Are you looking for the best foods to include in your winter diet? Look no further, for we’ve got you covered. Winters are a beautiful time of the year. Warm blankets, fuzzy socks, a lit fireplace, multiple rounds of hot chocolate, and those extra cozy weekend naps. No weather compares to the winter vibes.
Our immunity tends to dip during winter. But as if nature had this all planned out, nutritious fruits and veggies also make an appearance around this time, as if to help us tackle the dip in immunity. Various fruits and veggies are nature’s way of providing you with the means to build your strength to endure and even enjoy your winters. Many foods even qualify as winter superfoods and should be included in your diet. In this blog, we will be discussing 5 foods you must include in your winter diet for their immense health benefits.
If you’ve been looking for foods that would help boost your immunity while aiding with cough, cold, and throat rashes, ginger is the answer to all your troubles. Ginger is nutrient-heavy, so just a little quantity can last you a long time. Ginger concoctions are given to those with an upset stomach, poor digestion, and weak immunity. Even though ginger is available in the market year-round, the freshest roots are harvested during winter. It can be included in your winter diet in the form of herbal tea or adding them into your daily dishes.
Sweet potatoes are a winter staple and loved by many. Sweet potatoes are counted among winter superfoods and are extremely rich in nutrients while light on calories. Even though their sugar content is higher than regular potatoes, their nutritional value is unmatched. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and potassium. Beta-carotene is a form of antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, helping prevent cell damage. Including sweet potatoes in your winter diet can help curb constipation, boost immunity, and it's even anti-inflammatory. Add them to your soups and stews, or roast them directly and munch them on!
Citrus fruits are abundant during winter. Fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons flood the market and can make for an excellent addition to your fruit salad bowl. Vitamin C content in these fruits helps in boosting immunity, especially when it comes to curbing the symptoms of the flu. Research shows that the phytochemicals present in these fruits also have cancer-fighting properties.
Broccoli is another winter-favorite vegetable and one of the healthiest winter foods. They are an excellent source of vitamin C. Just one cup of broccoli is enough to compensate for your daily requirement of vitamin C. Studies have indicated that vegetables like broccoli have shown to have cancer-fighting properties. However, there is a need for more studies to establish a definite relationship between broccoli and its cancer-fighting abilities. Broccoli can easily fit into your winter diet, be it in a steamed vegetable salad, vegetable stir-fry, soups, pasta, etc. It’s convenient, healthy, and tasty.
Another winter staple and a great winter superfood: nuts & dry fruits. Dry fruits and nuts regulate your body temperature and keep it warmer. Handy, right? Almonds and walnuts are two popular nuts consumed during winter. Figs, apricots, and dates make up the popular dry fruits list. Including nuts and dry fruits in your winter diet helps provide good fats and antioxidants to the body. Regular consumption of nuts and dry fruits can help increase insulin sensitivity, improve cognitive functions, and make the heart healthier. They make an easy addition to diet. Use them as toppings on desserts, milkshakes, or smoothies. Or better yet, you can consume them as it is.
Winters enrich people’s palette like no other season. There’s plenty more healthy foods out there to try, and this list is only the beginning. Do not miss out on the fantastic, delicious, and healthy winter foods available to you out there.