While accumulating layers is a way to ward off the cold of winter, some foods can help us warm inside. Hot soups and hot drinks are a natural, but in fact some foods stimulate the production of heat more than others.
As temperatures drop, appetites perk up. The cold, dark days of winter often bring the desire for hearty comfort food, hot drinks and spicy dishes that are under appeal during the hot summer months. Our biology drives us to consume more calories in food if it should become scarce, and to add a little 'extra padding to help stay warm. But unlike our ancestors, we live in heated homes and food is readily available - so we do not need to store excess calories.
"Every time we eat and digest a meal, the increase in body temperature - a process called diet-induced thermogenesis, or DIT in short," said Dr. Luigi Gratton, Vice President of Medical Affairs at Herbalife. "But some foods stimulate the production of heat more than others. Foods rich in high protein, for example, increase DIT more starchy or fatty foods, so they are more 'warming'," said Gratton.
spicy ingredients - like ginger, pepper, paprika, pepper and garlic - can help the circulation and generate heat.
We are more likely to drink fluids when the weather is hot, but we need plenty of fluids during the winter to warm and humidify cold, dry winter air.
So, let your warm coat warm up on the outside, and try these tips to generate some heat from the inside out:
Protein-rich dishes to fuel the oven to keep warm. But choosing low-fat protein - fish, poultry and lean meats, protein powders or in soups or oatmeal - to avoid excess fat and calories.
Turn hot tea and soup to help hydrate you and keep air passages moist.
Add a pinch of spice and condiments for your winter meals.
If you catch a cold or flu, do not forget chicken soup. Studies show it works better than other hot liquids to accelerate the flow of mucus. It is believed that the traditional aromatic seasonings in the broth - like onion and pepper - travel in the vapors and to help open clogged nasal passages.
Tags: Herbalife, nutrition, nutrition seasonal
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