winters.
You must eat warm food, which gives you energy and makes you feel more active and energetic throughout the day. Food that takes more time to digest, helps you feel more energetic, as it takes more energy from your body to do so. More temperature, the more energy you take to digest food, the warmer you feel. Medically said, it is known as thermogenesis, which is a process of our body producing heat caused by the metabolizing of our food. Below We have classified a few foods that keep you warm during winters and help you fight with these winters actively. We have added food from different food groups that are rich in healthy fats, proteins, carbohydrates. Most of the below-mentioned foods take significantly longer to digest.
1. Root vegetable:
With winter coming you’ll notice suddenly the market is full of root veggies, say sweet potato, reddish, or carrot. Root vegetables are necessary for winters because of thermogenesis, the process of your body producing heat, caused by food metabolism. In simple words root veggies take more time to digest; hence help to raise your body temperature.
So, consume them in any form roasted, in the form of vegetable or soup they are ready to keep your body warm. Reddish gives you an extra hand, enjoy that hot & sweet Carrot halwa (gajar ka halwa).
2. Spices:
As per their name, they stand to their action. Adding a few more spices with arriving winters helps add more flavor and warmth to your body. Ginger followed by the 5-turmeric, cumin, pepper, sesame seeds, and cinnamon.
When we talk about spices do not misunderstand it with hot chili sauce that cools you down. While cumin keeps you warm for longer producing a less intense heat. Turmeric in winters can be added to milk or tea. It not only provides warmth but also helps in cleansing activities for your body.
Sesame acts as a healer the same as turmeric does. But sesame helps with more serious respiratory-related illnesses like asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
3. Complex carbohydrates:
You tend to feel hungrier when it’s winter. And you have to eat more to keep yourself full but it doesn’t make you gain a lot of weight during winters. It is right! You eat abundant snacks, chocolates, and whatnot just to feel fuller, just because it’s of simple carbohydrates. They digest easily, fast and that’s why you eat more of them.
Eat complex carbohydrates during winters to keep yourself full for longer. Have a tight meal for breakfast, such as lentils, potatoes, whole grains, porridge, oatmeal which are cooked easily and also make you feel fuller.
4. Eggs:
Eggs have to be there in every season of meals, whether it’s summer or winter. It’s one of the easiest forms of breakfast or even a healthy snack.
It is essential to have them on most days, meals during winters. It is also known as the powerhouse of energy and by this time, you know how important it is to have energy and energy that can sustain you throughout your day. They are as essential for your body as any other nutrient because they are rich in proteins and vitamins and prepare your body to fight the flu and other diseases which come naturally during winters.
5. Iron-rich food:
Most people have iron deficiency, and they don’t know it until and unless it becomes a bigger issue and one has to be able to see some physical defects in themselves. Iron deficiency or anemia, have the most common basic symptoms of having cold hands and feet.
You need to have iron to help your body carry oxygen through your body. Food like spinach, red meat, beans must be there in your diet especially, in your winter diet to maintain every function properly. These green vegetables are also a source of high amounts of protein as they do not contain any kind of saturated fats.
6. Ghee:
Ghee is one of the most food items or the must-added essentials in your food. It comes under healthy fat. It is not only
Easily digestible fat but it also helps to increase your immunity, makes your body more tolerant regarding any kind of flu or disease, gets your body warm during cold, and strengthens your bones as well. If you put ghee to your pulses or vegetables additionally, then it’s great to go, but if you don’t like the smell or taste of it. Just make your food n ghee instead of any type of oil.
You don’t even know it, and you will be filled with delicious, energetic food.
7. Dry fruits and nuts:
Fruits and nuts, being warm generally, and providing energy are as essential as ice cream on a bright sunshiny summer morning. They do come attached to most of the chocolate bars too. But if you have them, just them as your snacks- will keep you fuller, and also it is a healthier option.
If you don’t like to eat plain fruits and nuts, then you can add them over oatmeal, porridge and they will be better in taste and will also increase your energy.
Dry fruits and nuts like raisins, almonds, and cashews generally generate more heat in the body and help you fulfill your iron deficiency too. Though eating too many dry fruits and nuts can have significant consequences too.
8. Water:
We tend to be less thirsty in water, but in fact, our body needs more water during winters, to regulate the body temperature. Your core is engaged the most if you have taken a good diet and therefore when you are dehydrated your body temperature drops.
You have to eat quite a lot of water to maintain the electrolytes as well. Always try to keep a water bottle beside you to remind yourself of dunking it. It will eventually develop into a habit of drinking water before eating food.
These are some essentials and must-have food to keep yourself warm during winters.
