The weather is getting colder and colder, filled with the essence of late autumn. Although autumn is the most beautiful season in Beijing, for those who are afraid of the cold, it also means the most difficult time of the year has arrived. "A sign of maturity is putting on long johns without your mom nagging you," jokes circulating on social media are already "spreading" the message to wear long johns. But is it really necessary to dress warmly to keep out the cold? Eating warm foods can do the trick too.
"Thermic Effect of Food" makes you your own "hot water bottle"
A person's ability to withstand heat and cold is closely and causally related to food. The main components of the food we eat every day are four categories: water, carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Among these four, except for water, the other three contain energy, which is commonly known as "calories." After these three types of food components are broken down by the body through oxidation, they eventually become water and carbon dioxide, releasing energy at the same time.
This energy is used to sustain life activities, keep the brain functioning, power muscle movements, and for digestion and absorption, as well as maintaining body temperature. Our body is equivalent to a "constant temperature box" at 37 degrees Celsius, which consumes a surprising amount of energy. When hungry, the body's heat production capacity decreases, making it easy to feel cold.
Many people have this experience: feeling a bit cold before dinner in the winter, but feeling much warmer after eating a meal. Eating causes the body to burn extra energy, which is released through the skin, making a person feel warm. This is the so-called "Thermic Effect of Food," which is generally thought to be related to the energy consumption during the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of protein-rich foods.
Similarly, when eating, different foods produce different "Thermic Effects of Food." The highest heat production comes from protein-rich foods, while the effect from starchy and vegetable-based foods is much less. In the cold season, people's favorite hot pot is a good example: eating a plate of boiled lamb will keep your body warm for a long time, but eating a large plate of boiled cabbage, you won't feel warm for long. Nutrition experts explain that the "Thermic Effect of Food" for protein is as high as 30%, meaning 30% of the energy in protein is converted into heat and released from the body surface. In contrast, the "Thermic Effect of Food" for carbohydrates is only 5%-6%. The protein content in poultry, meat, and fish is 15%-20%, in eggs it is 13%, and in vegetables like cabbage, tomato, and winter melon, it is only about 1%.
This leads to a conclusion: if you consume more protein in your diet, you will produce more "heat effect" when it's cold, making you feel warmer. But if you eat this way in the summer, you will feel hot and uncomfortable.
There's a right way to eat boiled lamb to warm your body
Boiled lamb is a favorite for many in the winter, and its warming effect is quite significant. For people who are afraid of the cold, anemic, or have slightly poor digestive function but normal liver and gallbladder function, it's suitable to eat more boiled lamb to keep warm in the cold season. Lamb is warm in nature and can promote the release of energy in the body, giving a feeling of warmth. If your body is naturally cold, with cold hands and feet, and you lack energy, eating this is naturally just right. However, if your body is naturally hot, you're not afraid of the cold, and you are energetic and tireless, there is no need to eat too much lamb.
The heme iron, iron, zinc, and other trace elements in lamb are easily absorbed, and its high protein content makes it especially suitable for people with anemia or zinc deficiency. Although it contains some saturated fat and cholesterol, because thin people generally don't have high blood lipids, consuming some saturated fat and cholesterol is completely harmless. For those who usually eat too much rich food, have high blood lipids, and exceed the standard for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, it's better to eat less boiled lamb. How can you eat boiled lamb to maximize its warming and health benefits? People who are afraid of the cold can choose nourishing soup or spicy soup to further promote blood circulation and body heat; people who are not afraid of the cold should choose a clear soup to avoid problems like acne, sores, and heat caused by spicy food or nourishing ingredients.
Donkey-hide gelatin helps in the autumn and winter nourishment season
As the weather turns cool, our body's functions also change, making this the best time to regulate the body and engage in autumn and winter health maintenance. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes adapting to the seasons. The "Huangdi Neijing: Great Treatise on Regulating the Spirit in Accordance with the Four Seasons" states: "Nourish yang in spring and summer, and nourish yin in autumn and winter." This means that autumn and winter nourishment should focus on nourishing yin, and nourishing yin emphasizes nourishing the kidneys and moistening the lungs. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that donkey-hide gelatin is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, entering the liver, kidney, and lung meridians. This perfectly aligns with the "nourishing yin in autumn and winter" principle of the Neijing, making it the top choice for autumn and winter supplementation.
What are the benefits of taking donkey-hide gelatin in autumn and winter? According to TCM, the lungs govern the skin and body hair. As the temperature drops in autumn and winter, the pathogenic cold attacks the skin and injures the lungs, leading to colds. Donkey-hide gelatin enters the lung meridian and can nourish the lung's qi and blood. Therefore, eating donkey-hide gelatin in autumn and winter can enhance immunity. In autumn and winter, many people experience a feeling of coldness all over the body, especially cold hands and feet. This is often due to insufficient heart blood, and the cooling weather leads to poor blood circulation. Donkey-hide gelatin enters the heart meridian and has the effect of nourishing blood and strengthening the heart, earning it the reputation of "holy medicine for blood nourishment." Supplementing with donkey-hide gelatin in autumn and winter can nourish and strengthen the heart, enhance blood circulation, and help improve cold hands and feet. Autumn and winter is also the best season to nourish the kidneys. Donkey-hide gelatin enters the kidney meridian and is especially suitable for people with sub-health conditions and weaker elderly individuals. Zhu Xi once reminded his mother in a family letter: "Use donkey-hide gelatin and Danshen from time to time to aid. I pray for the extension of your life and health."