Adaptogenic Hot Cacao
This is my ultimate favorite morning drink. It's a cacao elixir that provides me with a natural energy boost which feels stimulating, but grounding.
Benefits of Cacao:
Mood Booster: cacao contains phenethylamine and anandamide - compounds that are known to improve your mood and trigger endorphin release. Cacao is also shown to boost serotonin levels in the brain.
Natural Energy: theobromine ("theo" = gods, "broma" = food) naturally stimulates the heart and brain, without overloading your nervous system, providing you with a sustained energy boost that won't result in fatigue.
Antioxidant Powerhouse: cacao is loaded with antioxidants, which help to fight cell damage and ward off free radicals in the body. The ORAC is a system unit of measurement for antioxidant content originally developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cacao has an ORAC score of 98,000 per 100g compared with 2,400 for blueberries (that's 40x more!)
Iron & Magnesium: cacao provides a rich dose of iron and magnesium, which are essential for energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, and muscle health. Cacao contains 7.3mg of iron per 100g (compared to beef and lamb at 2.5mg, and spinach at 3.6mg), and 499 mg of magnesium per 100g (124% of the recommended daily intake).
What is the difference between raw cacao and cocoa powder?
Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing un-roasted cacao beans, which preserves the enzymes and nutrients in the cacao and removes the fat (which becomes cacao butter).
Cocoa powder is raw cacao that’s been roasted at high temperatures, which changes the molecular structure of the cacao bean, reducing the enzyme content and lowering the overall nutritional value.
I recommend using raw cacao in this morning drink for maximum health benefits.
Adaptogenic Hot Cacao
yields 1 serving
1 tablespoon raw cacao powder 1 tablespoon maca powder (optional, but recommended for hormone and energy balance) 1/2 tablespoon coconut butter 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1-2 teaspoons sweetener of choice 1/4 cup plant milk or milk of choice 1/2 cup hot or boiling water pinch of Himalayan pink salt
Combine all ingredients in a blender or NutriBullet, and blend for about 30 seconds. I recommend blending because it yields an extra creamy and frothy texture, for an absolutely luxurious experience. Enjoy immediately.
