With the onset of winter, we are ready to embrace the chilled breeze and soothing sun all at once. Alongside, we also welcome a plethora of multi-coloured and leafy green vegetables doing rounds at popular grocery stores or vegetable markets. While every essential vitamin and mineral is a must to keep ourselves super energetic and healthy during the winter season, our body demands a little bit of extra protein for the muscles to act strong and remain steady, up and running.
Winter Vegetables

This becomes crucial for vegetarians and vegans who could run a little low in the protein department. To keep the protein intake high, many colourful fruits, leafy greens or cruciferous vegetables can easily fulfil that little extra protein requirement and augment the warmth our body is asking for. Moreover, these veggies are packed with powerful antioxidants that help to keep winter-related ailments at bay.

Also Read: Protein Building Blocks: Here’s Why You Need Essential Amino Acids In Ample Amounts

How Protein Makes You Feel Warm?

Proteins are integral to performing all body functions of the body but as compared to other compounds, they are complex molecules and therefore need extra ounces of fats to break them down. When the body consumes a lot of protein and the fats start to break it further, a lot of energy is produced by the body that generates a lot of heat. Eating protein-rich food also boosts the metabolism of the body since the body uses some calories to digest the food, some are used to store the food, and some are burned off as heat. This is known as the thermic effect. A high-thermic food consumes more energy to digest than it takes to eat. This helps the body stay warm in winter.

Health Benefits Of Eating Protein

Amongst the many health benefits of choosing a high-protein diet, some of them are listed as follows:

  • Protein is the prime building block of body muscles. Therefore, eating adequate amounts of protein helps to promote muscle growth, maintain muscle mass, and prevent muscle weakness in winters
  • Protein has major benefits for bone health, especially for women who may be at risk of osteoporosis after they hit menopause. Women should eat plenty of protein to prevent the chances of osteoporosis and augment bone health
  • High blood pressure is a major cause of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease. Higher protein intake can effectively lower blood pressure besides also help reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the body
  • Since protein builds tissues and muscles, it can help the body to heal itself after an injury or an accident thus speeding up the recovery process and repairing any damaged tissues
  • A high-protein diet is beneficial in aiding metabolism. This leads to an automatic reduction in calorie intake that helps in weight loss. This is the reason that many weight watchers are advised to go on a high-protein and a low-carbohydrate diet regimen
  • As one tends to age, the muscles gradually weaken and become a cause of bone fractures and bone frailty. Eating more protein can help in reducing age-related muscle deterioration and muscle damage

Protein Veggies For Winters

Here is what you can pick to get the best protein intake and stay warm, and cosy in winter:

  • Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and collard greens
  • Swiss chard, capsicums and beans
  • Brussels sprouts, carrots, radishes, and turnips
  • Red cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, parsnips, and peas
  • Tuberous veggies such as sweet potatoes, beetroot, and yam

Also Read: Tasty And Protein-Rich Tea-Time Snacks Recipes To Enjoy In Winter

What is stopping you from waiting to get the warmth from these nutrient-dense winter veggies? To make the season more fascinating and comfier, we bring you an easy recipe that can be relished at any time of the season.
Winter vegetables blend

Winter Vegetable Blend

Ingredients

1 medium size capsicum

2 medium size tomatoes

1 cup chopped beans

1 bunch of spinach

1 piece cauliflower

2 carrots

1 cup peas

1 cup finely chopped red cabbage

2 tbsp oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp dried red chilli

1 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp dried mango powder

1/4 tsp garam masala powder

Salt to taste

A pinch of asafoetida

A handful of coriander leaves to garnish

Few chopped green chillies

Method

Wash the vegetables and keep them aside

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, and chopped green chillies

Add all the vegetables except tomatoes and let them simmer

Once the vegetables are cooked add all the spices and chopped tomatoes except dried mango powder

Mix well and let it simmer

Add dried mango powder

Winter vegetable blend is ready to serve

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves

Serve hot

Nutrition

The easy yet sumptuous recipe has plenty of green vegetables that provide protein, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It also contains the right blend of spices that help the body to maintain its temperature and keep cough, cold and many winter-borne health problems away.