Adding one ingredient to meals helps regulate blood pressure and warm the body
Could the secret to staying warm this winter be found in your pantry?
Adding one ingredient to meals helps regulate blood pressure and warm the body
The beginning of winter leaves most of us seeking ways to stay warm as much as possible - often with secret hacks involving clothing, gadgets, and more.
But did you know that a way to keep hands and feet warm during the cold season is by managing blood pressure, specifically by promoting blood circulation?
According to the British Heart Foundation, all the body’s tissues require essential oxygen and nutrients to stay functional, and a restriction in the blood supply can lead to cold hands and feet.
When the body is hot, blood vessels near the skin expand (in vasodilation), allowing more blood to flow to the surface to release heat.
Conversely, when the body is cold, these vessels narrow (in vasoconstriction) to conserve blood flow and retain heat deeper in the body, thereby preventing heat loss.
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To keep extremities warm, it's essential to improve the function of your vessels. And one way to achieve optimal circulation is by incorporating beneficial nutrients into your diet.
By consuming foods high in nitrates, you are providing your body with components that are converted into nitric oxide, which dilates and widens blood vessels.
This process increases blood flow and can improve oxygen delivery to tissues - an effect that is beneficial for cardiovascular health.
Not only packed with nitrates, beetroots are a valuable source of potassium and iron - a combination of minerals that come together to support a healthy blood flow and pressure.
The root is at its peak during winter, and its health benefits are sustained throughout the year. Beets are also full of antioxidants, which help repair DNA and maintain good cell health, according to the American Heart Association.
If you want to incorporate this red gem into your diet but don't know where to start, the BBC’s Good Food blog recommends a hearty beetroot soup as a starting point.
The subtly sweet recipe uses only 250g of cooked beetroot, canned lentils, one small apple, a garlic clove, onion seeds and vegetable stock - all blended and warmed to perfection.
If you want to take things a step further, Waitrose recommends a five-star black garlic and beetroot beef Wellington, as well as a variety of salads where the addition of the root can elevate the flavour.
Other options include sandwiches, various soup combinations, dips, pies, Scotch eggs, and even curries.
