Most of the time, we head over to the kitchen to make a warm beverage to keep us warm during the colder months, but have you ever considered opting for food instead of drinks?
According to BrainMD, the following foods have properties that stoke your metabolism and help increase your blood flow to warm up your body.
Bananas
The fruit’s B vitamins and magnesium assist in supporting thyroid and adrenal gland health, helping regulate your body’s temperature during low temperatures.
Try eating your banana with nut butter, which is said to create further warmth in your body.
Cayenne pepper
Capsaicin, found in the pepper, helps to turn the heat up in your body. It also digests slowly and increases gastric blood flow, benefiting your gut and warming up your body.
Not feeling the cayenne? Then opt for jalapeños and ultra-spicy habaneros, as they too contain capsaicin.
Garlic and ginger
Well-known for its warming properties, studies show garlic enhances thermogenesis, the body’s process of metabolising substances or nutrients to produce heat. Garlic, along with onions, is perfect for your winter stews and soups.
Regarding ginger, this spicing plant has vasodilating properties (it relaxes the blood vessels). It also helps to increase blood flow, causing a warming effect throughout your body.
Meat
Meats are protein-rich meals that can easily warm you up. It is also rich in B vitamins and iron, helping to warm you up if you have an iron deficiency.
Whole grains
Oats, quinoa, brown rice, and the like are high in bran and fibre and break down slowly.
The slow breakdown releases warm energy and prevents blood sugar spikes that can heat you up before cooling you down.
Root vegetables
Carrots, onions, potatoes and beetroot (to name a few) are made of complex carbohydrates which are high in fibre and digest more slowly. This then generates body heat.
Also see: Foods that will help you survive the cold and flu season
