Natural warming foods
The term food comes from the Latin alere, which means "what nourishes, nourishes, sustains". Indeed, each food contains a smaller or larger quantity of vital energy which contributes to making our diet a panacea for health; some foods do not contain it at all and other foods involve the need for too much vital energy to digest them, assimilate them and eliminate their waste, so they become a burden for the body. But it is not just about vital energy. Foods also contain heat, thermal energy originating from fire which works on the other three elements, air, water and earth, and which we assimilate and reuse in turn.
Spices, soups and Yin and Yang
During the winter, in general in situations of harsh and cold climate, the consumption of food must follow particular attention, as it happens when it is too hot. Particularly daily calories should be increased by about 10% so that our body is able to better compensate for the lowering of the external temperature. Food contains heat energy, calories. The heat energy in the food we consume originally comes from the sun. According to the Chinese Yin and Yang theory, in winter one should eat warming, not refreshing foods. Furthermore lhe Chinese food science recommends starting the day with a hot breakfast. Milk, honey, jam are ideal foods. Soups and soups they are optimal for giving heat, in particular vegetable and legume soups, which heat and supply energy to the body, or the nutritious miso soup. As for the spices, warming spices I am the thyme, the cardamom, which also helps fight coughs and colds, carnation, chilli, anise, marjoram, cumin, cinnamon, juniper, rosemary, pepper and ginger.
Cold, ginger and vitamins
To help our body fight against cold symptoms, it is essential to integrate seasonal vegetables rich in Vitamin A such as: spinach, chicory, pumpkin, radishes, courgettes, carrots, broccoli. But also onions and garlic to be eaten raw, for their remarkable antibacterial properties, and legumes such as beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils, broad beans, rich in proteins. As for fruit, the undisputed protagonist is the Vitamin C: green light therefore to oranges e tangerines, lemons, clementines, kiwis. And finally, infusions and hot herbal teas, not all recommended for the cold season. To the infusions of mint or chamomile, which are refreshing, it is better to prefer those based on fennel, juniper, mugwort, rosemary, ginger which have warming properties. An example of an herbal tea that gives heat to the body and also acts as a natural anti-bacterial is the one based on ginger, lemon, cumin, cloves and cinnamon. The ginger tea usually consumed will keep away from sickness and colds, giving a pleasant sensation of internal heat!
Beware of false myths!
Remember that the 10% increase in daily calories needed to fight the cold does not mean eating or drinking what you want! In anticipation of party binges, you always have to be careful not to clog the arteries with fat and not to overdo it with alcohol. It is not true that alcohol heats up, it is only the vasodilation that can give a momentary sensation of heat, but afterwards the sensation of cold increases even more. Yes, therefore, to the classic glass of red wine with a meal, but never overdo it!
