In winter, when temperatures outside are dropping, it is important that we help the body protect itself, maintain a balanced temperature and reasonable energy level. A sweater and warm socks are definitely a great idea to warm your body, but this time we will focus on ways to keep your body safe with what foods can help with the task.
“Chinese medicine distinguishes between refrigerated foods and warming foods, including spicy foods, root vegetables, legumes, lentils, grains, and various spices. The refrigerated foods are various dairy products, lettuce, and leafy vegetables as well as spices such as mint and mint. Most warming foods help expand blood vessels and better blood flow, allowing for much oxygen to reach the cells, ”explains Sigal Weiss Grossman, naturopathic and clinical herbalist ND Cl.H.
The way the food is prepared has an effect on its energy levels. Long cooking of low-pot casseroles enhances the energy and heat level of the food. Proper storage and processing of food can also make foods warmer. Ground, crushed or cut foods into thin pieces have warmer energy. Fruits and vegetables that are considered as cold energy can be transformed into hotter ones, grind or crush them. It is also important to store the fruits at room temperature and not put in the refrigerator.
What to eat in winter to keep warm?
Heated foods: In winter, there is a natural and welcome tendency to prefer heated foods. Incorporate in your daily diet hot cereals such as oatmeal with cinnamon, soups such as chicken or vegetable broth, lentils or legumes, casseroles, cooked vegetables as well as hot beverages such as cinnamon and ginger cider.
Chicken Soup: It turns out that the grandmothers were right. Studies have found that chicken broth helps to balance body temperature and improve the overall body feel of people suffering from bronchitis, colds, fever, and flu. It is not clear whether these are the root vegetables added to the soup or the minerals in which it is rich, but hot soup in the winter always comfort and does the job. In addition, the steam from the boiling broth probably helps to relieve nasal congestion.
Root Vegetables: In winter it is suitable to consume root vegetables, grown underground, such as beetroot, celery root, parsley root, carrot, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, as well as orange, red and yellow vegetables. The root vegetables have very compressed and nutritious energy, in addition to the fiber and nutritional values found in them. We recommend adding these vegetables to soup, stew, or casseroles.
Legumes: They are high energy and concentrated. It is recommended to add legumes such as chickpeas, peas, beans, and lentils of different colors to casseroles and soups. If we still want to eat a cold salad, we recommend adding sprouted lentils, chickpeas, quinoa or sprouted legumes. All of these will add to the warming salad.
Oatmeal: The most warming and comforting grain there is, which also helps to raise the mood. The oatmeal contains dietary fiber, B vitamins, and amino acids that balance the nervous system. It can be consumed in the natural state in yogurt or salad or cooked as hot porridge or soup. In each situation, it will add warming energy.
Fresh vegetables and fruits:
- Red pepper, kiwi, guava, parsley, and citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C.
- Sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin, orange pepper, and orange lentils that are rich in beta carotene, and are recommended to consume them with zinc-rich foods - such as sunflower seeds and roasted pumpkin seeds, plus olive oil and tahini.
- During the cold days, baked vegetables can be served in the oven, sautéed vegetables, and even minced hot vegetable soup enriched with green leaves such as parsley and celery-rich minerals such as zinc and selenium.
Heat spices:
- Cinnamon: Its benefits are in balancing sugar levels, improving peripheral blood flow, and its potent properties. Cinnamon is suitable for people suffering from cold and it is recommended to add it to a baked apple in the oven, crush apples, or as a cinnamon stick in a boiling tea with ginger and cloves.
- Rosemary: Warms up the body, stimulates blood flow, and promotes alertness and energy. It is excellent for low blood pressure, for relaxing headaches, for improving memory, for arthritis, for joint pain, and for hair loss. You can add tea or casseroles.
- Ginger: It is best to consume it as a root that can be sliced into thin slices and added to tea and stews. For people with high blood pressure and women with hot flashes - moderation is recommended.
- Other hot spices suitable for cooking are turmeric, cumin, nutmeg, curry, and more. It is important to add these spices towards the end of cooking and not at the beginning so that we do not miss out and lose their beneficial properties.
All that is recommended to reduce
Sugar: According to the naturopathic approach, sugar weakens the white blood cells that fight disease-generators, thus impairing the body's coping ability. The recommendation is to reduce as much as possible the consumption of sweetened beverages, sweets, cake cookies, and also foods that are considered as healthy as dried fruits and honey.
Nourishing Foods: Natural Medicine and Mainly - Chinese Medicine refers to some foods as mucus-forming foods that thicken the mucous membranes, create mucus, and increase sinus congestion. These foods are not recommended during the cold season especially if you suffer from a runny nose and puff: peanuts, bamboo, and even fruits such as bananas, melon, and orange citrus fruits (orange and clementine).
Cow's Milk: Cow's milk products are not recommended during this time because they are considered in natural medicine as cold foods and mucus. Try to consume goat's milk, soy, and the like.
