Pure Food Life

Keeping Warm in the Winter: Tips on how to stay warm for the raw foodist/vegan and everyone else

Keeping warm in the winter while following a raw/vegan/cleansing life style can be quite difficult.  Although it is entirely acceptable to incorporate cooked foods into ones diet during the winter months the following tips would be helpful to those of us who choose to remain as raw as possible during the cold weather.  These suggestions are also helpful for those of us who are simply the type of person who is always cold due to low blood pressure, low weight, illness, etc.  I have learned these helpful suggestions through my own trial and error as an equestrian who practices year round, a mostly raw/vegan eater, and as someone who is just always cold.

1. Hot hands: are packs that stay warm for 8 or more hours upon opening.  Although these packets are compact in size they really “pack in the heat!”  At about one by two inches they fit perfectly into jacket pockets, winter gloves, uggs, etc!
   1. One extra tip for women who experience menstral cramping keeping a hot pack in the waist of your pants can fully ease cramping while you are out and about.
   2. They sell “hot hands” in all pharmacies and in bulk at places like BJ’s and Costco
   3. Heating pads: Heating pads are a forgotten treasure.  When I am particularly cold in the winter I will turn on a heating pad and put it on my lap and it will warm me within minutes.  This trick is especially good for those of us who do not have fireplaces or live in apartments where we have no control over the heat!  Heating pads are also great for warming up a bed before you go to sleep, just make sure to turn it off before you go to sleep.
      1. I suggest buying a low quality one that doesn’t over heat in case you forget to turn it off.
      2. Layers: this is obvious but often forgotten.  I generally always wear an extra pair of leggings under my pants during the winter time.  If you want a more streamlined look wearing tights under your clothes will give you warmth without adding bulk to your figure.  This is perfect for wearing under snug jeans.
      3. Tea: Although not all raw foodists drink tea.  Most vegans do and I myself never deny myself the pleasure of a piping cup of herbal tea with stivia.  Tea is very hot and filling, upon drinking warmth seems to radiate through your body.
         1. Always carry stivia and a few of your favorite teas in your car or purse so that when you are out and about and feeling the nip you can always stop in any store and get a cup of hot water to go.
         2. Drinking heavy liquids is also very warming such as juicing carrots and romaine lettuce or drinking nut milk.
            1. Warm your liquids in the blender.  Drinking cold juices and milks will make you incredibly cold incredibly fast!
            2. Plastic gloves in your gloves:  This may seem odd but if you are walking a long distance and have freezing hands by putting a pair of plastic gloves under your cloth/leather ones you create such warmth that you may start to sweat!  The plastic under the textile glove acts as an insolater trapping in your body heat.