Want to increase body temperature without turning on the heater? Eat these foods

The extra chilly winter temperatures have caught some of us off guard, and while there is a desire for comfort foods in general, there is also interest in foods that can literally warm us from the inside out. Whether you’re looking to save on heating bills or just want to eat more naturally warming foods, these are the ones to think about incorporating into your diet this winter and beyond.

Steak

A chunk of meat may not immediately spring to mind when you think of foods that might warm you up, but physiologically a piece of lean protein is one of the best ways to give your metabolism a natural boost and experience a slight increase in body temperature as a result. Of the three macronutrients, protein as a molecule requires slightly more calories for digestion, which means if body warmth is on your mind, you will be much better eating lean protein such as steak, lean lamb or pork or chicken breast which all offer upwards of 30g of protein per 100-150g serve, than you are a heavy vegetable or carbohydrate-based meal.

Hot tea

The science of consuming warm drinks in order to physically warm you when feeling cold is interesting. While consuming a warm beverage that is hotter than body temperature − for example, a cup of tea or coffee that is upwards of 60°C − you will initially experience this heat internally. Over time, however, the body will work hard metabolically to cool the liquid and bring it back to body temperature, so you may end up feeling cooler again within an hour of drinking your hot cuppa.

Green tea is one of a small handful of drinks that actually increases metabolic rate, resulting in a small increase in body temperature. It is thought to be both the caffeine naturally found in green tea as well as the powerful antioxidant catechin that causes the slight metabolic boost experienced after drinking several cups each day, for an estimated 3 to 4 per cent increase in the total daily number of calories burnt.

Soup

In much the same way that hot beverages literally warm the body, so too will any type of soup, and if you bulk your soup up with lean protein and a little spice, you will certainly create a bowl of nourishment that will also increase body temperature slightly. The key is to opt for warm soup rather than extremely hot, and you will then be able to prolong this warmth as the body digests the protein component and any hot spices you can tolerate. Think a Mexican soup with lean beef or even a spicy Asian laksa for maximal effect.

Chilli

If you can tolerate hot food, there are some metabolic benefits that will help to warm you up thanks to the capsaicin naturally found in chillies, jalapenos, cayenne pepper and Tabasco sauce. Whilst initially hot and spicy food may result in you experiencing a degree of pain relating to the hotness in the mouth, as time passes endorphins will be released, and with it the sensation of warmth to the skin, along with an increase in heart rate and metabolism as your body processes the chilli. For some, this may prove too much pain for too little warmth, but if you like it hot, any chilli you add to your favourite meals will help you feel warmer.

Ginger

Whether you enjoy ginger in a stir-fry, in baked goods or with hot water and lemon when you have a sore throat, it’s worth eating more ginger over winter as it is one of the few foods that has been proven to result in increases in body temperature. One study, published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that a ginger-infused drink raised palm temperature for up to 60 minutes post-consumption, peaking at 20 minutes compared to a placebo water-based drink, thought to be the result of improvements in blood circulation around the body.