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Everyone loves a hot cuppa cocoa! Be it after a walk in the crisp winter air or apres ski, there is nothing like sipping steamy, creamy hot chocolate by the fireside. There are many ways to transform this favorite winter go-to into a healthy, vitamin-rich power drink and still preserve that rich, chocolaty taste.
Yes, you can make a delicious drink without using sugar, milk, or packaged chocolate powder. It all begins with pure cocoa, a powerful ingredient revered by the Mayans and Aztecs some 2,500 years ago. This spicy, bitter drink was transformed into a hot, sweet beverage after cocoa was brought to Europe.
For the best nutritional punch, return to using pure raw cocoa powder, the source of this popular healthy drink. Cocoa is a superfood that is filled with antioxidants called flavonoids which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Cocoa also enhances gut health, as seen in this 2020 study from Nutrients. These flavanols also reduce blood pressure while improving blood flow.
Here are five healthy hot chocolate recipes to warm you up and keep you healthy during the winter months:
Superfood hot chocolate
Immune-boosting and filled with antioxidants, this chocolaty drink is from The Healthy Maven. Dairy free, it is delicious made with hemp, almond, or coconut milk. Load it up with vitamins by adding coconut oil, turmeric, maca powder, raw honey, cinnamon, and raw cocoa powder. It is delicious, gluten free, vegan, and paleo all at once!
Cashew butter hot cocoa
This recipe from best health is filled with nutrition and taste. Start with oat milk, then add maple syrup, water, cocoa powder, cashew butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt then stir until smooth.
The cashew butter has antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, iron, B vitamins, and manganese. Cinnamon adds antioxidants, is anti-inflammatory, regulates blood sugar, and aids in lowering LDL cholesterol, according to best health. Savor mindfully!
This healthy hot chocolate recipe is the absolute best on a cold winter nighthttps://t.co/9W0VCOq9a1
— Best Health Magazine (@besthealthmag) January 13, 2021
Chai hot chocolate
Combine the fragrant spices of chai with chocolate and you have a divine drink! This recipe from Tasty Yummies combines brewed chai tea, coconut milk, Medjool dates, coconut oil, raw cacao, vanilla extract, and sea salt. This hot drink is rich, creamy, and comforting all at once, plus it is paleo and vegan.
Peppermint hot chocolate
Combining peppermint and chocolate offers such a festive, exhilarating taste you may want to dance around the room! This recipe from The Healthy Maven combines peppermint extract, maple syrup and raw cocoa powder with coconut milk. When you have a sip, you may just need to skip!
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Banana hot chocolate
Bananas and chocolate together are a decadent comfort food, and are healthy! This recipe from The Healthy Maven blends a medium ripe banana with coconut milk, then adds cinnamon and raw cacao powder.
Warm the mixture until it is thick, sweet, and chocolaty. Bananas are a great source of magnesium and potassium, and are a great natural sweetener.
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