WINTERS HEALTH AND FOOD

Fortunately, central part of India does not experience very extreme cold usually. This is the time when we have a few infectious diseases around. "Though winters are generally regarded as a healthy season, winter can be difficult for people with arthritis, respiratory illnesses and allergies. Change of season time is accompanied by a surge in number of viral infections.

Diseases like digestion problems, throat infection and allergic bronchitis because of pollution and eating oily food are being seen a lot on one set of winters . However "Exposure to cold remains the only reason for people falling sick during winters. Minimizing this exposure can reduce the risk. The increased pollution leveling winters due to on set of  dust and smoke demands high level of precautions against the allergens.

Children are among the first victims of cold weather due to their low immunity and vulnerability to sickness hence to be protected against the exposure to cold, which is especially harmful for kids. "Cough and cold” among children become very common in winter.

  

Hyperthermia can cause several complications in newborn babies, especially premature and low birth weight babies,' hence it is advised to take out smaller kids out only during the day and covering them up fully, including a monkey caps .Including jaggery and soups in their daily diet are also good idea for precautions.

Other then taking precautions against cold weather there is a list of does and dont’s  for the all food lover as suggested by one of the leading Indian daily by their expert on diet recommendation:-  

Do eat
Spicy food: Spicy seasoning boosts blood circulation and keeps you warm.

Soup : They decongests your respiratory system and clears your sinus. A soul-soothing hot bowl of chicken or mushroom soup helps reduce throat irritation. "Broth-based soups are low in calories and saturated fats, and high in fibre," says Shraddha Gadit, a nutritionist. Instead of buying ready-to-cook soup mixes from the supermarket, try making them from scratch with plenty of veggies and whole wheat noodles.
Other warmers: Tea, coffee and hot (dark) chocolate.

Whole grains: They help fight winter blues.
Sunlight helps in the production of the happiness hormone, serotonin. Your body experiences a serotonin deficit in winter because it doesn't get enough sun, thus leaving you grumpy. Whole wheat carbs give your mood that much-needed boost and prevent sweet cravings.

Other mood-lifters: Whole wheat bread, brown rice, cereals, pulses, bajra, oats, corn, millets and eggs.
Nuts: A great source of vitamin E, they also prevent your skin from drying. As vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids are found in most nuts hence help in combating dry skin problems ,However they should not be  eaten in excess .

Other skin-protectors: Sesame seeds, flaxseeds and fish.
Garlic : It helps boost your immunity against cold and flu viruses. The enzymes contained in garlic form a chemical called allicin which stimulates the production of infection-fighting white blood corpuscles. So, it actually works as a powerful antibiotic, anti-viral and anti-fungal agent while also lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Other medicinal foods: Ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, tulsi, methi, black mustard seeds, ajwain, saffron, black pepper and clove.

Jaggery: It helps in cleansing your body and improves digestion.

It is also a good source of iron and other minerals and is high in fibre, it provides relief from constipation. After a meat-heavy meal, eat a few grams of jaggery and you'll notice the difference.

Don't eat/drink

Cream-based soups: Avoid them as they are usually high in corn-starch, rather opt for broth-based ones.
Fried snacks: Avoid oily, junk if you don't want to pile on extra kilos.

Alcohols : Avoid as much as you can ,limited amount of intake is permissible .