During the colder nights, who does not want hot chocolate or steamy garlic soup while cuddling up in a cozy blanket? Starting from November to the end of February, these four months are known as the coldest months of the year. While you enjoy the winter vibes of a chilly breeze, it is really important to take care of yourself in the cold weather. Winter is the favorite season for many people because it saves you from the sweltering heat of the summer and the burst of the monsoon. However, in the colder months, you need to consume a lot more calories than usual to keep yourself warm. In this article, we give a rundown of healthy foods that will keep you warm in the freezing cold.
- Low-sodium hot soup: What can be better than having a bowl of steamy soup on a frosty winter evening? Soup is the best winter food because it is very nutritious only when it is low in sodium. Try having soup that has ingredients like chicken broth and colorful vegetables.
- Cold coffee: Yes, you read it right. Not only does hot coffee keep you warm, but hard cold coffee can also keep cold away. Wondering how cold coffee makes you warm? No matter whether the coffee is warm or cold, the main ingredient, caffeine, brings warmth. Caffeine raises your body’s metabolism which helps increase the body temperature.
- Leafy greens: Winter is the main season for various crops. Leafy green vegetables, including kale and spinach, are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. You can try having a stir-fry dish of some leafy green vegetables as lunch on colder days. You can also use leafy greens in your smoothies, which will be ideal as breakfasts.
- Root vegetables: You can find plenty of root vegetables during the winter season. Root vegetables, such as carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, and turnips, are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other nutrients that boost your immune system and raise your body temperature.
- Citrus fruits: Oranges, kiwis, strawberries, grapefruits, and lemons are high in vitamin C. This water-soluble vitamin is extremely helpful to give you warmth and boost your immunity, which helps prevent several winter illnesses. Also, vitamin C increases body temperature, that is why it is better to eat one or two fruits, as too many citrus fruits can irritate your stomach.
- Vitamin D-rich foods: As we do not get enough sunlight in the gloomy winter season, that is why you need to consume a lot of vitamin D-rich foods in order to balance the vitamin D levels in your body. Egg yolks, salmon, red meat, mushrooms, milk, and fortified cereals are good sources of vitamin D.
- Honey: Honey is widely popular for its anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety, and antidepressant benefits. Add a teaspoon of honey to a cup of lukewarm water, and drink this cup of goodness on a daily basis to keep the cold away.
In winter, try to eat foods that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which will keep you safe from all the diseases that winter brings with it. Make sure to add these foods to your winter diet to keep yourself toasty even in the freezing cold.
