Keeping warm during winter is not easy. Apart from the woollens and equipments like heaters and geysers, the people should also consume heat-producing food items that are also nutritious and rich in iron and calcium contents to beat the chill, say the doctors.
According to Vaidya Pankaj Kumar Sharma, a practitioner of Ayurveda, some of the things produce heat in the body and ginger is one of them. It helps to cure common cold and it is effective to relieve sore throat, he added.
“It is also used as herbal remedy to relieve headaches and nausea. Eating two/ three drops of ginger mixed with half a spoon of honey twice a day can help to beat the cold. Garlic not just helps in lowering the cholesterol but is also a good heat- producing item. It contains properties that help fight the flu and other diseases such as bronchitis and asthma which are inclined to turn acute during the winter. Besides, Millet like bajra is a good source of iron and it contains some amount of calcium too, both required to keep the chill at bay. It acts as a high- energy food product,” he said.
Richa Kukreti Dobriyal, a dietician, said the seasonal fruits are of great held during this time of chilling cold. “They should be had as much as possible. Dry fruits like almonds, peanuts and dried dates are also good when consumed in right quantity. People should avoid consuming eggs too much as they contain bad cholesterol. Red meat takes time to digest,” she said.
“Besides, Pahari food like Mandua, jhangora, kulat dal and tor are good around this time. They should be consumed by the people in as high quantity as possible and particularly those suffering from high blood pressure. Spices used in right amount is good. However, those with ulcer problems should avoid using spices during winter. Carom seeds mixed with water can be helpful during the cold.
This aside, boiling mustard oil with carom seeds and applying it on the body is good as carom seeds have properties which produce heat in the body,” she said. She added that consumption of jaggery after dinner can help in digesting the food. She also asked the people to drink lukewarm water during the winter as it would help keep off cough and cold, the problems that keep nagging during the winter months.