Winter Eats: Five Winter Essentials For A Healthy You

Winter has its own basket of foods and nutrients that could be beneficial for your health. Our nutritionist Sakshi Chawla comes up with a handy list. Here are Five Winter Essentials For A Healthy You

There's a nip in the air these days and a chill has begun to set in. Winter is here, in some way or the other, no matter which part of India you live in. Like every season, winter too has its special foods. For many of us it means oranges in the sun, carrot halwa, sesame laddoos and special pickles. But delicacies apart, winter can also mean a different diet, purely for health reasons.

Opt for fresh fenugreek

This is because our body operates on cyclical patterns. As the sun rises, we become active and as the sun sets, our bodies too slow down and rest at night during sleep. Similarly, seasons too affect our body. In summer, our bodies cleanse themselves, and are thus parched, therefore the need to be constantly cooled. Nature provides for this through watery fruits and vegetables. In winter, our bodies build , renew and repair themselves for the next cycle. At this time, instead of using external exfoliating lotions and oils, it's important to keep yourself lubricated from within. To synchronise yourself with the rhythmic changes in your external environment, don't ignore the needs of the body and keep in mind what nature has made available for you.

Say yes to almonds

1. Body-building foods: The body requires construction material for growth in winter and this can be made available in the form of nuts and seeds (sesame, almonds, walnuts and avocados) and fresh, whole pulses (there is upto 60 different varieties), which are abundantly available.

Good looks and great health benefits!

2. Anti-oxidants: Life is a continuous process of absorption and growth, which is an oxidative process, i.e., free radicals, are produced as a by-product. In order to fight this and protect the cells, nature has provided brightly coloured fruits, vegetables and berries, which are rich in anti-oxidants. Make sure to include these in your winter diet.

3. Immunity-building foods: In winter, the body's resistance decreases and it becomes more prone to cold and cough. Nature reinforces our immunity against this onslaught through herbs and spices such as ginger, fresh garlic, amla, turmeric and fresh fenugreek (methi) leaves. These spices not only boost our immunity, they also keep us warm.

Go for ginger

4. Energy-giving foods: Our body strives to always keep a perfect balance of all its parameters, including temperature. In winter, our body has to spend extra energy to keep the internal temperature stable while external temperatures drop. These energy shots come in the form of dry fruits like figs, raisins, apricots, dates, prunes, cranberries, etc.

5. Sunshine: Do not forget the sun. Even if the sun is behind the clouds, soak in the light.

Thus in winter, the process of growth, balancing body temperatures, boosting immunity and reducing oxidative damage requires energy and construction material, which comes through food. Instead of having the right foods, we pick up stimulants and foods that take too long to digest, like tea, coffee, fried food and sweets. The next time you feel a hunger pang or think your body needs a little something, reach out for vibrantly coloured, anti-oxidant and bio-flavanoid rich herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and vegetables instead. It's sure to drive away the winter chill.

All photographs: Silver Talkies