Recently, the weather in Beijing has been cold, and people's appetites have naturally increased, relying on "eating more" to keep warm. According to Professor Susan Bowerman, a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board, eating more doesn't necessarily mean you'll stay warm. If you eat the wrong things, not only will you not stay warm, but you'll also gain weight. The key to warming up through diet is to eat more foods that are naturally warming. There are four categories of foods that are inherently effective at warding off cold and keeping you warm.
First, choose dishes rich in protein, opting for lean proteins such as fish, poultry, and lean meat. Alternatively, you can add some plant-based protein powder to soups or oatmeal to avoid consuming excessive fat and calories.
Second, hot tea and soups can help replenish the body's fluids and keep the respiratory tract moist. When the weather is hot, people often drink soups to cool down. In winter, the body also needs plenty of fluids. The difference is that in winter, hot drinks are better for warming up and combating the cold. Hot soups are often more comforting than hot dishes because the winter air is dry, and liquids help the body stay hydrated and fight dryness.
Third, add some spices and seasonings to your dishes. Stimulating spices like spicy ginger, chili, pepper, and garlic can promote blood circulation and generate heat. In addition, these ingredients can help expel cold and prevent common winter illnesses like colds. Adding traditional seasonings like onions and pepper to soups can also help clear stuffy nasal passages as their volatile compounds are released with the steam.
Fourth, if you catch a cold or the flu, don't forget to drink chicken soup. Research has shown that chicken soup can help speed up the flow of mucus in the body more effectively than other hot soups.
Carrot Corn Chicken Soup