Winter is full of celebrations and festivities, which means a lot of eating and drinking. Therefore, it becomes hard to eat healthily when you see everyone enjoying all kinds of food everywhere. But stress not! Some delicious food choices are not only healthy but also low in calories which you can enjoy guilt-free. If you feel like you have gone off track in your eating habits and want professional help, consult a licensed nutritionist or dietician at Click Pharmacy. It’s fast, easy, and reliable.
Every season comes with superfoods that are delicious, nutritious, and weight-loss friendly; a complete package. Therefore, we have made a list of winter superfoods that you can add to your list and enjoy a healthy and comfortable winter this year.
1. Cauliflower
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Can we eat cauliflower in winter?
Of course! Cauliflower is a winter vegetable that can be enjoyed in various ways. It belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and kale. You can steam it, bake it, fry it, or pickle it. This low-calorie vegetable is an excellent winter comfort food.
What happens to your body when you eat cauliflower?
Cauliflower is a nutrient-rich vegetable containing a lot of fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants. It is also quite low in calories, making it a perfect diet food. Eating cauliflower provides you with antioxidants and phytonutrients that help prevent many types of cancer and auto-immune diseases. Choline present in this cruciferous vegetable is vital for your memory and learning. Cauliflower contains a lot of fibre which helps improve your digestion and gut health.
What are the 5 main health benefits of cauliflower?
Cauliflower is very nutritious and diet-friendly. Apart from many health benefits of eating cauliflower, these are the top five on the list:
- Helps prevent cancer and auto-immune syndromes
- High in fibre
- Contains high choline level
- Low in calories
- Supports the immune system
Ways to eat cauliflower
Cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable. You can find it in many different sizes and colours, like white, yellow, orange, green, and purple. You can use it as a healthier alternative to carbohydrate sources (rice, bread) and make cauliflower rice, pizza crusts, Manchurian, etc.
2. Cabbage
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Don’t forget to eat your cabbage during winter. Just like cauliflower, cabbage is high in fibre and low in calories, which makes it an excellent food source.
Cabbage is also rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and folic acid. Vitamin C is vital for your skin, whereas folic acid is essential for a healthy female reproductive system. Moreover, antioxidants and vitamin C in the cabbage make it an amazing immunity booster. They also help to prevent cancer.
Does cabbage boost the immune system?
Yes, it does. Cabbage is a readily available and inexpensive vegetable rich in glutamine and glucosinolate. These antioxidants benefit the immune system and help fight diseases, including cancer.
What is the healthiest way to eat cabbage?
There are two ways by which you can get maximum nutrients from your cabbage; either steam it or eat it raw. Napa cabbage kimchi is also very nutritious and delicious. Use raw cabbage leaves to make crunch wraps or cut them up to make a salad bowl. Steamed cabbage rolls are also very healthy and fulfilling. Red or purple cabbage ranks the highest amongst all of its kinds.
3. Beetroot
Source: medicalnewstoday.com
Another good food in winter is beetroot. This red vegetable is rich in fibre and vitamin B6, which aids in digestion and promotes gut health. Beets also contain a variety of other nutrients, including iron, magnesium, potassium, and nitrates, which make them one of the superfoods of winter. You can eat it raw in salads or thoroughly cook it with beef. You can also make smoothies or try making beetroot pasta.
Do beets help your immune system?
Yes, they do! Beets are rich in immunity-boosting substances, including vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium, which not only help in strengthening immunity but also improve overall gut health.
4. Courgette
Courgette comes in so many varieties and can be enjoyed as a sweet or savoury food item. It’s one of the comfort food of the winter season.
How do you eat courgette?
You can make this meaty vegetable as the main course instead of meat. Courgettes can also be pureed to make different kinds of sauces, soups, and gravies. You can also make desserts with a courgette.
Can you eat courgette raw?
Yes, you can. Use it raw to make delicious seasonal salads and smoothies. Courgette is very versatile. You can bake it, grill it, steam it, cook it, blend it, fry it, or just eat it as it is. It tastes good in every way.
Is courgette hard to digest?
Not at all. It’s easy on your digestive system. Courgette is very gut-friendly, especially when it’s blended, pureed, or mashed.
5. Pumpkin
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Pumpkin is a winter speciality. It’s one of those foods we are excited about in winter. Pumpkin is not just delicious and comforting but highly nutritious as well. Its high fibre content promotes digestion and gut stability. Pumpkin is also rich in beta-carotenes and anti-inflammatory particles that help prevent many infections and diseases. Its low-calorie count makes it highly favourable and diet-friendly. You can cook it in several different ways, just like a courgette. Pumpkin can be enjoyed as a main-course dish, dessert, soup, or smoothie.
What is the healthiest way to eat pumpkin?
The healthiest way to eat a pumpkin is when it’s roasted. Roasted pumpkin seeds have more antioxidants and nutrients than raw ones. Cut the pumpkin into pieces, remove the seeds, and roast them with just a bit of salt and pepper.
Is pumpkin healthier raw or cooked?
Raw pumpkin contains slightly more water-soluble vitamins and other nutrients than cooked ones. However, it’s better to eat it cooked.
Is pumpkin a warming food?
Yes, pumpkin is a warming food. Make pumpkin soup or stew, and enjoy the comforting bowl with your friends and family while sitting around the fireplace and Christmas lights.
