The 5 Best Foods to keep you Warm this Winter

It’s the winter time. Winter doesn't mean that you should be living on a steady diet of hot coffee or cookies. It’s about making healthy food choices which will do well for us.

Winterizing your diet can be healthy — and tasty — if you add a few favorite cold-weather foods. Start with these.

Whole Grains and Legumes:

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy to our body. Both Whole grains and legumes are rich source of these carbohydrates. This energy is used as fuel to keep our body warm during the cold winter days. Whole grains are a rich source of a number of vitamins, especially vitamin B and they help your thyroid gland to function optimally. Thyroid gland helps to regulate your body temperature and keeps you toasty warm in winter.

Oatmeal is one of the best whole grains during winter.

Citrus:

Citrus fruits, including lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit are at their juiciest in the wintertime and can add sunshine to the dreary winter. Citrus fruits are loaded with Vitamin C and a great source of flavonoids.

Oranges are mostly available during winters and are a must add to your diet. Loaded with vitamin C and anthocyanin, they keep the skin smooth as well as our heart healthy. They protect us from cold and flu

Grapes, these delicious healthy winter fruits are good for skin, heart, and other illnesses during winters. As they contain high amount of anti-oxidants and are rich source of vitamins A and B1, B2 and potassium, they are very popular as winter fruits. They make our immune system stronger during winters.

Pomegranates:

Another of the best healthy winter fruits in season is Pomegranates, which are consumed raw. It is a very rich source or iron, phytochemicals, antioxidants, polyphenols and Vitamin C. Pomegranates are rich in high fiber content help fight cardiovascular diseases. Pomegranate juice is very helpful for anemic patients and protects our body from damaging free radicals. Pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants; just a cup daily might help to keep free radicals from oxidizing “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Broccoli and cauliflower:

Broccoli in general is good for us. It is rich in the fiber and nutrients associated with all green veg, but it has another value. The florets are packed full with glucoraphanin, a compound used in the plant's defense system that is especially beneficial for our health. The only other vegetable it is found in is cauliflower. Eat broccoli and you are likely to reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. With most varieties, you'll need to eat platefuls to derive the benefits, but now a newly bred form, broccoli, contains more than twice the level of the good stuff.

Beside from getting the flu shot and washing your hands regularly, these cruciferous vegetables may be your top defense against winter sickness. Broccoli and cauliflower are both high in vitamin C, which is associated with enhanced immune function. 

Ginger and Garlic:

Ginger and garlic wards off cold and flu viruses. Both not only have warming properties but also help strengthen our digestive system as well as boost our immunity.