7 Super Healthy Winter Foods!

Aah, winters! These cold months have such a charm – sunshine playing hide and seek, enjoying longer nights, a cozy feeling of snuggling in the warm clothes, relishing seasonal delicacies, drinking a hot cup of tea or coffee and so much more. However, this season also brings along with its share of illnesses, most common being cough and cold. To ensure, that you stay fit and healthy this winter, here are seven super foods you must include in your winter diet.

1.    Turmeric

This wonder spice possesses anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties and is thus especially recommended to consume in the winters. Adding a dash of turmeric powder to 1 glass of lukewarm water mixed with juice of half a lemon will kiss your winter health worries a goodbye. Another option is to drink turmeric milk flavoured with honey, cardamom and ginger.

2.    Nuts & Dry Fruits

Almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, raisins, apricots, figs and dates must form a part of your winter menu. These nuts and dry fruits are wonderful power snacks and also a healthier alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth. A handful of these  can be eaten in their natural form or crushed to be added to smoothies, milkshakes, fruits salads or halwas. Their antibiotic and antioxidant properties also help in soothing throat and curing common cold and cough.

3.    Whole Spices & Herbs

Winters are also the best time to consume whole spices such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves, black peper, poppy seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, sesame seeds and fenugreek seeds. They not only have heat inducing properties but also enhance the taste of curries, soups and other foods. Also, do not forget to include basil or tulsi leaves, which are the proverbial foods to fight winter blues.

4.    Tea

A cup of steaming hot tea has the power to charge you up on a cold winter day. It has several natural chemicals to warm your body. It is a good idea to add ginger, cardamom and basil leaves to your tea during winters to prevent/ cure the common cold and cough. Green tea is even healthier. It strengthens the immune system, curbs stress and keeps you energized all through the day. This winter, bring Kashmir closer to your home by making the herbal Kahwa Tea from the valley!

5.    Grains

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Nothing is more scrumptious than savouring bajra and makai roties along with white butter, jaggery, dal and chutney! Grains, especially bajra, jowar and makai, are high in protein, carbohydrates and micronutrients and also aid easy digestion in the frigid weather. These grains also provide your body with Vitamin D deficiency caused due to the lakc of sunshine.

6.    Dairy and meat products

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In case you are looking for other sources of vitamin D, then milk, yoghurt, egg yolks and fish can come to your rescue. A bowl of chicken soup on a wintry night is sure to soothe your sore throat immediately!

7.    Fluids

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Most of us forget that keeping your body hydrated in the witners is as important in the summers.  You should consume sufficient amount of water and other low calories, non sugary fluids. Try infusing your normal water with mint leaves or lemon/oranges wedges for an enhanced taste.

Which winter foods would you recommend?