Embracing winter foods for healing and health

CINCINNATI (WKRC)— As the winter season approaches, adding certain foods to your diet may be the perfect prescription for good health. While no single food can fend off all the viruses and aches of the season, several have notable healing properties.

Nate Hale, a local shopper, said, “Fresh veggies for sure. I feel like as soon as the weather changes, I’m craving them.” Some of the best vegetables for staying well include spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, and squash.

Laura Riley, co-owner of Madisons at Findlay Market, shared some of her favorites. “The winter squash, like the butternut squash, honey nut, acorn, different varieties of those,” she said. “Some of them you can eat the skins as well, so you can cut them up and roast it.”

Fruits with healing properties this time of year include berries, such as cranberries, which help the urinary tract, and citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, which provide vitamin C to support the respiratory tract.

Melanie Slane, another shopper, said, “I always come here for my seasonings and herbs that finish out the dishes.” Fresh ginger, garlic, and other herbs can help clear stuffed-up sinuses during the colder months.

Additionally, foods with vibrant colors, such as beets and apples, contain quercetin, a plant pigment that works with other foods to benefit everything from heart health to aching joints. Many of these healing foods are typically consumed around this time of year, highlighting the benefits of eating seasonally.