Winter is well and truly here! Let’s keep ourselves vibrant and glowing inside and out by filling our Winter diet with some fortifying ‘superfoods’.
Superfoods are known as foods that deliver an abundance of vitamins and minerals and are full of antioxidant powers. They can also support your health in numerous ways including promoting healthy blood glucose, blood pressure and detoxifying the liver and kidneys.
Ginger is known as the ‘universal medicine’ and the herbalist’s best friend, benefiting everybody and all diseases.
Ginger can assist in boosting the immune system, keeping us healthy and strong through the cooler months. It enhances digestion, helps your immune system fight off coughs and colds, promotes toxin elimination, stimulates circulation and soothes upset stomachs.
A deliciously warming way of consuming Ginger over Winter is to try some good quality herbal ginger teas. ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Ginger, Tulsi Turmeric Ginger, Tulsi Lemon Ginger and Tulsi Tummy are the perfect tea infusions to have stored in your cupboard.
Kale
Kale is well known for its abundance of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins A, C & K and Potassium.
Kale is great in soups and broths during winter, shredded and included in a salad or even as Kale chips, a fabulous, nutritious snack.
Apples
Apples are a great source of Vitamin C. Ensuring that you are eating apples daily has the potential to support your immune system, particularly helpful during cold and flu season. Apples also contain pectin, a soluble fibre that has been shown to help reduce cholesterol.
If you want to change things up, rather than eating an apple alone, try adding apples to your salad or spreading peanut butter on them.
Citrus Fruits
Oranges, grapefruits and lemons, oh my! Citrus fruits are bursting with flavour but they are also bursting with Vitamin C, minerals and phytochemicals.
Ensure you add some of their juicy goodness to your grocery shopping list during winter.
Lemon Tea is a wonderful way to help soothe a sore throat, so add a wedge of lemon to hot water or drink a cup of ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Lemon Ginger tea.
Sweet Potatoes
An absolute favourite for Winter, Sweet Potatoes roasted, boiled or diced in a soup are amazing belly fillers. Sweet Potatoes are a great source of beta- carotene, known for its antioxidant properties that support your body to fight free radicals and reduce inflammation.
Try this over winter with friends and family: Sweet Potato cut as fries and fried with coconut oil and served with sweet and sour sauce.
Garlic
The best way to keep Vampires away! For that KAPOW this winter, garlic really gives the punch to the winter nasties with Vitamin B, C, Iron, Selenium, Copper, Potassium and Manganese. Garlic acts as a natural antibiotic protecting against certain infections and is known for supporting good digestion.
Side note, make sure not to over do it with the garlic, bad breath is a major side effect.
Cabbage
Did you know that cabbage is 92% water? It contains Calcium, Potassium and plenty of Vitamin C and K. Completely filled with nutrients Cabbage is the perfect winter essential. Great in salads and soups, Cabbage can be used any way you like.
If you like pickles, give Sauerkraut a try. Its packed with probiotics which are great for gut health and immunity.
Avocados
When we think avocados we generally picture smashed avocado on toast, we don’t necessarily think of its great nutrient and vitamin content. Containing a healthy fat content of Omega 3, B vitamins, Vitamin C, E and K as well as, Magnesium and Potassium, no wonder they taste amazing!
Over winter, try an avocado soup or even a delicious guacamole with tacos.
Turmeric
Turmeric, is the A+ of Superfoods, full of goodness to support your Winter wellness. Containing Fiber, B6, Vitamin C, Magnesium and Potassium, this aromatic super plant has a powerful effect on certain conditions such as inflammation, arthritis, blood glucose, immune function, liver and skin issues. Turmeric is the bees knees in assisting with these ailments as well as many more.
If you feel a sore throat coming on, or you are in the throes of a cold, try gargling with some good quality powdered turmeric and salt in warm water.
You can also try adding Turmeric to your soups this winter, or if you would prefer a delicious, aromatic drink, try ORGANIC INDIA Tulsi Turmeric Ginger Tea. It’s always great to have an immune booster in your back pocket.
Dark Chocolate
In winter we all love something sweet or something hot and sweet that makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, dark chocolate has been said to improve our mood, improve blood flow, boost overall heart health and lower blood pressure. Yes, it does quite a bit. Be sure to pick a dark chocolate with at least 60% cacao to optimise the antioxidants and health benefits.
Winter is the perfect time to add dark chocolate to a dessert, melted and drunk as a hot chocolate or just chomp down a few pieces.
There are so many amazing superfoods to choose from which we can incorporate in our diets in very delicious ways, providing all the nutrients, minerals and vitamins we need at this time of the year. Don’t forget that eating seasonally connects us with foods containing the the greatest vital force and sourcing organic produce wherever possible has the most benefits for our bodies and our planet.