Lifestyle Tips
Sleep and Stretch: Go to bed earlier and arise later to align with nature's rhythm. Stretch cold, tight muscles before springing out of bed.
Dress in Layers: Wear warm clothing and enjoy walks in full-spectrum light during the darker months. Protect areas like the kidney region and back of the neck from exposure to drafts. Hats and scarves help retain body heat and protect the chest, throat, and ears.
Embrace Light: When indoors, sit near a window to soak in natural light. Wearing warm colors like red, copper, orange, and black can also psychologically contribute to warmth.
Protect Your Feet: Sprinkle cayenne pepper or ginger powder between your shoes and socks to warm your feet when outdoors.
Visualize Warm Colors: While outside in cold weather, try visualizing breathing in red and orange light. This simple practice can foster a sensation of warmth.
Warming Foods
Avoid Cold Foods: Minimize cold items like melons and ice water in winter. Allow refrigerated foods to reach room temperature before consuming.
Orange-Hued Vegetables: Incorporate warming vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and carrots.
Root Vegetables: Ground yourself with rutabaga, turnips, burdock, and onions.
Leafy Greens: Add warming greens like arugula, kale, mustard greens, and watercress.
Red Fruits: Enjoy cranberries, pink grapefruit, and pomegranate for their warming properties.
Nuts and Seeds: Include nuts, nut butters, and seeds for protein and healthy fats.
Seaweeds: Embrace the salty flavor of winter with mineral-rich seaweeds like kelp, nori, hiziki, and dulse.
Seasoning Tips: Sprinkle black sesame and milk thistle seeds on meals for a warming and nutritious touch. Use liberal amounts of culinary herbs like oregano and garlic. 
Thermogenic Herbs and Spices
Thermogenic herbs improve circulation, warm the body, and have antimicrobial properties:
Black Pepper (Piper nigrum): Improves circulation, warms the body, and has antiseptic properties.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): Strengthens bones and sinews, acts as an expectorant, used since ancient times in love potions and now called an aphrodisiac.
Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens): Enhances circulation and helps relieve chills, coughs, and congestion.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.): Warms the body, improves circulation, and can enhance libido.
Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): Stimulates circulation, disinfects, and promotes warmth.
Garlic (Allium sativum): Improves circulation and acts as a vasodilator.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Enhances circulation, reduces inflammation, and relieves stiff, achy joints.
Curry Powder: Combines cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, pepper, and mustard seed for a warming blend.
Horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia): Warms the body, aids digestion, and acts as a strong decongestant.
Hot Herbal Teas: Savor warming teas such as cinnamon, ginger, hawthorn, rose hips, turmeric, or Chai to combat cold weather.
Physical Activities
Practice yoga, t'ai chi, chi gong, and deep breathing exercises.
Crawl or stretch to prevent joint stiffness.
Enjoy movement and dancing to warm the body indoors.
Relax with hot baths, saunas, and trips to hot springs.
Creative and Social Practices
Massage: Use unrefined olive or coconut oil, scented with warming essential oils like rosemary or ginger.
Creative Expression: Journal, write songs, play instruments, or engage in handcrafts to create art and heirlooms.
Social Connection: Spend time with family and friends to foster emotional warmth and connection.
Read some of those books you’ve been collecting!
Sample Warming Tea Recipe
Cinnamon-Ginger Warming Tea
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 3 cardamon pods, crushed
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
Instructions:
- Bring water to a boil in a small pot.
- Add the cinnamon stick and ginger slices.
- Reduce heat to low with the lid on and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Strain into a mug and sweeten with honey, if desired.
- Sip slowly and enjoy the warmth.
