Staying protected and guarding yourself against a drop in temperature is crucial, as harsh weather can affect your body’s ability to fight off infections and viruses. We are well aware that this season is particularly hard for those who are more prone to sickness, such as body aches, muscle stiffness and more. Hence, it is more important to keep ourselves healthy and warm in this chilly season.
One way for you to help yourself stay well and keep warm this winter is by monitoring your food intake!
By cultivating and implementing a balanced diet throughout this snowy season, it will not only help you from feeling cold, but also strengthen your body and ensure that you are healthy.
Ensure that you and your family indulge in at least one hot meal a day, such as a soupy dish, which is not only nutritious, but easy to make or buy.
Below, we have listed out a few nutritious foods that will (hopefully) keep you warm in this cold weather – be it the winter season or the rainy season!
It might surprise you, but yes, a tropical fruit can warm you up! Bananas are rich in vitamin B and magnesium and these nutrients support thyroid and adrenal gland health which helps regulate our body temperature in cold weather.
While an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a banana a day keeps the shivers at bay!
For the tea lovers out there, you can try some hot ginger tea for a change during this cold season.
Ginger does not only stimulate thermogenesis, but it is a diaphoretic – which means it warms your body from the inside out – so you’ll get double the warmth. By drinking ginger tea, it will boost your metabolism, helps digestion and promotes blood flow to warm your fingers and toes.
If you’re not a big fan of ginger tea, you can also try adding ginger to your soups, stews or other dishes or drinks too!
Yes, we have given all your coffee addicts another reason to feed your addiction!
The caffeine in coffee activates thermogenesis, warming you up (so don’t drink decaf). It increases your metabolism and can raise your body temperature.
So yes it’s true, a good cup of coffee (with a warm, cozy blanket) is ideal for people who want to keep warm!
Or rather, root vegetables – such as beets, carrots, parsnips, yams and sweet potatoes – make a perfect side dish for meals during winter and for the festive period. They are made of complex carbohydrates, which are higher in fibre and digest more slowly – generating more heat in the body.
There’s a reason why so many traditional holiday meals include whole, sliced or mashed vegetables – they keep us warm during the cold season!
Compared to carbs or fats, proteins are a lot harder to digest. Hence, an intensely protein-rich meal can help warm you up. Based on research, meat-based protein requires more energy to break down as compared to plant-sourced protein such as soy.
In addition, meats are also rich in minerals such as iron and Vitamin B – which is important in keeping you warm if you’re iron deficient.
While these foods may warm you up from the inside this winter, don’t forget to put on your coat!
Sadly this winter, not everyone can afford or are able to get access to nutritious food. In fact, many living in impoverished regions are surviving with barely enough food to get by. There are far too many families at the mercy of the below-freezing weather this season while thousands are also forced to choose between heating their homes, or having proper meals.
Global Ehsan Relief aims to lighten the struggles of these families. We believe that no one should choose between surviving on food or heaters – these should be available for these families.
You can also be a part of our life-saving Winter Emergency Appeal efforts today. GER’s Global Winter Emergency Appeal will be distributing life-saving winter aid in 17 calamity-stricken countries. For just $10, you are able to provide a family of 5 to 7 with nutritious hot meals for a day! Just think about how many you will be able to help and the lives that you will be able to change, with just a click of a button.
While we are blessed with the choices of food that we can get here, let’s also ensure that our brothers and sisters in underprivileged countries are able to get the same nutritious meals and food.