Pune: With Pune’s temperature dipping to around 13°C, residents have begun experiencing a chilly winter that has also triggered an increase in appetite.
According to health experts, the cold weather lowers body temperature, leading to heightened hunger, and a change in diet is recommended for optimal health during this season.
Health and nutrition experts suggest that winter is an ideal season to improve health, with foods that are warm, nourishing, and energy-dense. Ayurvedic and dietary experts advise against cold and sour foods in this season, recommending warm, comforting options instead.
Dietician Kasturi Bhosale and Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. Sangeeta Waghmode offer advice on ideal winter foods and practices to support immunity and health.
Winter Diet Tips and Recommendations:
Increase Warm, Nutrient-Rich Foods: Foods rich in fats, spices, and warmth, such as millet (bajra) and sorghum (jowar) bread, leafy greens, and root vegetables, are advised to maintain body temperature. Dr. Waghmode highlights the importance of ghee, spiced foods, and warming ingredients for sustained energy and warmth.
Herbal Beverages: Instead of regular tea, experts suggest herbal tea with basil, cinnamon, pepper, cloves, and a pinch of dry ginger to boost immunity and relieve seasonal respiratory issues.
Body Massage and Exercise: Ayurvedic advice recommends massaging the skin with sesame oil to keep it supple and protected from winter dryness. Regular exercise is also beneficial for maintaining warmth and improving circulation.
Traditional Winter Foods: Including traditional winter snacks, like methi laddus and dink laddus, enhances body warmth and provides additional nutrition. These foods, typically rich in healthy fats, use jaggery, dates, and figs, which are more nutritious than sugar and improve energy levels in the colder months.
Foods to Avoid:
Cold Foods: Items like ice cream and cold water should be avoided to prevent chills.
Cold-Sensitive Ingredients: Individuals prone to respiratory issues are advised to avoid yogurt, buttermilk, sour foods, and certain vegetables like eggplant and potatoes that may aggravate winter ailments.
Winter Health Benefits and Immunity Boosters: Including winter fruits and vegetables is known to help reduce issues like cough and cold. Homemade vegetable soups, rich in warmth and nutrients, provide relief from the cold. Gooseberries, high in vitamin C, support immunity and contribute to healthier skin and hair, making them a recommended winter addition.
Experts’ Advice: Dr. Sangeeta Waghmode, Ayurvedic Practitioner, explained that the “digestive fire” increases in winter due to the cold, resulting in heightened hunger. This season offers a good opportunity for people with lean body types to increase their weight by following a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
Dietician Kasturi Bhosale also emphasized the benefits of traditional winter snacks, seasonal fruits, and vegetable soups for immune support.
