Is it just me, or is there something magically delicious about warming up with a delicious cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day?!
You know what isn’t magical, though? The scary list of ingredients in the typical hot chocolate mix sold in stores. YIKES!
Never fear, your Fit Life Ninja is here with a super simple and DELICIOUS recipe for making your own hot chocolate mix.
Not only will this recipe treat your tastebuds, it will also enhance your health and help detox your body. SCORE!
THE RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup of Water or Non-Dairy Milk (Almond, Coconut or Quinoa)
- 2 Tablespoons of Raw Cacao
- 1 Tablespoon of Pure Maple Syrup (You can also use raw honey or coconut sugar.)
- 1 Teaspoon of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 1/2 – 1 Teaspoon of Ceylon Cinnamon (The amount depends on how “cinnamony” you want the flavor to be.)
Optional Ingredients:
- 1/4 Teaspoon of Turmeric (fights inflammation in your body better than ibuprofen)
- If you used water instead of milk: Add 1 – 2 Tablespoons of Almond, Coconut or Quinoa Milk for extra creaminess.
Directions:
- Heat the water or milk in a small saucepan on the stove until it’s hot.
- Turn off the heat and then pour the remaining ingredients into the pan.
- Use a milk frother (like this) to blend everything together until it’s smooth and creamy. If you don’t have a milk frother, use a whisk (like this) or a spoon and blend vigorously.
- Enjoy!
HEALTH BENEFITS
Not only does this hot chocolate taste amazing, the ingredients in it hook you up with several health benefits:
Raw Cacao
- Has 40 times more antioxidants than blueberries. Antioxidants are critical for absorbing free radicals in your body, which lead to cell damage and diseases like cancer. They also prevent premature aging.
- Is loaded with magnesium, which improves your heart health and helps your brain function more effectively.
- Has more calcium than cow’s milk.
- Is rich in plant-based iron.
- Helps fight tooth decay.
- Is a natural mood lifter and anti-depressant.
Coconut Oil
- Increases healthy cholesterol (HDL) levels and promotes heart health.
- Fights inflammation and reduces the risk of inflammation-related diseases like cancer and arthritis.
- Is antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral, which boosts your immune system.
- Improves digestion, energy, endurance and memory/brain function.
- Helps balance hormones.
Ceylon Cinnamon
- Helps stabilize blood sugar.
- Is antibacterial, which helps boost your immune system.
- Fights inflammation and protects against cardiovascular (heart) disease.
- Improves cholesterol levels.
Turmeric
Though this is an optional ingredient, I highly recommend you add it to the mix. Here’s why:
- Contains curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant that has strong anti-inflammatory effects. This makes it a tremendous disease fighter in your body that can also reduce pain caused by inflammation.
- Has been shown to reduce or inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
- Fights depression.
- Improves heart health.
Pure Maple Syrup
Though it’s 100% natural and has a much lower score on the glycemic index than refined sugar, pure maple syrup is still a source of sugar and should be used in moderation.
Nonetheless, it does contain numerous antioxidants that fight inflammation and consequently help prevent inflammation-related diseases in the body. It also supplies important vitamins and minerals like zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium.
WANT TO SAVE MONEY ON HEALTHY PANTRY STAPLES LIKE THOSE FOUND IN THIS RECIPE?
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Cheers to enjoying a delicious cup of hot chocolate that benefits your health!
With love and gratitude,
Kandi
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