Winter Comfort Foods And Inflammation

As the weather gets colder, many of us find ourselves succumbing to a craving for food that are heavier in carbs and fats. However, as most of us already know, doing so not only add extra pounds but also causes other symptoms such as joint and muscle pain, fatigue or bowel disturbances. This is because many of foods that we crave in the winter are also those can cause inflammation just about anywhere in the body.

Avoid High Glycemic Starches

The main culprits in the Winter are the processed sugars and other high-glycemic starches that we love to eat in the winter.  This would include things like savoury pastries, mashed potatoes, gravy pudding, cakes and other comfort foods. 

Processed sugars, flours and even unprocessed ones like yams, beets and potatoes, can destabilize your insulin and raise your blood sugar.  The high level of insulin racing through your bloodstream as the result of eating these comfort foods can also raise levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), which puts your body in a state of physical alarm.  When cortisol is released, your body holds onto  deposits fat rather than uses it for resistance. Your body, overall reads the release of cortisol as an emergency situation and your metabolism automatically slows down.

Foods That Slow Down Metabolism

The main culprits that slow down metabolism are

• Alcohol and caffeine, which can irritate stomach walls and cause the body to produce stress hormones
• Refined sugars such as candies, sodas, cookies and white bread
• Allergenic foods such as wheat or soy that cause you personally to experience inflammation in the gut

Be aware that inflammation of any kind can slow down your metabolism but the worst cases of chronic inflammation are usually caused by the foods we eat. Therefore, if you think that it is the cold weather giving you that case of sore joints you might be wrong. It could simply be that you are creating more comfort foods that are naturally glycemic.

Foods That Comfort and Speed Up Metabolism

Foods that are ideal to eat in winter because they comfort but also speed up the metabolism include:

Asparagus: These tasty spears are a rich source of glutathione that helps ward off inflammation and invading pathogens as well as boosts your thyroid (because it is contains so much selenium.

Blueberries and Blackberries: These fruits can satisfy a craving for sweets and are high in superoxide dismutase which can help reduce oxidative stress in the body and reduce inflammation.

Flax seeds: Flax is high in alpha linoleic acid that is a type of helpful Omega 3 fat. They also contain immune modulators that are potent immune modulators.

Fish: Fish is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids that help increase metabolism and reduce inflammation in the body. Shellfish however can cause inflammation in the body for some people.

Ginger Root:  Ginger is a warming food that is high in arachadonic acid, which reduces pain and inflammation and helps boost your metabolic rate.

Turmeric: Turmeric is found in most curries and also contains archadonic acid that can help reduce inflammation and kick your metabolism into high gear.

For more information or to book a consultation about anti-aging, diet and weight loss programs or any health issue you may be experiencing, visit the Pinewood Natural Health Clinic website that has a list of full services and products at www.pinewood.ca or call our Toronto Office at  (416)-656- 8100.  We also have an office in Pickering, Ontario at (905)-427-0057. You can also email us at info@pinewoodhealth.ca and we would be happy to answer any question that you have about our holistic health services.

The Metabolism Boosting Properties of Asparagus

Organic asparagus is widely available that is now in season so be sure to take advantage of the supremely nutritious, detoxifying and metabolism boosting properties of this vegetable offers people. It so packed with nutrition it is ideal for those trying to maintain a hormonally balanced and healthy diet.

Asparagus is now widely grown commercial all over the world in the United States, Australia, Peru and China but it is best to by locally from an organic farmer if at all possible.  Steam it until it is soft and then season with salt, pepper and your favorite fruit vinegar.

The Asparagus Story

Asparagus is a common garden vegetable, but exotic versions also grow wild and can be foraged in some areas of the world.   Asparagus has long been recognized for its nutritious qualities and it was served up as delicacy to ancient Greeks and Romans. 

The asparagus is technically a lily that belongs in the illaceae family, which includes daffodils, tulips, but also sulphuric alliums like onion and garlic.  The plant is usually grown from a seedling and when it matures, it can reach feet in height.  The most nutritious edible asparagus spears first appear at the base of the plant in early May and continue growing throughout most of the summer.

White asparagus, by the way, is not really white. These delicate looking spears result when farmers cover emerging shirts with dirt to prevent them from turning green.  This is done because asparagus spears that spend too much in the sun tend to be less tasty and tougher.  When shaded from light the asparagus spear develops a delicate taste that is reminiscent of mushrooms. When young the shoots also tend to be purple or reddish in color.  So when you buy purple asparagus, it is likely that you are buying younger, tender shoots.

 Asparagus is Highly Nutritious

Asparagus has the overall effect of boosting your metabolism because it is such an effective cleanser and body builder.  Here is a quick look at the many benefits of consuming this vegetable.

Asparagus is the ideal diet food. Just 100 grams, or about six medium sized spears, provides just 20 calories while at the same time providing high amounts of vitamin and fibre. 

Asparagus cleans out the digestive and cardiovascular systems.  Asparagus is one of those vegetables that has several beneficial effects to both your heart and stomach because it is super-high in fibre with 2.1 grams per six spears.  Dietary fibre cleans the colon, decreases LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and helps balance blood sugar.

Asparagus is rich in folates and B vitamins. Folates rev the metabolism by helping cell DNA in cells breathe and regenerate themselves and asparagus shoots are one of the few vegetables to contain a complete B-vitamin complex.

Asparagus is also very high in antioxidants.  The shoots provide about 35% of the RDA of Vitamin K and high amounts of the synergistic combination of A, C and E.

Asparagus is high in minerals. The young shoots are especially rich in copper, iron, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus.

Finally, realize that this is an alkaline food that helps balance out the kind of acidosis in your system that can cause disruptions to your metabolism and weight gain. The vegetables fibrous bulk acts like a little broom, sweeping out all debris out of your system so it can operate more efficiently.