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5 Foods to Keep you Warm this Winter

June is one of the chilliest months of the year in Africa. Lower body temperature can cause lethargy, aches, and fatigue. At Curves we want to help you beat the winter blues and keep you warm and energised which is why we have put together a list of 5 foods that will warm you up this winter.

We all know that when we eat something spicy it warms up our core temperature, this is because spices are stimulants. They stimulate circulation and raise body temperature, just like a great workout. When you are cold your body gets stiff, making working out more difficult, and strenuous. This is why we stretch and warm up our bodies before a workout so to avoid injuries. Not only do we want to keep warm to avoid pain, but it also helps boost our mood thus giving us more energy.

We have collected a list of 5 things you can eat this chilly season to keep you energized and to keep you warm.

5 Foods to keep you warm this winter:

  1. Iron-rich foods: Foods that are rich in iron, such as spinach, provide your body with heat. Iron improves hemoglobin levels, which allow oxygen to travel smoothly across your body and keeps your body warm. It can also raise your energy levels and help you stay active during chilly weather. Examples of foods with a high amount of iron in our everyday meals are carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, squash, red peppers, cantaloupe, apricots, oranges and peaches.
  2. Soups and stews: Homemade soups and stews are a great winter meal; not only are they packed with vitamins, and antioxidants, they are easy and inexpensive to make and they keep you full for longer periods of time. They are stocked with vegetables, are rich in nutrients and have even been shown to help maintain your body’s weight.
  3. Spices: Cinnamon, and other spices, boost your metabolism which generates body heat. Keep things warm and spicy in your daily routine by sprinkling exciting spices on top of your meals. For example: sprinkle cinnamon on top of your coffee, oatmeal, and or fruit. Cumin, coriander, turmeric, cloves, paprika, pepper, nutmeg and allspice are other great spices to incorporate. Just make sure you don’t overdo it, and let things get too spicy. The hottest spices – like cayenne – will make you sweat and actually release heat from your body. That’s why they eat the spiciest foods in the hottest climates.  Not only do spices help warm you up, but they boost your digestive and immune systems to keep you nourished and strong in the face of winter bugs.
  4. Root Vegetables: Root vegetables, such as carrots, turnips, and potatoes, take time to digest as they are rich in complex carbohydrates, which are a potent source of fibre. They help you stay warmer for a longer time. You can roast them and eat them raw or add root vegetables to soups and stews to make them more effective.
  5. Dried Fruits: Dry fruits are the perfect snack in winter as they are full of fats that can naturally increase your body’s heat. Dry fruits produce heat in your body, but they also have excellent nutritional value, which makes them a fulfilling winter snack. They are a rich source of antioxidants that can benefit the skin and improve immunity. Just be aware that a handful of nuts may benefit you, but overeating them can cause health issues, such as digestion problems. All dry fruits, such as almonds, peanuts, cashews, and others, have health benefits, including increasing body heat.

Use these food ideas to warm up your core, boost your immunity and give you that extra energy to stay active. Colds are at a peak during the winter months therefore it is vital that you keep your immune system strong to fight them off. Keeping active by working out is one of the best ways to keep your immune system strong since when you sweat out toxins, it’s not only great for your mind it allows you to sleep better which is another pivotal part of staying healthy. Once again, we see that with health all things are connected and in synch; eating healthy for energy, using that energy to stay active, releasing positive energy for deeper and better rest, and voilà we have come full circle.

🟣 Join our Circle at Curves to stay healthy this winter.  🟣

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Information sourced:

(2019, January 31). Why Should Ginger Be Your Go-To Spice This Winter? NDTV Food. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/why-should-ginger-be-your-go-to-spice-this-winter-1772305

(2023, January 6). 11 Everyday Foods & Beverages to Keep You Warm in Winter. Alo Doc. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://oladoc.com/health-zone/foods-and-beverages-to-keep-you-warm-in-winter/

(2019, January 6). Top 6 Foods That Keep You Warm When It’s 30 Below. Heather Nicholds. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.heathernicholds.com/nutrition/foods-that-keep-you-warm/#:~:text=Eaten%20hot%2C%20whole%20grains%20%28brown%20rice%2C%20quinoa%2C%20oats%2C,and%20magnesium%2C%20and%20have%20some%20selenium%20as%20well

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