Keep Warm This Winter - Eats and Treats by Tania Rebello
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Are you scanning your wardrobe wondering what to wear during winter? Before you take that trip to the clothing store, it might be helpful to know that you can use food to keep your body warm.
We have often heard the saying “Food is medicine”; it is true because food contains a range of vitamins and minerals that work together to nourish our bodies.
But what is truly fascinating is the ability of food to either warm or cool the body.
Instead of piling on winter wear, read on to explore some interesting ways on how food can help you to beat the cold winter:
Eat foods that take longer to digest:
Foods that take longer to digest often help to w a r m up the body.
These are often foods containing healthy fats, protein and complex carbohydrates in proper proportions.
Root vegetables, certain green leafy vegetables, brown rice are some such sources that require more energy to digest causing a rise in body temperature.
This process is called thermogenesis.
Eat oatmeal to stay cozy. It’s a great thermogenic food that releases energy slowly throughout the day to keep your body warm.
Ensure consumption of foods containing carnitine:
Carnitine is a substance that plays a critical role in energy production as it increases metabolism giving you a warm feeling.
The level of carnitine in your body makes you feel cooler or warmer than usual. Red meat, fish, poultry and milk are great sources.
It is no surprise that the red meat consumption during the chilly winters is much higher in countries where the winters are extreme as they have discovered the knack of keeping warm during winters.
For vegetarians, asparagus, avocados and peanut butter would be ideal alternatives.
Consume foods that increase blood circulation:
Cinnamon can naturally increase your blood circulation ultimately keeping your vital organs warm and preventing you from feeling a chill.
Beef is great when you find yourself in chilly conditions because it is a fantastic source of iron, which is crucial for circulating your blood.
The high calorie and fat content found in beef makes it the perfect fuel for your body, simply partner it with wholemeal bread and make it a sandwich.
Drink hot beverages:
If you feel cold, make sure to drink ample hot teas, coffee, hot chocolate and soups in between meals.
Hot beverages and soups instantly warm the body. My all-time favorite soup is Cream of Mushroom soup.
Do you have a favorite soup? Comment on this article on social media. We would love to hear from you.
In the meantime, here is an easy cream of mushroom soup recipe to prepare at home.
Cream Of Mushroom Soup Recipe
Ingredients :
• 1 kg of brown mushrooms
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced and divided
• 8 sprigs fresh thyme, divided
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 5.5 cups chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2 .Place mushrooms in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Add olive oil, half of the garlic and four sprigs of thyme; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Gently toss to combine.
3. Place into oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until browned and tender, stirring once. Let cool before coarsely chopping; set aside.
4. Melt butter in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden and caramelized, about 10-15 minutes. Stir in remaining garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
5. Whisk in flour until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Stir in a little chicken stock, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
6. Stir in the remaining chicken stock, bay leaves and remaining thyme; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
7. Stir in mushrooms; simmer until thickened, about 10-15 additional minutes.
8. Remove from heat; stir in heavy cream and serve immediately.
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