The cold has settled in France for several days with temperatures hovering around 0°C, which should drop well below this weekend. Winter is here, and with it the traditional raclettes and sauce dishes occupying these colder periods.
But these comforting and caloric dishes, although they are associated with winter, are not necessarily the most appropriate to help our body cope with the cold of this season.
There is no need to eat more and fatter
“The cold can cause additional energy expenditure,” explains Florence Foucault, dietitian nutritionist, to BFMTV.com, but for us “the loss is less, we have clothes that allow us to be well protected”, and therefore we don’t really need a caloric intake . surplus.
Eat richer in winter to protect yourself, “it was true in ancient times, when there was no insulation and heating inside, or there was not enough warm clothing,” explains Patrick Serog, nutritionist doctor.
Il reconnaît qu’aujourd’hui, aux premières fraîcheurs, “on a une send naturelle d’aller vers des plats plus gras, c’est dans la tradition… Mais naturellement on n’en a pas besoin”, declare-t -The.
However, it is not a matter of depriving yourself, because the body will need energy to function this winter. “Make sure you eat enough food to maintain your weight,” she advises. American Institute of Health (NIH) to the elderly. “If you don’t eat right, you may have less fat under your skin. Body fat helps keep you warm.”
Make up for winter deficiencies
With the multitude of respiratory viruses that circulate in winter, it is often advisable to resort to foods that can strengthen the immune system. Florence Foucault cites, for example, vitamin D. She explains that 70% of its contributions “are synthesized by the skin” via the sun’s ultraviolet rays, but in winter the insolation decreases and deficiencies may appear.
Vitamin D “plays an essential role in the quality of bone and muscle tissue, as well as in strengthening our immune system,” writes ANSES, adding that “most French people do not consume enough of it.”
It is found in “fatty fish (cod liver, herring, mackerel), offal, butter, egg yolk, whole milk,” recalls the Ministry of Health. It is possible to take supplements to compensate for the lack of vitamin D, but it is advisable to consume it in a very supervised way because overdoses are dangerous to health.
Vitamin C is also mentioned -which is found in citrus fruits but also in green vegetables-, to replenish energy in the cold. However, its effect on the immune system is debated.
Take advantage of winter fruits and vegetables for a change
It is true that the menu of seasonal vegetables and fruits is less varied in winter than in summer, but their consumption is still important to diversify the diet. “You have to take advantage of it,” explains Patrick Serog, who encourages, for example, to eat more cooked vegetables, compared to raw vegetables, especially consumed in summer.
“Soups are a wonderful way to eat vegetables” and an almost non-existent dish in other seasons, he stresses.
In any case, the two nutritionists encourage the consumption of seasonal fruits and vegetables. An ecological option, but also often economical, because they are less expensive. On the other hand, “they are more likely to be fully ripened and often tastier than fruits and vegetables that ripen during transport,” stresses the government nutrition site Manger Bouger.
In December, for example, you can find carrots, various cabbages, pumpkins or spinach, but also apples, kiwi and clementines.
Whatever the season, to stay healthy, it is important to eat a varied and balanced diet and practice regular physical activity.
Source: BFM TV
