One of the best ways to stay warm this winter has nothing to do with what you wear, but rather what you eat. There are specific foods that can help you feel toasty, simply by enjoying them. From dishes you might find at a steak house to a seafood restaurant, these menu items can easily take the chill off on a particularly frigid day. Here is a guide to digestion and specific foods affect your core temperature. 

How Does Digestion Affects Body Temperature?

Digestion requires the body to work in order to metabolize the food you are consuming. Foods that take longer to digest will keep core temperatures higher for longer, which creates an overall feeling of warmth. The medical term for this process is called thermogenisis. Breaking down complex foods that are high in healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates will increase body heat during metabolization more than any other form of sustenance. 

What Foods and Drinks Will Keep You Warm? 

Before you book reservations at your favorite bistro or seafood restaurant, make sure the menu includes the items. Soup is a perfect food to warm the body from the inside. Combined with a complex carbohydrate, you'll have long-lasting energy, warmth, and satiation. Brown rice is a complex carbohydrate that takes significant effort for the body to digest, raising the body's temperature. Coconut oil contains healthy HDL cholesterol and is found in a number of dishes, as well as a cooking oil or dressing. Spicy ginger doesn't just give your meal a kick, but it also improves your blood flow and circulation. Heat-producing oils called gingerols are responsible for the internal heat you feel when you're eating ginger. Similarly, cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, a vanilloid that’s been proven to increase core body temperature. Lastly, red meat, like beef, lamb and pork, is a good source of iron, which helps oxygenate blood, keeping your hands and feet extra toasty. Red meat is also a good source of vitamin B12, which contributes to a healthy immune system. 

If you are craving a delicious warm meal to beat the winter chill, LoLo’s Seafood Shack in New York City can help. Since opening in 2014, this seafood restaurant has remained dedicated to creating dishes that transport the diner to the local street markets of Guyana with traditional seasonings and flavors of South America and the Caribbean islands. Their infamous twist on coastal seafood favorites draws crowds of all types of diets, including meat eaters and vegetarians. Their expansive menu of delicious coastal cuisine and Caribbean food includes steamed snow crab, jerk-seasoned ribs, and warm grain bowls with rice and ginger. To make a reservation or place an order, call (646) 649-3356 or visit the website.