Winter is arriving in different parts of India throughout this month. This change in weather can affect your immunity can lead to cough, congestion, and fever in some cases. That’s why it is important to know which foods for winter you should include in your diet to beat the chilly weather.

What you should know:

How to build a diet with winter superfoods?
5 Winter superfoods that keep you warm and healthy

How to build a diet with winter superfoods?

In the winter, you need foods that can keep you warm but also help you stay healthy. Here are some superfoods in different food groups that you should consider.

Carbohydrates – Millets like ragi, nachni,and makai are a good substitute for wheat. They can aid your digestion and immunity during the winter.

Proteins – Consuming foods like dals (lentils), milk and dry fruits can make you stay energetic in the winter months and avoid lethargy.

Healthy fats – Foods like sweet potatoes, dates, almonds, and walnuts are healthy sources of fats and will keep you warm in winters.

Vitamins – Vegetables like moringa (drumstick), carrots, green garlic, and citrus fruits like oranges can reduce the risk of catching a cold or flu during the winter.

Herbs and spices – Ginger, basil, turmeric, and cinnamon are some common healthy winter herbs and spices that should be part of your diet.

5 winter superfoods to keep you warm and healthy

Here are some must-have winter superfoods that are easily available for an Indian diet:

Bajra (Millet)

Bajra is a magnesium-rich grain that is beneficial for your heart health and it is rich in fibre and minerals. Eating bajra rotis in the winter can be prepared with ghee or white butter to help prevent joint pain.

Makai (Corn)

Corn is another millet that should be part of your diet. Cornflour is a gluten-free option to wheat flour. Vitamin B in cornflour helps you avoid laziness in the winter and it is nutritious enough to improve your immunity. Makai roti with sarson (mustard), spinach or methi (fenugreek) is a winter staple in India.

Jaggery

Having a teaspoon of jaggery with ghee can boost your immunity and prevent cold or sinus infections. It can also provide relief to a blocked nose with cough or cold while keeping your body temperature in control.

Kulith Dal (Horsegram)

Kulith dal is a healthy food for winter, even in harsh temperatures. It helps keep the skin hydrated during the cold weather. It can also prevent kidney stones which is be important because we tend to drink lesser water in the winters. This dal is commonly used to make kulith parathas where the dal can be used in both the dough and stuffing.

Til (sesame seeds)

Sesame seeds are another healthy winter food in an Indian diet. You can use sesame seeds as a topping for your foods or use sesame oil in cooking. The common way to consume sesame in the winter is by making gajak or chikki.

Read here to find out the importance of having superfoods in your diet. For more fitness or nutrition related advice, visit Activ Living.