Stay warm and boost your protein intake during the cold winter.

Winter weather is cold. In addition to wearing more clothes and taking cold prevention measures, you should also eat foods that can prevent cold and keep warm. In the cold winter, prevent cold and keep warm by supplementing more protein.

Eating the right foods in winter can also prevent cold and keep warm.

When it's cold, we always like to eat hot food. After drinking a bowl of hot soup, we will feel "warmed up" immediately. This is the "thermic effect of food" at work.

What to eat in winter to prevent cold and keep warm? Supplement more protein.

The "thermic effect of food" refers to the phenomenon of increased energy expenditure in the body due to eating. It is the result of the need for extra energy consumption in the process of digestion, absorption, transportation, metabolism, and storage of food, which leads to an increase in body temperature and heat dissipation.

Fish-flavored tender tofu

Which foods are most effective for preventing cold and keeping warm in winter?

From the perspective of the thermic effect of food, different nutrients have different thermic effects. The impact of eating carbohydrates and fat on metabolism is relatively small, about 4%-6% and 4%-5% of their own energy production, respectively, with a duration of about 1 hour. However, the impact of eating protein on metabolism is much greater, reaching up to 30%, and the duration is also longer, up to 10-12 hours. This means that the thermic effect of protein is far higher than that of carbohydrates and fats, and eating more protein-rich foods can make people feel warmer more easily.

Therefore, to prevent cold and keep warm in winter, it is best to eat more protein-rich foods, such as milk, soy milk, eggs, tofu, lean pork, beef, fish, shrimp, shellfish, etc.

Supplementing protein is not always better

Although eating more high-protein foods in winter helps to prevent cold and keep warm, it does not mean that the more protein you eat, the better. If you neglect other types of food because you eat more high-protein foods, it can lead to malnutrition. Therefore, when eating protein, it should be combined with the intake of various nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals to ensure adequate energy supply while maintaining a balanced diet, which is beneficial to health.