Hot cocoa is one of my all time favorite drinks...especially in the winter time! I love chocolate dearly as anyone who knows me knows. So I'd like to share my make over hot cocoa with a health punch that has been my go to drink of the winter...I drink this at least once or twice a day!
Ingredients
- 1/2 mug unsweetened Almond milk
- 1/2 mug filtered water
- 2 tsps palm sugar
- 1 tsp raw cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp Ho Shu Wu
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of nutmeg
Recipe
I like to use half almond milk and half water (for the sole reason that almond milk is spendy and I go through so much a day! Plus i use a pretty tall mug) I then heat up the almond milk and water on high heat on the stove in my wonderful ceramic pan, and let it warm up just a little bit before adding all ingredients to dissolve better. I then whisk it until it the edges start to bubble slightly...do not let it all come to a boil. Take off the heat immediately and it's ready to drink:) I like my hot drinks super hot, so I pretty much drink it immediately.
Fill half the mug with unsweetened almond milk, and the other half with filtered water
2 tsp palm sugar, 1 tsp raw cacao powder, 1/2 tsp Ho Shou Wu, 1/4 tsp cinnamon & pinch of nutmeg (usually my 1st cup of cocoa I omit the nutmeg because it's a natural sedative, so it's nice to have it in my evening cocoa:)
Whisk together constantly until done with a soft whisk (you don't want to ruin your with a metal one)
Turn off right before it boils...when the edges start to bubble
Health Benefits
Cocoa
Cocoa derives its health benefits from flavonoids which are plant pigments capable of acting as antioxidants to counteract some of the cellular damage that can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Cocoa powder has also been shown to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow in humans. A cup of cocoa has almost three times the antioxidants of a cup of green tea, another drink renowned for its health benefits.
Cinnamon
Would you believe that a mere teaspoon of cinnamon contains 28 mg of calcium, almost one mg of iron, over a gram of fiber, and quite a lot of vitamins C, K, and manganese? It’s true. It also contains about half a gram of “usable” (non-fiber) carbohydrate.
In traditional medicine, cinnamon has been used for digestive ailments such as indigestion, gas and bloating, stomach upset, and diarrhea. More recently, modern medical research has turned its eye on cinnamon and is coming up with some intriguing results. It has a mild anti-inflammatory effect. It also has anti-fungal properties as well.Nutmeg
Nutmeg is another spice that has a variety of healing properties and can be used in a wide range of dishes during the holidays and all year long. It is useful for:
- Insomnia (nutmeg can produce drowsiness so it should be taken when you have a chance to relax or sleep)
- Anxiety
- Calming muscle spasms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Joint pain and gout
- Lowering blood pressure
- Male infertility and impotence
- Improving concentration
- Increasing circulation
- Lowering cholesterol
- Toothaches (nutmeg oil)
** Please note that taking too much nutmeg (one to three nuts or less) can cause side effects such as nausea, hallucinations, swelling and shock.
Ho Shu Wu
Studies show that ho-shou-wu extract improves the cardiovascular system, enhances immune functions, slows the degeneration of glands, increases antioxidant activity, and reduces the accumulation of lipid peroxidation. Such findings suggest that ho-shou-wu is helpful in combating some of the processes that lead to conditions characteristic of old age, thereby also reducing the risk of fatal diseases (e.g., cancer) and incidents (e.g., heart attack, stroke). Palm Sugar
The wonderful sweetness and planet-friendly attributes aside, this natural product is beneficial to the body as well. Palm sugar is naturally very low on the Glycemic Index, half the GI of cane sugar. Excitingly, palm sugar serves as an ideal sugar substitute for those watching glucose levels (such as diabetics), or those monitoring lipid levels and looking for weight control. Organic, evaporated palm sugar has a nutritional content far greater than all other commercially available sweeteners -- with high amounts of potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron, as well as vitamin C and many of the B vitamins. As a natural as it gets, palm sugar is a pure and simple sugar alternative that provides the energy and nutrition needed for a healthy (and delicious) lifestyle.
Unsweetened Silk Almond milk
- They've fortified our almondmilk so that it contains 450 mg of calcium per 8-ounce serving, which provides 50% more calcium than a glass of dairy milk.
- Silk Pure Almond almondmilk is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin E, supplying 50% of the recommended daily value in an 8-ounce serving.
- Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened contains no added sugars or sweeteners and has only 35 calories per 8-ounce serving.
- Their almondmilk provides as much vitamin D as dairy milk: 25% of the recommended daily value.
- Silk Pure Almond almondmilk is a great source of vitamin B12, providing 50% of the recommended daily value in an 8-ounce serving.
- There is no saturated fat in Silk Pure Almond almondmilk.
- Their almondmilk is cholesterol-free, soy-free, dairy-free, lactose-free and completely vegan.