Winter is upon us, which means that it’s time to put on bulky coats, beanies, gloves, and scarves for warmth. After being out in the cold, most people like to come home and enjoy stews, oven baked delights, and hearty comforting meals, but you can’t do that if you are on a raw foods diet. A salad may not be at the top of the list when you walk in your house from the cold, so what do you eat to stay warm?
Whether you are eating a raw foods diet as part of one of our cleanses, or you’re just experimenting with a healthier lifestyle, eating cold food when you really want warm food can be challenging. The reality is that eating raw foods provides the body with the essential nutrients it needs to function optimally. The raw foods actually help to naturally detox your body, and this helps to increase circulation, which can make you feel warmer.
In case the cold just happens to go all the way through to your core, we have some tips on how to stay warm while eating raw foods. Try some of the following tips to keep warm and let us know if they work for you.
#1: Spice It Up
If you live in climates that are 32 degrees F or below, try putting cayenne pepper or cloves in socks or gloves. Some people may be sensitive and don’t want to put cayenne on their skin, and that’s completely acceptable. You can spice up your food with cayenne, ginger, black pepper, cumin, chili powder, curry, and garlic as well! Many of these spices go great in homemade salad dressings.
#2: Exercise
Exercise is a great way to get your blood flowing, and it helps warm you up. You can even break a sweat running in 20-degree weather. Get the juices going with a morning workout routine and try to stretch before dinner to help boost your metabolism.
#3: Use A Dehydrator
You can actually warm food in a dehydrator, so long as you don’t warm it above 115 degrees. Warming your food for about 10-15 minutes in the dehydrator is acceptable because it doesn’t destroy the enzymes in your food. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can warm up a plate and serve your food on that. It’s hacks like that that will take your raw vegan game to the next level.
#4: Drink Warming Beverages
Herbal teas are probably the best for cold weather. Curl up under a fuzzy blanket and sip on chamomile, ginger, lemon, peppermint, or Echinacea tea to warm your soul. Additionally, you can drink lemon water and mix in fresh ginger or cayenne pepper to promote internal warmth.
#5: Dry Skin Brushing
Dry skin brushing is a great technique to increase circulation in the body. Take a brush with firm bristles and brush your skin from your arms and legs towards your heart, a practice that also promotes detoxification. Brushing away from the heart can disrupt proper circulation, so make a mental note to not do that.
#6: Make Your Meal Meaty
This does not mean that you should add meat to your meal; rather, it is best add meaty things like mushrooms, avocados, walnuts, almonds, or sun-dried tomatoes to your meals. Dark leafy greens also give your body sustenance, which helps keep you warm.
