Foods That Have Been Scientifically Demonstrated To Keep You Warm When The Weather Is Cold Outside
As the temperature drops, many people opt for hot drinks such as tea or hot cocoa to stay warm. However, there are also certain foods that can provide the same warming effect, such as coconut oil and bananas. These foods increase the blood flow in your body and raise your temperature, helping you feel warmer. To keep warm during the colder months, consider incorporating these foods, such as peanuts and ginger, into your diet. They have been proven to naturally heat your body.
Not only do whole grains provide a sustained warmth, but they also help prevent fluctuations in blood sugar that can lead to sudden changes in body temperature. The Journal of Nutrition also states that the fiber in whole grains promote gut health. To maintain warmth throughout the night, consume whole grain pasta, rice, or oatmeal.
Don’t Touch That Alcohol
Coconut Oil Keeps You Warm By Burning Away Belly Fat
All Whole Grains Keep Your Body Warm
A bowl of hot pasta can provide warmth, but whole grains can provide a sustained warmth. According to Harvard's School of Health, the bran and fiber in whole grains take longer to digest, which causes the body to release energy that warms it over a longer period of time.
Hot Or Iced Coffee Will Do The Trick
A hot cup of coffee can be comforting on a cold day, but it's not the heat of the drink that warms the body, it's the caffeine. Caffeine raises heart rate and increases blood flow, which in turn raises body temperature, as per the University of Michigan’s Health Service. Caffeine can be found in a variety of drinks including coffee, tea, soft drinks, and even chocolate. It doesn't matter if the drink is hot or cold, as long as it contains caffeine. Studies have shown that iced drinks have a greater effect on raising body temperature than hot drinks.
Ironically, Iced Water Heats You Up
It is a common belief that hot drinks such as tea or cocoa can warm us up on cold days. However, in 2012, researchers from the University of Ottawa questioned this notion. They discovered that consuming hot beverages causes a disproportionate increase in sweating, which in turn, can lower our core body temperature as our body attempts to cool down. This study challenges the traditional idea that hot drinks keep us warm on cold days.
Hot drinks, when consumed, causes sweating as the sudden heat sends signals to the body that it is too hot, and the body will work to cool down. This in turn decreases the core temperature of the body. Drinking iced water, however, has the opposite effect and increases the body temperature. This may seem counterintuitive, but it is supported by scientific research.
On cold days, some individuals may drink wine to feel a temporary warmth. However, it is just temporary. Recent studies have revealed that alcohol actually decreases the core body temperature, which can put one at risk of hypothermia in extremely cold weather.
A 2005 study published in Alcohol journal found that the "warm" feeling after consuming alcohol triggers sweating, which in turn lowers the body temperature after a short period of 20 minutes. Furthermore, the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine notes that alcohol impairs the ability to shiver, which is the body's way of generating heat.
Coconut oil is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are dietary supplements that support thermogenesis, the process by which the body produces heat after consuming food. A study in 2018 in PLoS One found that MCTs can raise the body temperature by burning belly fat. This is a double benefit as it not only keeps you warm but also helps in losing weight. Another research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that MCTs can help individuals feel more satisfied after a meal. This means that you will feel fuller and also warmer for a longer period after consuming coconut oil. It is important to note that this effect is only seen when consumed and not when applied topically on the skin.
Why Gingerbread Is Popular In Winter
It is a common question that why gingerbread-flavored foods and drinks are prevalent during winter. The reason is not related to holidays but the fact that ginger is a warming food. In a 2018 research article in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, scientists discovered that ginger has the ability to increase body temperature in women just 10 minutes after consumption. This is because ginger increases blood flow, the more the blood flows, the higher the body temperature becomes, this is the reason you feel hot during a workout. The study also found out that ginger tea keeps women warm for a longer duration compared to other hot beverages.
If You're Suffering From A Cold, Drink Green Tea
When it comes to tea, green tea is considered to be the best option to provide warmth to the body. Green tea contains caffeine, as well as flavonoids called catechins. Research from the Journal of the Indian Society of Periodontology found that these flavonoids not only stimulate the body but also the brain waves, leading to a calm and aware state, which means you get the benefits of caffeine without the excessive sweating or jitters. Additionally, these catechins have the ability to directly kill bacteria and viruses, making it an ideal drink for when you're feeling unwell and have chills.
The Most Unlikely Body Warmer: Bananas
You may be surprised to know that even bananas can help to keep you warm. Bananas are rich in B vitamins and magnesium, which play a role in helping you feel warm. According to Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Lauren Minchen, "a banana helps the thyroid and adrenal glands to regulate the body's temperature in cold weather." Because bananas have the ability to change the core temperature of the body, they can be beneficial in both hot and cold days. If you have a fever, eating a banana can help to bring down your temperature, and on chilly days, eating a banana with peanut butter can be a satisfying and warming snack.
The Vitamins Found in Peanuts Will Keep You Warm
Peanuts may not be the obvious choice for a warming food, but they are effective. Peanuts are rich in magnesium, a vitamin that regulates the body temperature. Research from the Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology found that magnesium can quickly cool down the body in warm environments and heat it up in cold weather. Peanuts also provide Vitamin B-3, which the U.S. Department of Health commends for increasing blood circulation. As blood flow increases, the body temperature rises and the fatty acids in peanuts ensure that the warmth is sustained for a while. Both peanuts and peanut butter have the same effect on the body.
Why Does Turmeric Help? Because It’s Yellow
When consuming a curry dish, it is likely that turmeric powder is an ingredient. Like ginger, turmeric also has the ability to warm the body, but through a different mechanism. The chemical that gives turmeric its yellow color, curcumin, is responsible for this effect. When the body absorbs curcumin, it triggers the release of certain chemicals in the brain. A scientific analysis in the journal Ayu found that curcumin helps to release dopamine, which is a chemical that regulates body temperature. Additionally, curcumin improves blood circulation, which contributes to raising the body temperature. It is not surprising that curry dishes make us feel warm after consuming them.
Is Cayenne Pepper Too Much Spice?
It may have come to your attention that spicy foods have not been mentioned yet. Spicy dishes induce sweating, which decreases the body temperature. This is why spicy food is more popular in warmer climates. Nevertheless, cayenne can still warm the body despite the potential sweating. Cayenne contains a chemical called capsaicin that digests slowly. A study in 2015 in Open Heart found that capsaicin increases gastric blood flow, which is beneficial for the gut and body temperature. Due to its slow-acting nature, capsaicin warms the body without raising the heart rate. Habaneros and jalapeños also contain capsaicin.
Eating More Meat Will Result in a Warmer Feeling
After consuming a large amount of meat, some people may experience "meat sweats," which is a phenomenon that occurs when the body uses extra energy to digest food through thermogenesis. When sweating excessively, it can cool down the body. However, consuming one serving of high-protein meat can be sufficient to keep you warm. Research from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that breaking down meat-based proteins requires more energy compared to plant-based proteins such as soy. Thus, consuming a serving of lean beef or chicken may help you feel warmer for some time after eating.
Here's a reason to Add Cinnamon in your beverages
Cinnamon is another spice that is commonly used in cold weather dishes, and it's not just for its taste. In a 2018 research in the International Journal of Hypothermia, researchers found that cinnamon has thermogenic properties that help to raise the body temperature in cold weather. Cinnamon increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the stomach, which can assist in retaining body heat. Interestingly, the effect of cinnamon is opposite in warm weather. In 2016, researchers found that cinnamon lowered the body temperature of pigs by two degrees. In addition, cinnamon also helps to alleviate gas during digestion, which promotes stomach health.
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