The weather is getting colder and colder. In cold weather, many food lovers prefer to choose some warming and nourishing foods to adjust their daily diet in order to achieve the purpose of strengthening the body and warming up to resist the cold.
Supplement foods rich in calcium and iron
People's fear of cold is related to the low intake of certain minerals in the body. For example, the amount of calcium in the body can directly affect the contractility and excitability of the heart muscle, blood vessels, and muscles; iron deficiency in the blood is an important cause of iron-deficiency anemia, often manifested as low heat production and low body temperature. Therefore, supplementing foods rich in calcium and iron can improve the body's ability to resist the cold. Foods rich in calcium mainly include milk, soy products, kelp, seaweed, shellfish, oysters, sardines, shrimp, etc.; foods rich in iron are mainly animal blood, egg yolks, pork liver, soybeans, sesame seeds, black fungus, red dates, etc.
More staple foods and appropriate warming foods
First, eat more staple foods and appropriately choose foods with high heat production and warming properties, mainly including dog meat, lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp, longan, red dates, etc. These foods are rich in protein and fat, produce a lot of heat, and are especially beneficial for those with a weak constitution and insufficient yang energy.
More fruits and appropriate yin-nourishing foods
In order to maintain "yin-ping-yang-mi" (the balance of yin and yang) and prevent "fire-heat" (internal heat), it is also advisable to eat yin-nourishing foods in winter, such as soft-shelled turtle, tortoise, duck, goose, lotus root, and fungus. This is especially important for some weak and sick middle-aged and elderly people with essence and qi deficiency, in order to achieve a balance of yin and yang. In addition, fruits should be supplemented daily, and more fluid-producing fruits like grapefruit and apple should be eaten, which is good for resisting winter dryness.
More vegetables and increase vitamin A
Furthermore, ensure the supply of vitamins, especially increase the intake of vitamin A and vitamin C, which can enhance cold tolerance and adaptability to cold, and have a good protective effect on blood vessels. Among them, vitamin C mainly comes from fresh fruits and vegetables, and vitamin A mainly comes from animal liver, carrots, dark green vegetables, etc.
Consume foods with more methionine
Sesame seeds and sunflower seeds can provide the necessary elements for the human body to withstand the cold. Cold weather increases the body's demand for methionine. Methionine can provide a series of methyl groups necessary to adapt to the cold through a transfer process. Therefore, in winter, more foods containing more methionine should be consumed, such as sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dairy products, yeast, leafy vegetables, etc.
Appropriately increase spicy foods to resist the cold
Spicy food can dispel cold. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, ginger contains aromatic volatile oil, and pepper contains piperine. They are all spicy foods. Eating more of them in winter can not only increase appetite but also promote blood circulation and improve the ability to resist the cold.
Eating kelp in winter, you won't be afraid of the cold
Why can eating kelp in winter resist the cold? From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, seawater is yin, cold, and cool, and the kelp growing in it has a strong ability to resist the cold itself. The nature and flavor of kelp are salty, and long-term consumption has the effect of warming and tonifying kidney qi. Therefore, eating kelp in winter can increase the body's ability to resist the cold.
In addition, people's fear of cold is related to the low intake of certain minerals in the body, and supplementing foods rich in calcium and iron can improve the body's ability to resist the cold. Kelp is a treasure trove for humans to absorb calcium and iron. Every 100 grams of kelp contains as much as 1177 mg of calcium and 150 mg of iron, so eating kelp in winter has important health benefits for children, women, and the elderly.