Top Winter Foods To Boost Your Energy and Immune System

“When we adjust our diet and lifestyle to match the season, health promoting digestive microbes dramatically change. Winter microbes support balanced immunity, digestion, mood, energy, blood sugar, weight, sleep – and much more. Winter is also associated with the qualities of ‘Vata’, which are cold, air, dry and light. To stay balanced, focus on food and activities that are warm, moist, heavy and oily.” – John Douillard

Winter is the time to slow down, nourish the soul, and focus on strengthening our immunity. (Which I know can be very challenging for us Real-Life Superwomen). Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables allows us to do this.

By focusing on foods that build a healthy immune system, we create a natural defense against unwanted illness, headaches, digestive issues, and dry skin that can plague us in the winter months. Cold and flu season becomes less of a worry when our immune systems are strong.

In winter we want to focus on cooked foods for their warming effects and eat fewer raw salads, smoothies, and other uncooked dishes.

We want to favor root vegetables (my favorite for nourishing the root chakra), winter fruits, cooked whole grains, and warming spices for their balancing and grounding effects during the colder months.

Here is a list of the top produce for winter to help you easily shift your eating habits to suit the season.

Top Seasonal Vegetables for Winter:

Enjoy these veggies cooked, preferably in a healthy fat like coconut oil, olive oil, or ghee

Acorn squash
Artichoke hearts
Beets
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Leeks
Onions
Pumpkin
Turnips
Winter squash

Top Seasonal Fruits for Winter:

Enjoy these fruits, preferably warmed or cooked.

Apples
Cranberries
Dates
Figs
Grapefruit
Lemons
Limes
Oranges
Pears
Pineapples
Tangerines

Top Seasonal Spices for Winter:

Cinnamon
Clove
Cardamon
Cayenne pepper
Garlic
Ginger
Horseradish
Rosemary
Thyme
Turmeric

John Douillard also recommends eating foods rich in soluble fiber during the winter ” This is one of nature’s strategies to insulate the gut from the coldness and dryness of winter by soothing, warming and lubricating the intestinal walls. So when the cold sets in”  be sure to enjoy a warm bowl of lentil soup. ~ John Douillard

Top Soluble Fiber Foods for Winter:

Almonds
Amaranth
Black beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Mung beans
Oats
Pecans
Pumpkin seeds
Quinoa
Walnuts

Winter is also the time to add more soups and stews, favor roasting and braising, and focus on warming the cold our bodies can experience when the temperature drops.

Try incorporating more of these foods into your regular eating routine. Look for recipes that feature these ingredients, or swap them out for some of the non-seasonal foods that you might be currently consuming in your favorite meals.

If you need a jump start in adding more seasonal foods into your meal plan, I invite you to join the complimentary 7 Day Chakra Soup Challenge. It starts this Sunday January 22. Click here to learn more and join.

Also I would love to know what your favorite winter foods and why?