Are raw vegetables and fruits also recommended for us in the winter? Should we put aside raw foods for the winter period and eat more cooked foods instead? Isn’t it just in winter that we should eat a lot of fresh vegetables and rich in, for example, vitamin C to affect our immunity put to the test? Does the body actually crave warm meals on a frosty day?

Before I try to answer these questions, let’s find out why raw foods are the healthiest for us. The point is, heating food destroys its nutrients and natural enzymes, which is bad because enzymes aid digestion and fight chronic disease. In short: when you cook, you kill. Humans need a warm climate, because we are bound and dependent on the sun, the origin of our species is a tropical climate, but humans migrated to a cold climate that is unsustainable for them. Still, the best food for humans is raw food, even in winter.

Eating plenty of vegetables and fruits helps to control your blood pressure. The raw food diet is low in sodium, so it can help reduce your risk of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, kidney disease, and so much more. It improves our immunity, which protects us from most diseases. Thanks to raw food, I myself got rid of my psoriasis problem and Hashimoto’s disease. I refer you to the video on this topic:

If you have immune problems or thyroid disease, it is worth consuming more fat, as fats heat the body, but do not overdo it. I know that by introducing more dishes cooked in winter, you gradually move away from raw material and to return to it again, we start ‘from the beginning’.

Many believe that the body should be heated from the inside through sports, massage, sauna or just very warm clothes. I have already spent several winters in Israel and, contrary to appearances, the flat here is much cooler than the flat in Poland. There, houses are centrally heated, while in Israel they are not. Hence, even in warm countries, when the temperature outside drops to 12-15 degrees, it is not very pleasant. For 5 years, during the winter period, I have also been to Hawaii and Miami several times. Both of these places are tropical and very warm, but whether in Poland or Hawaii I was guided by my habits, knowledge and my priorities. No matter where you spend the winter. The diet will vary between summer and winter seasons, but you take care of yourself and make the choices.

My love for fresh, ripe fruit and vegetables is stronger than winter 😉 and this will not prevent me from eating raw food, but I know that for many people it is a problem, especially for beginners.

So, are you looking for tips on how to eat raw / healthy during the cold winter? You feel that you are just forcing yourself to make fresh juice or salad and your body craves soup and hot food.

I encourage you to consider why you are trying to regain your “craving” for cooked food and whether it is a logical, healthy craving. I suspect that you are aware that raw fruit and vegetables HAVE POWER or do you really want winter to prevent you from eating their healthiest form? Whether you are following all the “rules” of a healthy diet or are it just cravings, excuses affect your preferences. It takes several months to change your habits and eating habits.

To make it easier for you, here are some tricks and tips to make raw food more attractive.

Store fruits and vegetables at room temperature.

Of course, some fruits should be kept in the refrigerator for a longer “life” of the product, but before serving, make sure that, for example, an orange is at room temperature, i.e. remove from the refrigerator for a few hours before consumption.

Warming spices.

Add pleasant, warming spices such as cloves, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, horseradish, cinnamon, vanilla, coriander, chili, cayenne peppers, garlic, rosemary, thyme or mustard to your dishes. For example, turmeric or cinnamon contain large amounts of tannins that absorb excess water from the body. This causes a “dry” effect which increases our overall body temperature.

Food dryer.

A dryer or a dehydrator is a device known to all of us. We use it to dry mushrooms or apples. It’s like a healthier form of an oven. This machine will help you prepare warm pizza, burgers, crisps, bread and so much more. Warm BUT – S U R O W E! A warm meal but still RAW. We heat food to 45 degrees Celsius, which makes the food ‘warm’ but not cooked and thus still raw. That’s the whole secret of raw, pleasantly warm meals in winter. Proposes a dehydrator without a hole with temperature control. For 100$ you can find a very good machine.

Listen to your body.

When your temperature starts to drop and your fruit choices are limited, it’s time to listen to your body’s signals. If you want to eat mostly raw in winter but are really struggling, consider increasing the amount of cooked foods in your diet. (By way of clarification, when I say cooked, I mean whole plant foods – Not instant products, for example). One of the most important parts of getting high is listening to your body’s signals, not following the rules blindly. Eating just a lot of raw food instead of striving for the unattainable 100% raw ideal allows you to adapt your diet to the situation, but also to the weather and the season. This is very important. Your attitude towards food, but above all towards yourself, should be positive. If you blame yourself every day for choosing a warm soup over a raw salad, nothing good will come of it. When you make healthier choices but do not enjoy it, sooner or later you will also reach for unhealthy foods. It is known that a healthy diet is a diet that is followed for years, not the one followed by the rules for just a few weeks or months.

Consume warming products.

Raw food is natural in hot summer. For two reasons – it cools the body and is generally available. If you live in a tropical climate, your body may crave raw food all year round. But if you live in a colder climate like most of the western world, when fall leaves fall and temperatures drop, your body will naturally be less interested in raw foods. Therefore, consider eating in season. Our diet is influenced by macrobiotics. Macrobiotics are based on the principles of yin (cooling) and yang (heating), and seasonal eating is an important element. If you live in a climate with real seasons, these concepts are very relevant to you.

While raw food is based on tropical life, macrobiotics have its origins in Japan, a more temperate climate with the seasons. Winter food focuses on root vegetables and warming foods such as beets, carrots, onions, leeks, celery, parsley, sprouts, chives, cabbage, garlic, peppers or kale. It is no coincidence that they are also in season. Note, however, that all of the foods above can be eaten raw.

In fact, according to macrobiotics, too much raw or yin in winter can make you sick. Regardless of whether this is true, eating more food to warm up on cold days is good, balanced advice you and I can follow. In summer I am around 80% strict, but in winter I can drop as much as 50%. Anyone who knows me a little knows that raw food is number one in my kitchen. Fresh juices and salads are my favorite ‘dishes’ even in winter, but I know that for many it is a problem, especially if this diet is only used for a few weeks / months.

Eat plenty of raw with cooked.

Do you want to eat a large amount of raw but also cooked products?

Include raw vegetables with every cooked meal: e.g. grated carrots and diced celery sprinkles for serving soup or salad with boiled beans or grains.

You don’t want to give up raw? Try adding warming teas and broths throughout the day to warm your body from the inside out. Focus on high-antioxidant teas that are naturally caffeine-free.

If you don’t drink all of the veggie broth in a week, freeze some of it as individual servings.

Try this: freeze large “cubes” of vegetable stock in a muffin mold. When each is frozen, let them thaw for a few minutes, then remove from the molds and store the cubes in a closed container in the freezer. Then, if desired, you can use stock cubes for different dishes.

Include foods such as sweet potatoes, oatmeal, quinoa, lentils, chickpeas, and beans. Again, all these foods can be eaten raw after proper preparation.

I also refer you to my post on why to start a plant-based diet:

I hope you will introduce more fresh ripe fruits and vegetables into your daily menu, even during the winter. Remember to exercise for additional body warm-up.

Now it’s your turn. How do you take care of yourself in winter?

WANNA START A VEGAN DIET ?

If you are thinking of trying a plant based diet but you don’t know where to start give me a free call. Let’s do it together.

Best regards!

Betty