Working with the winter cold.
At this time of year we become more sensitive to cold and susceptible to illness. Coldness in general causes the system to slow down. As a result, muscles and joints get stiff, chills settle in the kidneys, mucus accumulates in the lungs and nasal passages. Turning up the heat at home won't do much to keep us healthy. It's our bodies'central heating that really needs attention now.Nature presents us with the appropriate foods in season. This is not the time to stuff yourself with salads. Winter root vegetables and squashes are naturally sweet and nourishing to sustain you through the day. The onion family is warming as well as being naturally antibiotic. Slow cooking methods further improve the warming qualities of food. It's plain to see that a chicken and/or vegetable casserole, baked in the oven for an hour or two, will be more sustaining than the same ingredients quickly stir fried on top of the stove. Try to avoid microwaved food altogether.
We know that drinking plenty of water is advisable for good health, but at this time of year, unless you are exercising a lot, it's not a good idea to swamp your body with cold fluids. Recommended warming drinks are Jasmine tea and Chai (see recipe below). Mint teas are better suited to the summer months.
Cut down on dairy foods in the winter time, especially if you have a cold, as they are generally mucus-forming. Substitute soy milk, rice milk or oat milk if you like.
Many warming spices are also helpful for the digestion. The following recipe is from Daverick Leggett, author and teacher of East/West nutrition. It makes a delicious winter drink suitable for any time of day. Have a cup first thing in the morning, then put some in a flask and take it to work. If you don't have all the ingredients, just use as many as you can.
Chai
Ingredients for 4 cups:
1 tablespoon each of cinnamon bark, cardomom pods and dried orange peel
½ tablespoon fresh ginger
½ teaspoon each of coriander seeds, black peppercorns
5 cloves
2 whole star anise
A few black tea leaves (optional)
1 ½ pints water
Warm milk and/or honey for serving
Simmer all the ingredients together for 15 minutes with the lid off so that the liquid reduces slightly.
by Caz West, Registered Homeopath & Nutritionist at Natural Remedies.