Food that warms you up in chilly weather
WINTER BLUES
It is freezing cold. Delhi’s temperature has hit four degrees!! Nothing short of three layers of clothes are being used to keep the chill out of one’s bones.
And since, during winter our activity level goes down, the chill is made worse as most of us spend time at home covered up in quilts. Exercises also take a back seat, so warming up really becomes a task.
But hot water bottles and layers are not the only way to keep warm in this weather. The amount and kind of food we take during winter also helps in heat retention in the body. According to Sonia Bajaj, a fitness and nutrition coach, a body needs Omega-3 fatty acid to keep oneself warm.
“Nuts, fishes, wholegrain cereals, garlic, onions, coriander leaves are very good during this season. Also peanuts are very good too. They are cheap and easily available.”
One can also have dark chocolates and incorporate green vegetables like spinach in their food. Avoid juices.
Millet or bajra is considered to be the most digestible grain. It also helps the body to keep warm during cold and rainy seasons. Nuts are healthy because of the fatty acid content, their nutritional properties and bio-active constituents.
Sonia adds, “Ginger, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper and cloves also have a warming effect. We all know that ginger has been used to treat colds and flu for a long time now.” Methi is also healthy, good and easily available in winter. It is a great source of iron and helps maintain good haemoglobin levels while protecting one from infection and colds.
In fruits, orange and nfection and colds. In fruits, orange and infection and colds. In fruits, orange and kinu are very useful in winter because they are rich in Vitamin C and which helps prevent cold and cough.
For non-vegetarians, winter can be a bonus. A great source of omega-3 fatty acid is fish. It is rich in zinc too, both of which keeps one warm during winter. Zinc increases the production of white blood cells, which in turn fights infections. It also helps control cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart diseases.
So if you must get out of the quilt, remember to try out these foods which are sure to warm you up from within. Winter may just be more enjoyable then.
