| When the temperatures keep dropping outside, it's time | | | | Stews and particularly soups have more liquid than |
| for some winter comfort foods to warm you up. | | | | other foods. In the winter time with the heat running |
| There's just something about a big cup of homemade | | | | everywhere you go, it is pretty easy to get |
| soup or stew to warm your body and soul when it is | | | | dehydrated. Dehydration can cause headaches and I |
| cold and dreary outside. What is it about these winter | | | | don't know about you, but I tend to get pretty grumpy |
| comfort foods that instantly makes us feel better? | | | | when my head hurts. Getting that extra liquid from |
| Most comfort foods and especially those we enjoy in | | | | soups may be just enough to prevent this from |
| the winter have a fair share of carbohydrates in them. | | | | happening. Not getting enough liquids also tends to |
| Think about Mac & Cheese for example which is | | | | make you feel tired and sluggish. Of course you should |
| a popular comfort food year around. It has plenty of | | | | also attempt to drink some extra water to make sure |
| starchy pasta in it. Quite a few other foods like | | | | your body has all the liquid it needs to function properly. |
| lasagna or a big pile of spaghetti have plenty of pasta | | | | But that can be easier said than done. While I'm find |
| as well. Other winter comfort foods include rice (think | | | | drinking cold water when it's warm outside, I just have |
| chicken and rice soup) or potatoes (think beef stew or | | | | a hard time getting it down in the cold winter months. In |
| potato soup). | | | | addition to eating plenty of soup, try drinking some |
| In addition to the carbs in the winter comfort food itself, | | | | warm herbal teas to get in your required eight to ten |
| we often serve it with some sort of bread. If you are | | | | eight ounce glasses of water. |
| making a pot of soup or stew you usually have a | | | | Last but not least, these winter foods make us more |
| batch of biscuits, a cornbread or a loaf of homemade | | | | comfortable simply because they are hot. Eating soups |
| bread ready to serve along side it. This warm bread is | | | | and stews warms us up from the inside which is just |
| a big part of what makes these dishes comfort foods | | | | what the doctor ordered after spending some time in |
| and also adds some more carbs to the dish. | | | | the cold elements outside. Soups and stews are |
| These carbohydrates can cause the human body to | | | | comforting to eat and will quickly bring your core body |
| release a hormone called serotonin which is know to | | | | temperature back up. As an added bonus, you get to |
| make you feel happy (along with preventing | | | | warm your cold hands on the bowl. Now that's what I |
| depression). | | | | call comfort. |