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Submitted by PatientsEngage on 21 January 2016

Did you know an individual gains an average of 2-5 Kgs in winter? Winter is a season of indulgences pushing us often to have food loaded with calories. Dietician and diabetes educator, Ujjwala Baxi tells us how to enjoy the winter without gaining weight.

Come winter, the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, and we tend to gear up for both warm clothes as well as those mouthwatering season-specials that make every nippy evening worth its while. We throw our calorie-consciousness to the winds and gustily indulge in sarson da saag, makki ki roti, gajar ka halwa, laddoos and parathas topped with liberal doses of makkhan. We do not like to be troubled by thoughts of a consequent weight gain. But, perhaps, a closer look might help us stay more grounded.

Myth 1 – One needs to eat extra calories to keep the body warm in winter.

Fact – Food does have a thermogenic effect on the body and keeps it warm in winter. One also tends to feel hungrier in winter. The ostensible reason stated for this is that the cool weather leads to a drop in our body temperature and our appetites get stimulated as a result. Eating helps to generate internal heat, subsequently leading to a rise in body temperature. Yet, one must be judicious in the choice of food. A couple of hot gulab jamuns, intensely gratifying for the moment, will only whet the appetite further. And that too at the cost of a whopping 250kcals, rather self-defeating at the end.

Our Health Tip – Have 1-2 dates or a small number of raisins when craving for something sweet in winter. They are high in nutrient content. But remember to count their calories. 

Myth 2 – We need to eat a lot of butter and ghee to prevent any dryness of the skin.

Fact – Our skin naturally suffers a constant exposure to the elements, but that does not justify an indiscriminate intake of butter and ghee. What worked for our forefathers, who were also largely unaware of the fallout of these calories, will not work for us, a stressed generation with a sedentary lifestyle. Without undermining the importance of ghee and butter in our diet plans, one needs to be cautious in its consumption.

Our Health TipGo nuts as they are a good source of proteins and fibre alongwith fat. You may choose to bake some in light butter to add an extra crunch to them.

Myth 3 – Creamy hot soups are the way to go in winter

Fact - I remember during one particular winter, I was served with a delicious and hot tomato shorba by my aunt. But the thick layer of cream garnishing the soup put me off, despite being very tasty. So this is where all those kilos come from, I thought, looking at my indulgent aunt.

Our Health TipInstead of heavy cream, choose to add cheese in soups. They are creamy as well good source of protein.

Check out this Winter Bean Stew Recipe

Myth 4 – Carrot halwa is a must eat everyday!

Fact - Carrots are rich in beta carotene and so are the other roots like sweet potato, turnips, beetroot. Carrot halwa becomes heavy in calories due to excessive sugar, ghee and khoa. It can be a great nutrient source for kids, provided it is made with less sugar.

Our Health TipChoose to replace the white sugar with natural sweetener if carrot halwa is your family’s favourite and you cannot do away with it.

Conclusion

On an average, an individual gains 2 – 5 kgs during winter which is difficult to shed later. The galloping appetite of winter is hard to tone down and comfort eating becomes the inevitable fallout. Therefore, one should not throw caution to the winds in winter and only be sinful once in a while. After all, we cannot afford to indulge irresponsibly without sparing a thought for chronic ailments like heart diseases and diabetes, which are known to ruin healthy lives. 

Let us know in the comments below if you liked these suggestions and if you have any other winter health tips. 

 

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