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Winter Nutrition Guide: 5 Foods To Avoid During The Cold Season

While experts recommend to consume certain food items for keeping your body warm and your immune strong, there are few edibles you must avoid eating this season. Here are five foods you must avoid during the colder months.

Written by N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe | Updated : December 30, 2025 4:31 PM IST

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Foods To Avoid In Winter

Winter season has finally arrived in India and several human ailments have started to spread like wildfire. From common cold and flu to seasonal affective disorder, joint pain, asthma and norovirus have started to spike across India. It is crucial to keep your immunity strong as your body’s first line of defence against winter ailments. While experts recommend to consume certain food items for keeping your body warm and your immune strong, there are few edibles you must avoid eating this season.

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Amla Candy

Clinical nutritionist Amita Gadre says that Amla is great but Amla candy is not. Amla candies have enormous amount of added sugar, making them lose substantial health benefits that one gets from a consuming Indian gooseberry. She suggests that you can add fresh grated Amla to your dal, salads, and chutneys to reap the benefit of the fruit. Also Read - Winter Diet: 7 Amazing Benefits Of Eating Chili Amidst Cold Weather

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Chyawanprash

The clinical nutritionist note that avoiding chyawanprash during the winter season is an unpopular opinion, but she says that it is something you don’t really need as it is loaded with sugar that may harm your health. Instead, you can consume vegetable soup for antioxidants. The National Institute of Health (NIH) explains, "Chyawanprash that contains Amla has a mixed taste, combining sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and astringent qualities. On regular intake, it maintains physiological functions and rejuvenates the whole body system."

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Dry Fruit Laddus

While dry fruits may be loaded with nutrients that our body requires to function normally, consuming dry fruit, laddoos or extremely dangerous to health. This type of food can contain high calories that may counteract, especially if you are trying to lose fat. Also Read - Why Are Pistachios Known As The 'Ideal Winter Superfood'?

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Ready Packaged Soups

Amita notes that ready packaged soups are commonly packed with sodium and barely any nutrients that is beneficial for your well-being. Therefore, even if ready packaged soups may taste better, she suggests to avoid it as it does not have any health benefits.

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Ghee

The clinical nutritionist points out that during the winter season, many people tend to move less due to cold temperature. Thus, she suggests that consuming in moderate or avoiding the clarified butter during the colder months is essential to avoid extra calories from it. Explaining other side effects, the National Institute of Health (NIH) explains, "10% dietary ghee significantly (P < 0.05) increased the serum triglyceride level. There was no significant effect of 10% dietary ghee on liver microsomal lipid peroxidation." Also Read - Winter Diet: Foods To Keep You Cozy In The Cold