When temperatures drop during the final months of the year, we instinctively feel the need to enjoy a cup of tea and a warming soup. Couch blankets and hot water bottles are dragged out, and long-sleeve shirts and woolen socks come back into play. We'll show you which foods and dishes warm you from the inside out, providing cozy comfort amidst the cold.
Why women feel the cold faster
Perhaps you are also one of those who get cold and chilly more quickly. On the one hand, this may be due to individual cold sensitivity, but – if you are a woman – also to genetic factors. Evolutionary speaking, women simply have a different perception of cold. Nature simply made it that way, and unfortunately, there's little you as a woman can do about it. We explained this in more detail in this article, feel free to give it a read. Now you can actively train your cold receptors, but you can also give yourself a bit of an energy boost with certain foods. These will help you get through the dark winter months feeling more alert and fit.
Goodbye fall and winter fatigue – these foods are good for you
In general, it is beneficial to follow an alkaline diet, especially in the fall. This is not a classic diet, but rather specific types of fruit and vegetables that have a positive effect on your body's acid-base balance. After all, an overly acidic body leads to exhaustion and fatigue more quickly. And if you're constantly tired, you feel cold more quickly, too.
The classics of an alkaline diet include these foods:
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Raisins
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Parsley
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Fennel
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Spinach
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potatoes
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Dried figs
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Arugula
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Bananas
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Carrots
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Apricots
Conveniently, many of these are classic fall and winter varieties, such as spinach, potatoes, or even carrots and arugula.
Foods that warm you from within
For a long time, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has used the approach of categorizing food into so-called cooling (Yin-rich) foods and warming (Yang-rich) foods. According to TCM, Yin-rich foods such as citrus fruits or cucumbers have a cooling effect and are therefore preferred in summer. Yang-rich foods, on the other hand, are particularly beneficial in winter as they warm our bodies from the inside. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, these include:
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Red meats such as beef or game
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Fish types such as herring, cod, plaice, or tuna
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Scallions and leeks
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Winter vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potato, or beets
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Fruit: pomegranates, plums, kumquats
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Walnuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts
Spice it up – warming spices
The pumpkin soup traditionally enjoyed in fall and winter is a good example: What would pumpkin soup be without plenty of fresh grated ginger, curry, pepper, garlic, and a few chili flakes? Right: Still delicious, but even better with all these great spices. And this soup instantly packs many of the spices said to have a warming effect:
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Chili
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Ginger
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Curry
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Garlic
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Coriander
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Caraway
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Cinnamon
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Anise
Perhaps that's why we are magnetically drawn to soups in the fall. Not only do they warm us from within, they often contain a whole range of the above spices that boost our metabolism. Anise, for example, is an important ingredient in many cookie recipes. Gingerbread spice is also frequently made up of cinnamon, anise, coriander, allspice, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg. A warming, wintery blend indeed.
Better to eat warm rather than cold food in winter
Basically, during the cooler winter months, we are instinctively drawn to soul food, soups, and stews. Why is that? Our body automatically tries to maintain the required body temperature or regain it in cold temperatures. To achieve this optimal body temperature when it's cold, it needs more energy. As a result, we lack this energy elsewhere – we start to freeze. Soups, stews, and warm food in general provide heat to the body instead of taking it away. Therefore, feel free to rely on a warm breakfast in winter as well. Perhaps you're a fan of porridge & co? Then autumn and winter are the right seasons for this type of warm breakfast. A hearty, fiery chili warms you up from the inside, as does a pumpkin and potato soup. Try to avoid too much cold food such as salads, raw food in general, or dairy products. That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat them at all in winter, because the body always needs a balance between cold and warm foods.
Warming drinks for the winter
In addition to making favorable food choices, you should also pay attention to what you drink. In winter, the recommendation is: Support your body with warm, soothing teas instead of soft drinks and similar cold beverages. The most effective option here is teas or tea blends that contain warming spices such as anise, cinnamon, cardamom, and caraway. Some people like to brew a fresh, slightly spicy ginger tea with a small spoonful of honey as a sweet addition. On the other hand, you should avoid consuming too many caffeinated drinks and cigarettes, because caffeine and nicotine constrict the blood vessels and thus encourage cold hands and feet.
As you can see, with a few tricks and tips as well as a conscious choice of food, you can take a little work off your body during cold weather, warm yourself up from the inside, and get your metabolism going. Feel free to combine this with walks or sports in the fresh air: This additionally strengthens your immune system, and you actively do something to fight off impending winter fatigue.
