Wellness in Winter

Remembering the days we were growing up in cold winters of Delhi,and how my Mom would give us special foods to eat specially we would be doing camp fires in our backyard and eat peanuts, dates, pop corn,almonds.We would bake psweet potatoes.Eating cooked Mustard greens mixed with other greens and butter and garlic was favorite.Even ,these days all restaurants serve cooked mustard,popularly called( Sarso ka Saag).It is traditionally served with  tortillas or Roti made with maize flour( Makki ki Roti).

So,now in USA, I researched and found some vegetarian and other not so vegetarian foods which would give you more bang for your buck.

NUTS

Almonds,peanuts,wheat germ,sunflower seeds,hazelnuts.

Brazil Nuts are very very high in Selenium about 95 micro gms in in one nut.Vitamin E from sunflower seeds and selenium from Brazil nuts helps produce T cells that fight infection.

Brazil nuts may have a role to play in the gut microbiome.

As good as they sound do not overdo on nuts.

Sweet Potatoes

It is very high in Betacarotene which is then converted to vitamin A.

Carrots,spinach,Kale,Brussel sprouts,pumpkins,Apricots,papaya,Mango also provide Beta carotene.

SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

Chinese have used mushrooms as food and medicine for long time.They boost immunity because of Beta glucans,a carbohydrate.

These beta Glucans boost body's immune response.They make your immune system work like a harmful substance is present and let immune system get all geared up to fight.

Well, what other foods give us these Beta glucans?

These are, Maitake Mushrooms,Barley,Oat Bran,nutritional yeast.

Vitamin C

Oranges ,papaya,Leafy greens,cantaloupe,Peppers,Broccoli,Strawberries,other citrus.

Vitamin C is damaged by heat and Water so eat raw or barely steamed.

Garlic

Garlic and onion both have health benefits.

However In INDIA,the Jains And SWAMINARAYAN followers do not eat for various reasons.Allicin in garlic blocks enzymes that spread viruses.