Cordyceps Hot Chocolate for Energy
Whenever I’m feeling like I need an afternoon pick me up, I always turn to a good mug of hot chocolate. That might sound ironic if the hot chocolate you’re used to traditional sugary cocoa that makes you sleepy, but this is an entirely different, up-leveled version. One that makes having a daily hot chocolate a health goal. It contains health promoting spices, antioxidant rich raw cacao, energizing cordyceps mushrooms, and nut milk. See “nutritional notes” for a deeper dive into the benefit of these ingredients.
INGREDIENTS
Chocolate Almond Butter Adaptogen Shake
Serves 1
10 oz nut milk (I love homemade cashew milk and it’s so easy)
2 tsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp cordyceps
1/2 tsp ceylon cinnamon
pinch of nutmeg, freshly ground (optional)
pinch of salt
1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
2 scoops collagen (for protein)
1 tsp acacia fiber (for gut health)
METHOD
Heat the nut milk on the stove top in a small pot. While the milk is warming, add the remaining ingredients, whisking to combine (a handheld frother also works nicely). Heat the milk until a soft simmer begins, then turn off the heat and pour into your favorite mug! A little extra cinnamon or nutmeg on top is nice.
NUTRITION NOTES
Cordyceps: A medicinal mushroom that is most known for it’s ability to increase athletic performance and raise overall energy by boosting ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) and protecting our mitochondria. ATP stores and provides energy to our cells, and is often referred to as the energy currency of life. Cordyceps are also beneficial for blood sugar management, lowering inflammation, are anti-aging and may have anti-cancer properties.
Raw Cacao: I adore raw cacao because it’s beneficial to our bodies on so many levels. It’s one of the best sources of magnesium, which is known for calming the nervous system but is also essential for energy production, brain function and muscle function. Cacao is also incredibly rich in polyphenols, and one of the many benefits of polyphenols is their positive influence on brain function.
Ceylon Cinnamon: This sweet and warming spice does wonders for balancing our blood sugar by making us more sensitive to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that tells our cells to open up and accept the sugar (glucose) in our blood steam so it can be used for energy or stored for later use. Insulin is released whenever our blood sugar increases. We want our bodies to be responsive to insulin but when we eat poor diets we often become “deaf” to insulin — you can think of it as tuning out someone that’s constantly nagging you. Ceylon cinnamon improves our sensitivity or responsiveness to insulin.
Side note: cinnamon alone can’t balance blood sugar, managing stress and eating a healthful balanced diet is key to keeping us off the blood sugar roller. Good dietary advise for stable blood sugar is to eat fiber, protein, healthy fat and veggies at every meal.