We all know that drinking lots of water is good for the mind, body and soul. It keeps the body feeling hydrated and helps keep hunger pains at bay, it flushes out toxins, improves skin complexion and boosts your immune system.

It’s thought that food is medicine and particular foods, herbs and spices provide the body with a warm sensation that’s welcome with open arms when the weather becomes chilly. It’s no coincidence that a number of these ingredients are also known to help strengthen the immune system, too.

We’ve compiled some of our favourite, ingredients, dishes and drinks that inject our bodies with warmth on those chilly nights between seasons. What are some of your go-to remedies?

Ingredients

• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Chilli
• Garlic
• Nutmeg
• Cayenne
• Peppercorns - black, green and white
• Horseradish - armed with a strong, hot and sharp flavour, horseradish also happens to be the core ingredient in wasabi
• Mustard - in seed form or sauce, mustard has a range of health benefits including unique anti-inflammatory properties.

Dishes and drinks

• Curries and stir-fries - the lighter styles, including seafood varieties, make perfect dinners even in the warmer months
• Roasts - any dish that’s oven roasted is bound to be well-received on a cool night in or for a classic Sunday lunch
• Pastas - a great excuse to enjoy baked or cheey comfort foods such as lasagne
• Oriental style soups - such as Malaysian laksa or Vietnamese pho beef noodle soup - tend to include an array of different spices, from milder flavours such as star anise and cinnamon through to feisty flavours like bird’s eye chilli.
• Whether it’s an earl grey or green tea, this favourite brew provides warmth and is a great source of antioxidants. Some varieties contain a small amount of caffeine whilst herbal varieties such as chamomile and peppermint omit caffeine altogether, making them useful for helping to soothe the body to sleep.