Mumbai, India (BBN) - As the temperature continues to drop down, so does our energy level.
When you're exposed to freezing temperatures over a period of time, your metabolism slows down to conserve energy and heat, reports The Time of India.
At times like these, a walk down the stairs or standing in the kitchen for an hour may not actually end up helping you.
Since the holiday season is round the corner, we usually have rich foods that not only fill our stomach but also our weight.
Following are a variety of healthy Indian foods that you can match with your workouts to keep in shape:
DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS
Many of us have warm milk with cereals in the mornings to charge up the rest of our day.
To keep your body warm during the day, you can add nuts like almonds, walnuts and pistachios to your breakfast table.
To give a twist to your normal cereal or warm milk with dalia (porridge) or oats, try and add dried fruits like apricots, raisins and figs.
PEPPER, FENUGREEK AND HING
Indian food is known to be rich due to its array of spices in every meal.
Some of the common spices that can help you stay in shape and offer a delicious meal are mustard, asafetida (Hing), black pepper, fenugreek, cumin seeds and dill seeds.
Catching a flu or cold during winter is common. Research shows that hot liquids such as vegetable or chicken soup can help you with keeping your flu or cold at bay.
Hot liquids speed up the process as seasonings of onions and pepper travel in the vapour and help to open up nasal passages.
Other than this, adding dry fenugreek to your rotis and dals for lunch or dinner, can give you not only an appetizing meal but also generate warmth in the body.
TULSI AND GINGER
Nothing beats the winter chill like a hot cup of tea with Tulsi (basil) and ginger.
In Indian tradition, Ayurveda has denoted Tulsi as the holy basil due to its multiple benefits.
Tulsi has anti-bacterial, anti-biotic and anti-viral properties that helps in keeping the body healthy.
You can add this versatile herb not only in your teas, but also in your salads and dips.
On the other hand, ginger seeds can be used in diverse ways from teas to food to having raw ginger if you have bad throat.
ROOT VEGETABLES AND LEAFY GREEN
Carrots, onions, spinach, green beans, amaranth are some of the varieties that can help you stay both healthy and warm this winter.
These foods are loaded with rich sources of nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamin C.
Adding them to your dals, vegetables and soups can benefit you with an assortment of food that compliments your fitness routine.
WHOLE GRAIN CEREALS AND PULSES
Bajra (Pearl Millet), Jowar (Millet), Makkai (Maize), Jau(Barley), Ragi(Finger Millet) are some of the common types of whole grain cereals that can be included in your roti that accompanies your favourite pickle so that you don’t miss out on the fun that winter foods have to offer you!
Similarly, pulses like Moong Dal can be used not only for dinner but to can savored in the form of Halwa as well.
GHEE
Don’t worry, Ghee is not your enemy.
Studies show that ghee is a healthy fat that cuts the bad fat in your body to stay in shape.
This, however, does not mean that you end up hogging on it. Having one tablespoon (15g) every day can help you achieve its many benefits like good skin, lean body and warmth during cold January mornings!
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