El nino foods

Personally, I am praying for normal rains but it doesn’t mean that I haven’t stock piled on warm clothes and shoes. Since the government has put so much money into el nino preparedness it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared with a list of foods that help you keep warm if el nino does come. If we are lucky and the rains don’t flood roads or carry chicken and goats you can always use this list anytime it gets cold.

Whole grains

Whole grains give you warmth in the following ways.

ü  When eaten hot they give you immediate warmth. Examples of whole grains include; brown rice, oats, millet, maize, quinoa, and wheat.

ü  Whole grains are not easily digested like simple sugars e.g. cakes. This means that more heat is produced during digestion which in turn keeps you warm for longer. See the way you feel cold when you are hungry? Whole grains help you feel full for longer translating to warmer for longer.

ü  The B vitamins and magnesium present in good amounts in whole grains help with the function of the thyroid and the adrenal glands. The thyroid and the adrenal glands help to regulate body temperatures and you want them working well.

Ginger

Fresh ground ginger in any hot drink will make you warm in an instant. Ginger is also good at fighting colds and flu which come with the cold weather.

Bananas

Bananas can be very cold and it doesn’t make sense for them to be on this list but they are packed with B Vitamins and magnesium which just like with whole grains help the adrenal glands and the thyroid function keeping you warm.

Hot drinks and soups

Before you call me captain obvious, I had to put it here because sometimes we forget the obvious. This is also the time to try all those teas we see next to our kawaida majani chai. Ever wondered what chamomile or hibiscus tea are about? Time to try them out.

Spices

Cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, cloves, coriander and nutmeg are good at keeping the body warm. Be careful not to make your food so spicy and hot. Peppers and cayenne pepper make you sweat making the body lose more heat.

Foods rich in iron

Lack of enough iron in the body causes iron deficiency anemia. One of the symptoms of anemia is cold feet and hands. It is common for everyone to have cold feet and hands during the cold weather but if your fingers and toes feel painful or numb, turn white or take a bluish tinge as they get colder, you should get tested for anemia and eat foods high in iron.

Foods rich in iron include; lean meats (meats with fat trimmed off), eggs, seafood, spinach, sweet potatoes, broccoli, kale (sukuma wiki), whole wheat bread, raisins, watermelon, beans, dried peas, lentils, and dates.