Another winter is about to begin and fill our life with short gray days and long cold nights, Christmas festivities and excitement, beautiful shiny snow and nasty stormy weather. In this season, low temperature and high humidity are the factors that make us look for the most effective ways to protect our body from getting cold and catching infectious diseases. Do you want to know, what foods are the best for this season? What foods can provide us with the protection we need so much in winter?

1. Oranges. One of the best and most delightful natural foods for Christmas holidays, these sunny fruits are well-known excellent sources of vitamin C and very useful natural fiber. Freshly squeezed orange juice is the best and the most healthy beverage for all children, especially in cold winter days. Add some slices of orange or some drops of fresh orange juice to your vegetable salad, boiled meat or even boiled fish. It will give an interesting piquant taste to your dishes.

2. Radish. This edible root vegetable is among the most perfect foods to eat in winter as it has very high vitamin and nutrient content. Just like oranges, reddish also has a notable amount of vitamin C, which is good for our immune system. Besides, in winter time many of us develop various skin problems, and vitamin C can assist in skin care very effectively. Finally, some specialists say that the foods of red and other bright colors can help us avoid depression and mood disorders, which are so frequent in winter.

3. Green peas. Use canned green peas for your dishes in winter! This food is rich in  vitamins C, E and K, and it has quite few calories so it can be very good for those, who are trying to lose some pounds. Peas assist normal function of our cardio-vascular system, as well as help to maintain good bone health. Also, green peas is a food containing good amounts of iron, phosphorus and potassium, which stimulates detoxification and removal of extra liquid from our body.

4. Squash. One of the healthiest and the best foods for effective weight management. 200 g of squash can provide us with our daily norm of vitamins C and K. Also, this veggie contains good amounts of fiber and phytonutrients, natural elements that assist toxin removal. One of the most useful low-calorie foods to eat in winter, squash is an excellent diuretic and can help for skin care. Add some slices of fresh squash to your veggie salad, or simply fry the slices.

5. Cabbage. It is not the best source of vitamin C, but it is one of the best veggies containing excellent amounts of natural fiber. Due to this, cabbage is sometimes called “the food with negative number of calories”, because very often in order to digest cabbage, our body loses more calories than it gains. Cabbage is quite a juicy veggie with a nice distinctive taste, and it can be used for soups, salads, vegetable stews and for various dishes with meat.

6. Cranberries. In winter, cranberries mixed with some sugar and cream can be a great desert for children. Cranberries can be also added to salads, bakery, or be used for fruit mixes and stewed fruit. If it is possible, try to use unprocessed cranberries: this way the berries keep maximum amounts of useful elements and nutrients. Cranberries have very powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and they can improve the levels of good cholesterol.

7. Sweet chestnut. This delicious and useful natural food to eat in winter can be found in our markets and stores only in late autumn, so do not lose your chance to try it! Sweet chestnut is a great source of natural proteins and fatty acids, which aid the function of our cardio-vascular system and brain. According to some studies, consuming sweet chestnut is linked to improved memory and better function of the nervous system. Sweet chestnut has a very pleasant specific taste, which can be good for salads and meat, as well as for breakfast or for having a little bite.

Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.

One Response to “7 Essential Foods To Eat In Winter”

1. Anjileena Says:
   November 10th, 2011 at 10:49 am

   Hi carla,
   I am 31 yr old girl(unmarried), I dont feel like eating anything- I even stopped eating nonveg now.
   I just eat to survive, Please suggest some tips and food to be healthy. Currently my weight is 37 Kg.

   Thanks
   Rev.Anjileena Banjimen