When the temperature starts dropping down, you get tempted to have a cup of hot creamy soup along with a cheesy pizza. Instead, having such calorie-dense foods you can prefer healthy eats which contain antioxidants, nutrients, and immunity-boosting compounds, that your body requires to power it to warm you up in the cold weather. So, pick those healthy superfoods that warm up your body, particularly in the cold weathers.
Read On To Know The Healthy Superfoods That Warm You Up
Oatmeal
Having a cup of oatmeal is a healthy snack idea to have during cold weathers. Oats contain fiber and plant-based protein that keep you full for a longer time. Also, oatmeal contains beta-glucan that helps in lowering your cholesterol levels. For extra nutritional benefits, you can sprinkle a few nuts, raisins, and fruits.
Brussels Sprouts
These mini cabbages are highly nutritious and can help you combat cold as well as flu. They are high in fiber and contain cancer-combating phytonutrients. A cup of Brussels sprouts contains 74.8mg of vitamin C which is helpful in reducing the symptoms of cold and flu.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin A. They are a great source of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and little iron as well. Baked sweet potatoes are low in calories and contain B vitamins as well as cancer-combating phytonutrients. Spice it up with rosemary to give your evening snack an amazing flavor.
Black Bean Soup
A cup of hot soup with chili peppers and cumin can warm you up, particularly during winters. You can try preparing black bean soup as this chief ingredient is an awesome source of copper and iron. This soup can help boost your immune levels. Also, a cup of this warm soup can give you lots of protein and fiber to the body.
Avocado
Avocado is rich in nutrients and healthy fats and oven roasting avocado can make it creamier. Monounsaturated fats that are present in avocado help reduce the levels of bad cholesterol apart from providing a bunch of nutrients for the cells to function. However, you need to check out your portion size.
Ginger Tea
If you want to sip a cup of tea during your winters, go for a cup of ginger tea. Ginger has heat inducing compounds that can keep you warm during the winters. Having ginger tea regularly help in relieving body aches. Athletes who consumed ginger tea regularly reported fewer muscle aches than others.
Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin soup is high in vitamin A and consuming it regularly can help in promoting vision. Pumpkin soup contains beta-carotene, an antioxidant which also has cancer-combating properties. To prepare this soup, you need to include a 1/3rd cup of pumpkin puree and less cream to cut back your calories.
Hot Chocolate
A cup of hot chocolate with some cream and marshmallow nuts is something we would love to sip during cold weathers. However, opt for dark chocolate as it is a great health booster. Also, dark chocolate contains flavonoids that help prevent free radical damage, thus lowering the risks of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Squash
Squash contains calcium and vitamin C and most of the varieties of squash contain high amounts of potassium. Squash is high in vitamin A and a good dose of fiber. Include it in your diet as it helps lower the risks of stroke by 21%.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon helps in boosting your metabolism rate and induces heat in the body. Add a tsp. of cinnamon powder to a cup of warm milk and consume it regularly. Also, this amazing spice is high in calcium, fiber, vitamin K etc.
Walnuts
Walnuts are available throughout the year and are a quick evening snack to munch on. Walnuts are high in omega 3s which are considered great for heart health. They contain good amounts of healthy fats that help keep your body temperature to normal.
Green Tea
Green tea contains compounds known as catechins that help boost up your body’s metabolism. Drink a cup of green tea thrice a day to speed up your metabolism rate and keep your body warm.
Chili
The peppers in your dish contain capsaicin which gives your dish a spicy twist. It helps kick your metabolism rate and combats the accumulation of fat. Adding it to your soup can warm you up and helps increase your energy levels.
Apples
Apples are a sweet treat and a perfect snack for your evenings. They contain insoluble and soluble fiber and helps reduce hunger cravings. Having a medium-sized apple (unpeeled) provides you with 4.4gm of fiber. Munching on an apple a day can keep you hydrated as well because it contains 86% of water.
